Description
Book SynopsisSpanning from the birth of Christianity through the Crusades and the Protestant Reformation to John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council, Key Moments in Church History is a brief and accessible guide to the origins and evolution of the Catholic Church. In this insightful and informative look at eleven of the most significant periods in church history, Finley not only helps readers understand the context and characters of the past, but sheds light on the current and future Church. The result is a hopeful and inspirational reading experience that is ideal for personal reflection or group use.
Trade ReviewIn his third edition of Key Moments in Church History, Mitch Finley enlivens a topic which, in a less talented writer's hands, could have been deadly dull. Instead, in his usual down-to-earth narration and flowing style, Mitch presents events seemingly far removed from us—-the Council of Trent, the Crusades, even the Reformation—-as precious parts of our own past, events that brought the entire Catholic Church to where it now stands, for better or worse. The thought occurs more than once—-what is happening today that may become a Key Moment for our descendents? Excellent and well-documented, worthy of being a must-read in any Catholic high school class, and beyond. -- Joan Wester Anderson, Author of the New York Times bestseller, Where Angels Walk
At last—a clear, concise history of the Church written for those who are not scholars and know relatively little about the Church's past or even that it had one! -- Rev. Andrew Greeley, S.J., Best-selling author, Professor of Sociology at the University of Arizona, and Research Associate with the National Opinion Resea
Table of ContentsChapter 1 Acknowledgments Chapter 2 Introduction Chapter 3 Jesus of Nazareth Chapter 4 The Early Church Chapter 5 The Church Gives Birth to the New Testament Chapter 6 The Constantinian Era Chapter 7 The Council of Chalcedon Chapter 8 The Crusades, the Inquisition, Saint Dominic and St. Francis of Assisi Chapter 9 The Protestant Reformation Chapter 10 The Council of Trent Chapter 11 Ultramontanism and the First Vatican Council Chapter 12 Pius X and the Modernist Crisis Chapter 13 John XXIII and the Second Vatican Council Chapter 14 Epilogue: The Current State of the Church
