History

Pius IX
The Man and the Myth
by Yves Chiron

Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti is one of the most interesting and complex individuals to ever become Supreme Pontiff of the Roman Catholic Church. He was born in 1792, during the French Revolution, lived through the Napoleonic conquests of Europe, and witnessed the unification of both Italy and the Prussian Empire.

His pontificate included the proclamation of the dogmas of the Immaculate Conception and Papal Infallibility, the convocation of the First Vatican Council, the publication of the Syllabus of Errors, the beginnings of Catholic Action, and the development of the foreign missions.

Chapters include:

• The First Years
• Difficult Path to the Priesthood
• From Tata Giovanni to Chile
• Bishop of Spoleto
• Bishop and Cardinal of Imola
• Sovereign Pontiff
• From Reform to Revolution
• The Pope in Exile
• Resistance and Renewal
• The Pope of the Immaculate Conception
• Pius IX and Italy
• The Pope of the Syllabus
• The Roman Question
• The Vatican Council
• The "Prisoner of the Vatican"
• Towards the Canonization

In October 2016, in Lund, Sweden, Pope Francis met with Lutheran church leaders to inaugurate a year of commemoration of the 500th anniversary of the posting of Martin Luther’s 95 Theses in 1517, the first salvo in his rebellion against the Catholic Church. What was the nature of that revolution of half a millennium ago? Upon what new trajectory did it launch human history? What were its hidden consequences? And why does Pope Francis’s proposed rapprochement of Catholic and Lutheran churches matter? 

In the twelve essays contained in this volume—based upon lectures delivered at the 2016 Roman Forum Summer Symposium on Lake Garda, Italy—the authors assess the impact of Luther’s novel theological and philosophical doctrines on faith, political theory, law, ethics, economics, and science—as well as his role in the devastation of Christendom and the creation in its place of the contemporary secular culture of the West. Acknowledging that the Reformation is not “the sole cause of the social problems of modernity” but rather “one major cause in a chain of causes,” the authors nevertheless make it abundantly clear that there is “nothing about Luther and his Protestant rebellion that we should celebrate.” With essays from John Rao, Chris Ferrara, Brian McCall, and eight others, Luther and His Progeny is a signal contribution toward understanding the full import of the Protestant revolt.

In this book, French historian Yves Chiron turns his attention to one of the most influential figures of 20th-century Catholicism: Annibale Bugnini, guiding spirit of liturgical reform in the period surrounding the Second Vatican Council. Highly controversial in his day, and down to the present, Bugnini has attracted high praise from his disciples and vilification from his detractors—but all agree that without his energetic organizational skills and access to the levers of power, the most extensive overhaul of the Roman Catholic liturgy in the history of the Church would not have taken place as it did. 

Yet who was Bugnini, really? What were his formative experiences, personal ideals, intellectual assumptions, practical aims? How did he accomplish so much in so short a time? Why, after such a singular collaboration with Pope Paul VI, did he suddenly fall from grace and suffer exile? Should he be remembered as liturgiae amator et cultor, lover and servant of the liturgy (his epitaph), or as the éminence grise of an unscrupulous reinvention of Catholic worship? Can we cut through the legendary, the polemical, and the partisan, to arrive at a clear portrait of the man and his work? Until now, there has been no biography that makes extensive use of all available documentary sources, including Bugnini’s own memoirs, Vatican publications, private correspondence, interviews, articles, and lectures. The present book has filled this lacuna with the scholarly care and dispassionate analysis for which the author’s books are praised at all points on the ecclesiastical spectrum.

Christ the King, Lord of History
by Dr Anne W. Carroll

Here is a fast paced, highly readable, and interesting Catholic world history. Christ the King, Lord of History clearly illustrates that Christ is the central figure in all of history.

Unabashedly proud of our brilliant Catholic heritage, Dr. Anne W. Carroll examines all historical developments from the point of view of the Church and the enhancement or decline of the influence of the Church upon the historical scene. Whereas most secular histories written today give but a grudging acknowledgment to the role of the Catholic Church in forming Western and therefore modern civilization, this book makes the role of Christ and the contribution of His Church unquestionable.

A great book for students, parents, history buffs, and educators.

Christ the King Lord of History Workbook
by Belinda T. Mooney

Here is a fast paced, highly readable, and interesting Catholic world history. Christ the King, Lord of History clearly illustrates that Christ is the central figure in all of history.

Unabashedly proud of our brilliant Catholic heritage, Dr. Anne W. Carroll examines all historical developments from the point of view of the Church and the enhancement or decline of the influence of the Church upon the historical scene. Whereas most secular histories written today give but a grudging acknowledgment to the role of the Catholic Church in forming Western and therefore modern civilization, this book makes the role of Christ and the contribution of His Church unquestionable.

This workbook companion contains over 50 questions for each of the 30 chapters, including:

• Fill-in-the-blank
• Multiple choice
• True/False
• Matching
• Mini-Essay Questions

An answer key is perforated for easy removal. Students can write in the book, or pages can be cut out to use as tests. This workbook is perfect for home schooling, private study, Catholic or private schools, parochial schools, or anywhere a true history book is desired.

Paperback, 208 pages