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Father Réal Tremblay, a native of Metabetchouan, Quebec, Canada, is a member of the
Redemptorist Province of Ste. Anne-de-Beaupré. After having completed his studies in the
humanities at the Université Laval de Québec, he entered the Redemptorist novitiate in
Sherbrooke. After a year of prayer and discernment in the novitiate, Father Tremblay
professed his vows as a Redemptorist in 1960. He continued his theological studies at the
Redemptorist Scholasticate, earning his advanced degree in theology at the same
University. After his ordination, in 1966, to the priesthood in the Congregation of the
Most Holy Redeemer, he spent a number of years in pastoral ministry. He then traveled to
Germany in order to continue his theological studies. Father Réal received his Doctorate
in Dogmatic Theology in 1975 from the University of Regensburg, Germany. His Doctoral
Dissertation dealing with the manifestation of vision of God according to St. Ireneus of
Lyon was directed by Professor and now Cardinal Josef Ratzinger.
Immediately after receiving his doctorate, the Superior General of the Redemptorists nominated Father Tremblay, Professor of Patristic and Fundamental Moral Theology at the Alphonsian Academy. His specific area of concentration in Fundamental Moral is the Christological foundations of Christian Morality. In addition to teaching at the Academy, Father Tremblay also conducts courses for the Institute of Christological Studies of the Lateran University in Rome and at the Theological Faculty of Central Italy in Florence.
Father Réal’s contribution to the Church has not been limited to the classroom. He has participated in numerous conferences and congresses presenting papers on subjects in his area of expertise. For nearly 20 years he untiringly served as secretary to the editorial board of the Scientific Journal of the Alphonsian Academy, Studia Moralia. In addition to all these other duties, for over 10 years Father Tremblay has been an advisor to the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. He has also been recently named an advisor to the Congregation for the Clergy and a member of the Historico-theological commission for the Grand Jubilee of the Year 2000. For the past six years, Father Tremblay has also been ecclesiastical advisor to the Canadian Ambassador to the Holy See.
In addition to his Doctoral Dissertation entitled: "La manifestation et la vision de Dieu selon S. Irénée de Lyon" which appeared in the collection Münsterische Beiträge zur Theologie of Münster, Germany, Father Tremblay has an extensive bibliography to his credit. He is the author of numerous books and of nearly 60 articles and contributions to published series dealing with patristic themes, subjects connected to his area of teaching, as well as dealing with controversies with theologians such as Pannenberg, Durrwell, etc. He is also co-editor of a number of collections such as those dedicated to Professors Bernhard Häring, C.Ss.R., L. Vereecke, C.Ss.R., etc. In July, 2002, Father Tremblay was named by the Holy See as an Ordinary Member of the Pontifical Theological Academy.
In the near future, Father Tremblay expects to publish a major work on a theme which he holds dear to his heart: The Christological Foundation of Christian Morality.