In the course of the decade which preceded the Second World War a new trend in theological thinking became evident. The impetus came from Innsbruck with the appearance of an article by Father Jungmann in which he demanded a theology that would keep pastoral needs in view. Soon this became a movement known as kerygmatic theology. The name implied a desire to link theology with the ‘kerygma’ more closely, for our Lord and the Apostles had not separated theology from their preaching. So this new movement wished to end the divorce which had arisen between personal love of, and belief in, God and the dry formality of ‘school dogma’. A discussion developed as to the advisability of making this kerygmatic theology a separate subject, but everyone was agreed on the general need. For it was part of a general tendency towards a fresh approach, which has been called by R. Aubert ‘un desir d'un “ressourcement” de la theologie au contact de la source toujours jaillissante qu’est la Parole de Dieu proclamie et commentie dans I’Eglise’. (La Theologie catholique au milieu du XXe siecle.)

This desire, manifested in a biblical, liturgical and patristic renewal, was then in evidence in Innsbruck and particularly in the work of Hugo and Karl Rahner. Born in Freiburg im Breisgau in 1900 and 1904 respectively, these two brothers joined the Society of Jesus in the South German province, but later transferred to Austria. Here they became professors in the University of Innsbruck, in which they have both in turn since held the office of Rector Magnificus.