Autorit piscopale et sollicitude pastorale (IIeVIe sicles)

The first set of articles in this collection is concerned with the nature of the bishops authority in the Early Church and the sources from which it was drawn. This is seen in political terms, as in the writings of Justin Martyr, as well as spiritual ones. Charles Munier singles out Tertullian as the first to formulate a doctrine of apostolic succession, but also traces his subsequent path towards the affirmation of the authority of the Holy Spirit over that embodied in the Orthodox Church. The following studies turn to a complementary area of ecclesiology, that of pastoral care. The author points to the great diversity of forms of worship and rite, from the earliest days of the Church; these, he argues, reflect a constant process of adaptation, to fit particular religious needs, and to understand such divergences it is necessary to investigate the theological motives that lay behind them. Particular topics here are those of baptism and marriage, especially the still controversial question of how and with what discretion to treat divorce and remarriage. La premire srie d'articles de cette collection examine la nature et la source de lautorit des vques de lEglise primitive. Ceci est abord en termes politiques, au travers dtude sur Justin le Martyr, ainsi qu'en termes spirituels. Charles Munier, tout en reconnaissant Tertullien pour avoir t le premier formuler la doctrine de la succession apostolique, retrace aussi la voie parcourue ultrieurement par ce dernier vers laffirmation de la suprmacie de lautorit du Saint Esprit sur celle rpresente par lEglise orthodoxe. Les tudes suivantes se tourent vers un domaine complmentaire de lecclsiologie, celui de la sollicitude pastorale. Lauteur souligne la grande diversitie de liturgies et de rites qui ont toujours eu cours au sien de lEglise; selon lui, on voit l le reflet d'un processus d'adaptation constant, destin a rpondre des besoins