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A Course in Religion
Church History : A Complete History of the Catholic Church to the Present Day
From the beginning to 1940. Written for both students and adults. The author intersperses the history with many brief, interesting biographies of famous people, and at the end of each chapter he quotes briefly from a famous writing of the era, blending a medley of elements into a comprehensive historical composition that is at once brilliant and fascinating. A story of the Church unparalleled in its scope, depth, variety and impact, and a book all Catholics should read.
686 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1930
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Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews
October 12, 2018
This was obviously a textbook meant to be used in Catholic schools. It is written from a Catholic perspective of course in which the Church is founded by Christ, and God's grace continues to play a role throughout its history. I like how there's always a sample of a historical document at the back of each chapter and study questions referring to resources such as the Catholic Encyclopedia.
It's good, concise history, and doesn't shy away from properly covering controversial issues. The treatment of the Inquisition was honest, prudent, informative, and good starting point in properly handling the issue for apologetic reasons.
It's also a shame that the book ends in the 1940s though that in itself has historical value. The Nazi persecution of the Church is referred to as a new Kulturkampf. Given how old the Church is of course, the gap in knowledge isn't relatively serious, and the book still appears to be one of the better concise histories of the Catholic Church out there.
It's good, concise history, and doesn't shy away from properly covering controversial issues. The treatment of the Inquisition was honest, prudent, informative, and good starting point in properly handling the issue for apologetic reasons.
It's also a shame that the book ends in the 1940s though that in itself has historical value. The Nazi persecution of the Church is referred to as a new Kulturkampf. Given how old the Church is of course, the gap in knowledge isn't relatively serious, and the book still appears to be one of the better concise histories of the Catholic Church out there.
September 13, 2016
This book is a little more dry than Dr. Warren Carroll's 'History of Christendom' series (it's written more as a text book). Still, it's very enjoyable and informative
April 10, 2024
A pre-Vatican II take on Church history, and definitely exemplifies the earlier mentality. First off, to dispel notions this is the history of the Christian Church, the subtitle is best read as the history of Catholicism independent of the rest of the Church (i.e. Catholicism is synonymous with the Christian Church). Laux clearly holds other denominations as not being part of the Christian faith. It also did not bode well when there was a clear error on some of the first pages when Laux claimed James the Less is James the brother of Jesus (p. 35), perpetuating an error from Jerome.
I found it curious that the latter half of the seven Ecumenical Councils were not mentioned well after they occurred to discover them in the chapter on the Great Schism of 1054 where Laux makes the argument that since the Constantinopolitan bishopric was founded by the civil government in the 5th century, that bishopric (and the rest of the Eastern Church which recognizes it) should be considered in error of doctrine for not claiming the primacy of the pope in Rome. It's odd for a few reasons but one that sticks in my mind is when he declares how a couple chapters earlier, Laux claims the Roman bishopric has legitimacy in part because of the concession of territory from the German rulers to the Roman church. He ignores there were no claims of the primacy of Rome prior to the 5th century but rails on how, once Rome started making them, the Ecumenical Councils from the 5th century on (despite involving the whole Church) were somewhat suspect. After 1054, Laux does not mention the Eastern Church again in the book.
A similar treatment occurs for the Reformation where Laux gives a treatment of Protestant doctrines he knows he has polemical legitimacy against, hence the extensive quotations of John Calvin's novel doctrines. However, Luther is very briefly treated and often quoted far out of context to make it sound like he almost meant the opposite of what he was saying a couple times. The Protestants are also almost never mention after this except when Catholic missionaries try to approach the Thirteen Colonies and have to deal with Protestant preachers.
Laux curiously has a couple apologetic notes for the popes after a couple chapters which do not read well for the case of Roman Catholicism being without error. For example, the one for Pope Honorius I (p. 158) has a Church Council declare him as a heretic but denies that a Council to be infallible because only the Pope can declare infallibility of a council (thus creating a conflict of interest) and a later Pope denied Honorius was a heretic because he must have been tricked into being a heretic, although the words that he used are in fact heretical, but they should not be interpreted as heretical. The whole argument is a mess.
In summary, while there is some value in the book, I would recommend using a different history of the Church to understand the Church. The author has some clear bias, introduces anachronisms to try and emphasize the importance of the pope (not found in the literature at the time, all of it being assumed), and having some minor errors as well.
I found it curious that the latter half of the seven Ecumenical Councils were not mentioned well after they occurred to discover them in the chapter on the Great Schism of 1054 where Laux makes the argument that since the Constantinopolitan bishopric was founded by the civil government in the 5th century, that bishopric (and the rest of the Eastern Church which recognizes it) should be considered in error of doctrine for not claiming the primacy of the pope in Rome. It's odd for a few reasons but one that sticks in my mind is when he declares how a couple chapters earlier, Laux claims the Roman bishopric has legitimacy in part because of the concession of territory from the German rulers to the Roman church. He ignores there were no claims of the primacy of Rome prior to the 5th century but rails on how, once Rome started making them, the Ecumenical Councils from the 5th century on (despite involving the whole Church) were somewhat suspect. After 1054, Laux does not mention the Eastern Church again in the book.
A similar treatment occurs for the Reformation where Laux gives a treatment of Protestant doctrines he knows he has polemical legitimacy against, hence the extensive quotations of John Calvin's novel doctrines. However, Luther is very briefly treated and often quoted far out of context to make it sound like he almost meant the opposite of what he was saying a couple times. The Protestants are also almost never mention after this except when Catholic missionaries try to approach the Thirteen Colonies and have to deal with Protestant preachers.
Laux curiously has a couple apologetic notes for the popes after a couple chapters which do not read well for the case of Roman Catholicism being without error. For example, the one for Pope Honorius I (p. 158) has a Church Council declare him as a heretic but denies that a Council to be infallible because only the Pope can declare infallibility of a council (thus creating a conflict of interest) and a later Pope denied Honorius was a heretic because he must have been tricked into being a heretic, although the words that he used are in fact heretical, but they should not be interpreted as heretical. The whole argument is a mess.
In summary, while there is some value in the book, I would recommend using a different history of the Church to understand the Church. The author has some clear bias, introduces anachronisms to try and emphasize the importance of the pope (not found in the literature at the time, all of it being assumed), and having some minor errors as well.
July 23, 2024
AN "ORTHODOX" CATHOLIC CHURCH HISTORY (circa 1930)
This book was originally published in 1930. Fr. Laux (who "taught church history for many years") also wrote 'Chief Truths Of The Faith,' 'Introduction to the Bible,' 'Catholic Apologetics: God, Christianity, and the Church,' etc.
He says, "The actions of (Pope) Honorius cannot be urged as an argument against Papal Infallibility... he nowhere says that he requires all the faithful to accept this decision under pain of separation from the Church. Hence he did not intend to teach ex cathedra." (Pg. 158)
He regretfully notes that "A simoniacal clergy is bound to be an ignorant and immoral clergy ... in the tenth and eleventh centuries, half of the priests, and in some countries more than half, disregarded the law of celibacy and lived openly as fathers of families... when many bishops were totally indifferent and paid no attention to their spiritual duties, is it any wonder that demoralization set in rapidly among the people?" (Pg. 265)
He states, "We shall not attempt to defend the Inquisition. We cannot approve of the extreme measures adopted, not only on account of their cruelty, but because they undoubtedly led to hypocrisy and the simulation of orthodoxy." (Pg. 358) He observes that "The circumstances of the time forced (the Renaissance Popes) to be political Popes... the Popes surrounded themselves with members of their own families... whom they raised to the highest offices... This system, known as Nepotism, did much to lower the prestige of the Holy See... (some) gave themselves up to a life of self-indulgence and political ambition." (Pg. 412-413)
He concludes that "(Martin) Luther had proved himself an obstinate heretic. The Church had done her part to reclaim him. Nothing remained but an appeal to the secular power." (Pg. 425) Concerning Henry VIII's break from the Church, he argues, "What sinister power ... made Protestants of a King and a nation who did not want to be Protestants at all... and brought hundreds of loyal Catholics to a cruel death? It was the demon of lust." (Pg. 446)
While intended for a "general" reader (high school age and above), and while 80 years old, this very "orthodox" history is still of significant interest to students of Catholic history.
This book was originally published in 1930. Fr. Laux (who "taught church history for many years") also wrote 'Chief Truths Of The Faith,' 'Introduction to the Bible,' 'Catholic Apologetics: God, Christianity, and the Church,' etc.
He says, "The actions of (Pope) Honorius cannot be urged as an argument against Papal Infallibility... he nowhere says that he requires all the faithful to accept this decision under pain of separation from the Church. Hence he did not intend to teach ex cathedra." (Pg. 158)
He regretfully notes that "A simoniacal clergy is bound to be an ignorant and immoral clergy ... in the tenth and eleventh centuries, half of the priests, and in some countries more than half, disregarded the law of celibacy and lived openly as fathers of families... when many bishops were totally indifferent and paid no attention to their spiritual duties, is it any wonder that demoralization set in rapidly among the people?" (Pg. 265)
He states, "We shall not attempt to defend the Inquisition. We cannot approve of the extreme measures adopted, not only on account of their cruelty, but because they undoubtedly led to hypocrisy and the simulation of orthodoxy." (Pg. 358) He observes that "The circumstances of the time forced (the Renaissance Popes) to be political Popes... the Popes surrounded themselves with members of their own families... whom they raised to the highest offices... This system, known as Nepotism, did much to lower the prestige of the Holy See... (some) gave themselves up to a life of self-indulgence and political ambition." (Pg. 412-413)
He concludes that "(Martin) Luther had proved himself an obstinate heretic. The Church had done her part to reclaim him. Nothing remained but an appeal to the secular power." (Pg. 425) Concerning Henry VIII's break from the Church, he argues, "What sinister power ... made Protestants of a King and a nation who did not want to be Protestants at all... and brought hundreds of loyal Catholics to a cruel death? It was the demon of lust." (Pg. 446)
While intended for a "general" reader (high school age and above), and while 80 years old, this very "orthodox" history is still of significant interest to students of Catholic history.
January 30, 2023
Quote at the end appropriately summarized the entire history:
“The Church is ever militant ; sometimes she gains, sometimes she loses ; and more often she is at once gaining and losing in different parts of her territory. Where ecclesiastical history but a record of the ever-doubtful fortune of the battle, thought its issue is not doubtful? Scarcely are we singing Te Deum, when we have to turn our Misereres : scarcely are we in peace, when we are in persecution: scarcely have we gained a triumph, when we are visited by a scandal. Nay, we make progress by means of reverses ; our griefs are our consolations; we lose Stephen to gain Paul, and Matthias replaces the traitor Judas . . . “
“The Church is ever militant ; sometimes she gains, sometimes she loses ; and more often she is at once gaining and losing in different parts of her territory. Where ecclesiastical history but a record of the ever-doubtful fortune of the battle, thought its issue is not doubtful? Scarcely are we singing Te Deum, when we have to turn our Misereres : scarcely are we in peace, when we are in persecution: scarcely have we gained a triumph, when we are visited by a scandal. Nay, we make progress by means of reverses ; our griefs are our consolations; we lose Stephen to gain Paul, and Matthias replaces the traitor Judas . . . “
August 6, 2023
'We have no need to fear as to the fate of Holy Church. She has lost nothing of her fecundity and immortal youth. Fifteen hundred years ago St. Augustine said of her "Her enemies look upon her and say, 'she is about to die; soon her very name will disappear; there will be no more Christians; they have had their day.' Whilst they are thus speaking, I see these very men die themselves, day by day, but the Church lives on, and preaches the power of God to every succeeding generation."
A real epic in the sense of its proportion. Hard to imagine the effort that goes into a work of this kind. Some deeply moving passages from many of the Saints.
A real epic in the sense of its proportion. Hard to imagine the effort that goes into a work of this kind. Some deeply moving passages from many of the Saints.
March 31, 2023
A brief summary of The Church's history written by an American Newmanite. Fine for untangling the various periods of church history and getting a sense of each era. Fr. Laux has a great talent for narrative and portraying the complexity of the old world with brevity.
September 12, 2017
Eastern Orthodox here - while I think I found some RCC bias it helped me to understand RCC history up to 1930. Very good read.
September 27, 2018
Missing your quarterly meetings goals.
June 11, 2021
Early 20th century so a bit outdated, but good (though very biased) info.
Displaying 1 - 10 of 10 reviews