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History of the Catholic Church, Vol. 1: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution
Excerpt from History of the Catholic Church, Vol. 1: From the Renaissance to the French Revolution
The remarkably rapid sale Of the First Edition is attributed by the author more to the importance Of the subject dealt with than to the merits Of his work.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
The remarkably rapid sale Of the First Edition is attributed by the author more to the importance Of the subject dealt with than to the merits Of his work.
About the Publisher
Forgotten Books publishes hundreds of thousands of rare and classic books. Find more at www.forgottenbooks.com
This book is a reproduction of an important historical work. Forgotten Books uses state-of-the-art technology to digitally reconstruct the work, preserving the original format whilst repairing imperfections present in the aged copy. In rare cases, an imperfection in the original, such as a blemish or missing page, may be replicated in our edition. We do, however, repair the vast majority of imperfections successfully; any imperfections that remain are intentionally left to preserve the state of such historical works.
448 pages, Hardcover
First published January 1, 1912
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
April 22, 2020
“Luther was an ideal demagogue to head a semi-religious, semi-social revolt.” (p. 15)
“In Germany, in Switzerland, in England, in the Netherlands, and in the Scandinavian countries, the Reformation was much more a political than a religious movement.” (p. 15)
“Having abandoned the unfortunate peasants who had been led to slaughter by his writings, Luther determined to make it clear that his religious policy was in complete harmony with the political absolutism aimed at by the temporal rulers.” (p. 16)
“Protestantism owed its success largely to political causes, and particularly
in the case of Lutheranism to its acknowledgement of the principle of royal supremacy.” (p. 156)
As heavy-handed as Msgr. MacCaffrey is regarding Luther and Protestantism in general he is light-handed as regards the princes of the Church, their wealth and abuses which nevertheless led to Luther and his revolt.
There is a great deal of history here but too often just name and date dropping.
This first volume covers the continent. It is all on Western Europe, Scandinavia, Spain, and Italy. There is little here on Eastern Europe or the Balkans. Author only mentions Poland and Hungary occasionally in one-liners. As an example he mentions the Battle of Vienna (1683) where the Ottoman Empire was stopped from its farthest incursion into Europe under Jan III Sobieski commanding the Christian Coalition Army with one sentence: “He (Pope Innocent XI) encouraged John Sobieski, King of Poland, to take up arms against the Turks who had laid siege to Vienna.” (p. 328) The second volume deals with the same period in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
“In Germany, in Switzerland, in England, in the Netherlands, and in the Scandinavian countries, the Reformation was much more a political than a religious movement.” (p. 15)
“Having abandoned the unfortunate peasants who had been led to slaughter by his writings, Luther determined to make it clear that his religious policy was in complete harmony with the political absolutism aimed at by the temporal rulers.” (p. 16)
“Protestantism owed its success largely to political causes, and particularly
in the case of Lutheranism to its acknowledgement of the principle of royal supremacy.” (p. 156)
As heavy-handed as Msgr. MacCaffrey is regarding Luther and Protestantism in general he is light-handed as regards the princes of the Church, their wealth and abuses which nevertheless led to Luther and his revolt.
There is a great deal of history here but too often just name and date dropping.
This first volume covers the continent. It is all on Western Europe, Scandinavia, Spain, and Italy. There is little here on Eastern Europe or the Balkans. Author only mentions Poland and Hungary occasionally in one-liners. As an example he mentions the Battle of Vienna (1683) where the Ottoman Empire was stopped from its farthest incursion into Europe under Jan III Sobieski commanding the Christian Coalition Army with one sentence: “He (Pope Innocent XI) encouraged John Sobieski, King of Poland, to take up arms against the Turks who had laid siege to Vienna.” (p. 328) The second volume deals with the same period in England, Ireland, and Scotland.
October 3, 2025
"Far from spirituality, religion is much of a political discourse..." It was the same in the 1900s too...
Although, this serves the purpose of understanding the early 1900's European history, political landscape and evolution of different branches within Christianity. The book feels hollow & one-sided. Not to mention the dense writing style.
Although, this serves the purpose of understanding the early 1900's European history, political landscape and evolution of different branches within Christianity. The book feels hollow & one-sided. Not to mention the dense writing style.
November 3, 2022
It was alright
The author was all over place throughout the book. It made it hard to follow the actual history of the Catholic Church. It had a lot of great information in it.
The author was all over place throughout the book. It made it hard to follow the actual history of the Catholic Church. It had a lot of great information in it.
December 27, 2023
Interesting! I want to know more! :)
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews