Popular History of the Catholic Church

by Philip Hughes

Book Overview

The significant events, the great personalities of the Church from the era of primitive Christianity to the present day. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0020856407
• ISBN13: 9780020856405
• Release Date: January 1962
• Publisher: Macmillan Pub Co
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A Surprisingly Good Book of the History of the Catholic Church

Father Hughes wrote a surprisingly good book of the history of the Catholic Church. A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is not just a condensed version of his three volume work titled A HISTORY OF THE CHURCH. A POPULAR HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH is a detailed account that is well organized and clearly written. Father Hughes' honesty and attempt to write a critical account of the Catholic Church's history may surprise readers especially when readers realize that Father Hughes is obviously a Catholic partisan and a Catholic priest. Father Hughes began this history with early dissensions and debates among the early Church Fathers. The challenges of interpretation of Christianity are presented in a coherent text which explains each challenge. Some examples are the Donatists, the Monophyites, etc. One major challenge that re-emerged during the 11th. and 12th centuries was that of Manichism named after its Persian leader, Mani (215-275 AD). Another serious challnege was that of Arianism named after Arius (273-336) which was a serious threat to the both the Catholic Church and the Eastern Byzantine or Eastern Roman Empire. Father Hughes gave readers a good account of this heresy and how the heresy was resolived at the Council of Nicea in 325 AD. The explanation of St. Athanasius'(293-373)position and the resulting Nicean Creed and Apostles' Creed informed readers of the actual meaning of these statements of the Catholic Faith. Readers may be interested that St. Augustine (354-430 AD)was a Manichian until St.Ambrose (347-397 AD) convinced St. Augustine otherwise. Those who may think that the Catholic Church authorities did not face serious opposition until the Reformation will be surprised by this book. Father Hughes explained that Catholic Popes and bishops had continued confrontations with Byzantine emperors and their sometimes allies who accepted Arius's views that God and Christ were separate. This conflict continued long after the Council of Nicea, and the Catholic authorities had to work carefully to curry the favor of the political authorities while at the same time prevent these authorities from domination of Catholic doctrine and belief. Father Hughes gave several detailed accounts of Catholic Popes and bishops standing firm regarding interpretations of the Faith from imperial interference. Many of the Byzantine rulers thought that their status included Caesaropapism or the position of the Byzantine rulers holding ultimate political and religious authority. Father Hughes' presentation of the Catholic Church's precarious position during the "Dark Ages" (c. 500-750 AD)is comprehensive. Catholic Europe faced outside threats from the Moslems until Charles Martel's (710-741)forces defeated the Moslems at the Battle of Tours in 732 AD. Father Hughes also mentioned that the Popes faced considerable military pressure from the Lombards until Pepin's (741-768)defeated the Lombards c. 751 and saved the Papal States. As mentioned above, Catho

Popular History of the Catholic Church

Good basic read on the history of the church. It is an older version but still a good tool.

The BEST!

The dealer sent the book in a timely manner and the book is in excellent condition. I coundn't ask for a better seller. Thank you.