History is a chronological record of significant events (as affecting a nation or institution) often including an explanation of their causes or a branch of knowledge that records and explains past events. In this category you will find our history books - general surveys of history and books related to specific periods of history in the Church such as the Patristic Era or the Middle Ages.

"History is the witness that testifies to the passing of time; it illuminates reality, vitalizes memory, provides guidance in daily life, and brings us tidings of antiquity." Cicero

1917: Red Banners, White Mantle is not just another history of the First World War. Dr. Carroll unveils for us "a contest that embraces Heaven, Earth, and Hell , whose protagonists include the devilish revolutionary Lenin, the demonic Rasputin, the saintly Charles, last Emperor of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and above all Our Lady of Fatima, who appeared with a message of penance, …

Cover design, by Jariath Hayes, incorporates Rhoda opens the door to St. Peter (1934) by Wilhelmina Margaret Geddes(1887-1955), courtesy of the Ulster Museum, Belfast.

Commentary by Scott Hahn & Curtis Mitch Based on the Revised Standard Version - Catholic Edition, this fourth volume in this series leads readers through a penetrating study of the Book of Acts, using the biblical text itself and the Church's own guidelines for understanding the Bible. Ample notes accompany each page, providing fresh insights by renowned Bible teachers Scott Hahn and …

Stpe Three in the Great Adventure - Continue on the journey with this 20-week study of Acts of the Apostles and the story of the earliest days of the Church.  This study completes The Great Adventure foundation series by showing how Christ's work continues through you and me in the Church today.  Here's where you "find yourself in the Story" that you learned the Bible …

This selection of writings from the sixth and seventh century AD provides a powerful insight into the early history of the Christian Church in England and Ireland. From Bede's Life of Cuthbert and Lives of the Abbots of Wearmouth and Jarrow to the anonymous Voyage of St Brendan - a whimsical mixture of fact and fantasy that describes a quest for paradise on earth - these are vivid accounts of …

In The Age of Martyrs, the famous Catholic historian Abbot Giuseppe Ricciotti records the epochal events of Roman history from the rise of Diocletian (284) to the death of Constantine the Great (337), a period which witnessed the last and greatest of the 10 persecutions of the Christians by the Roman government. Included are the stories of many of the most famous martyrdoms of that period, …

About this book - A powerful new translation of de Tocqueville’s influential look at the origins of modern France In this penetrating study, Alexis de Tocqueville considers the French Revolution in the context of France’s history. de Tocqueville worried that although the revolutionary spirit was still alive and well, liberty was no longer its primary objective. Just as the first …

Angels in Iron Nicholas C. Prata The year is A.D. 1565 and the tiny island fortress of Malta, defended by an anachronistic crusading order called the Knights of St. John Hospitallers, is all that stands between the war machine of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent and teh very heart of Christendom. Pitifully outmatched and against impossible odds, the indomitable Grand Master Jean Parisot de La …

This volume, in the Classics of Western Spirituality series, is an anthology of sermons, homilies and poems written by Anglo-Saxons during the later part of their age (c. 660-1066) in Britain. Translated and Introduced by Robert Boenig

Tacitus Surviving passages from Tacitus's last and best-known work cover the reigns of Tiberius, Gaius (Caligula), Claudius, and Nero, and detail the Roman Empire at its zenith.

John Henry Cardinal Newman John Henry Newman's conversion to Roman Catholicism rocked the Church of England to its foundation and escalated the spread of virulent anti-catholicism in Victorian England. A rigorous examination of his own religious development, enlivened by touches of satire and sometimes invective, Apologia pro Vita Sua is a spiritual autobiography of great power.

Pope Benedict XVI reflects on the Apostles, their teaching and the life of the early church. Pope Benedict's Wednesday General Audience series of talks on the 12 Apostles have been collected into this new single volume work. "Through the Apostles, we come to Jesus himself" --- Pope Benedict XVI In this fascinating and inspirational journey with the friends of Jesus, Pope …

Steven J. Schloeder Amid the growing dissatisfaction with Catholic church architecture since the Second Vatican Council, and the general lack of clear and vibrant direction in liturgy, this book responds to the timely question of "How ought we build our churches?" Drawing upon the texts of the Second Vatican Council, recent papal encyclicals, and the Catechism of the Catholic Church , …

Early in his career, Newman immersed himself deeply in the study of the church fathers. This volume is a fine academic study, as well as a source of insight into the spirituality of Newman. Important for students of Arianism and Athanasius, as well as Cardinal Newman himself.  

John Henry Cardinal Newman This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other …

This very short introduction to the history of the Catholic Church covers the centuries from the inception of the Catholic Church when Jesus entrusted the keys of the Kingdom to St. Peter to the eve of the Council of Trent in 1545. As a quick overview of these years the work introduces us to saints and sinners, to the authentic doctrine of the Church and to the heresies which have sought to …

Athanasius (c. 295-373), Bishop of Alexandria, spiritual master and theologian, was a major figure of 4th-century Christendom.  The Life of Antony is one of the foremost classics of asceticism.  The Letter to Marcellinus is an introduction to the spiritual sense of the Psalms.

How can I pray better? How do I know God hears my prayers? How can I ‘pray always,’ as Jesus commands? Why must I ask for things God already knows I need? Such were the questions that perplexed a young North African man, Augustine Aurelius (354-430), whose intense yearning for God led him into a profound and lifelong encounter with Christ in prayer. There Augustine found answers to …

This classic biography was first published thirty years ago and has since established itself as the standard account of Saint Augustine's life and teaching. The remarkable discovery recently of a considerable number of letters and sermons by Augustine has thrown fresh light on the first and last decades of his experience as a bishop. These circumstantial texts have led Peter Brown to …

St. Augustine of Hippo: Selected Writings Translated and introduced by Mary T. Clark Augustine of Hippo (354-430), bishop, philosopher, and Doctor of the Church whose thought molded the Western theological tradition, is clearly one of the most influential figures in the history of the Church. At the heart of his brilliant philosophical and theological speculation is his spirituality-a …

Jump right into this hilarious new book on enjoying and celebrating Catholicism in a whole new way! Both a comical read, as well as an indispensable resource for observing the Feast Days of the Saints, The Bad Catholic’s Guide to Good Living is for anyone who is interested in celebrating the history and humor behind the Catholic Faith. Consisting of selected historical sketches of the …

A very funny and very entertaining read! "John and Denise, a long-time Catholic journalist and a trained Continental chef, have done it again. They've ransacked 20 centuries, 5 continents, and their own disturbed imaginations to uncover the fun in faith - and dozens of delicious recipes for dinner, cocktails, and party punch. It's educational - and intoxicating!"  - Angelo …

Claudia Devaux & George Bernard Wong, S.J. Bamboo Swaying in the Wind reveals the extraordinary life story of Chinese Jesuit George Bernard Wong, who was imprisoned in China for more than 25 years for his religious beliefs.  It is a story of romance, joy, political intrigue, cultural revolution, historic oppression, and living hope.  Readers come to know a man of profound faith …

Hillaire Belloc In this religious-biblical oriented history, Belloc provides a full and fair treatment of the ancient Jews and other Middle Eastern cultures and their impact in history, and in today’s world. He affirms a special divine design in the story of Syria and particularly of Israel, reaching a climax in the event of the Crucifixion of Christ. His famous motto, “Europe is …

The Church lives in the "in-between" times. This book is a sustained reflection on this fact, on the meaning of the Church's life in time. It is at once a theoogy of history and the reflections of a practicing historian on Church history. Each chapter takes up a period of Church history and examines one or more of its central developments in relation to the present. If the Church is in time, …

The Beginning of the English Reformation by Hugh Ross Williamson. If people neglect the study of the past, they cannot fully understand the present.This forceful and compact history shows how important political and economic forces were in the English Reformation. It is very informative and interesting reading and is excellent in helping the reader understand the crucial situation in the …

A survey of the principal themes of patristic writing, touching on the major Greek and Latin Fathers of the Church.  

Behind the Lodge Door  is at once an in-depth and probing analysis of Masonic activity in four principal areas of influence, especially as they relate to the United States, but it is also an overview of the Masonic fraternity in general thatwill enlighten and inform the reader and make a perusal of this book most worthwhile. Those four areas are1) the religious education issue in the …

The Roman Catholic Papacy is the longest-living institution in the Western World - and at times one of the most controversial due to the basic doctrines of: Papal Authority, Papal Infallibility and Apostolic Succession. Drawing upon Old and New Testament Scripture, Tradition, and the words of the Early Church Fathers, author and noted Catholic apologist John Salza presents a comprehensive and …

Blood-Drenched Altars - A Catholic Commentary On The History Of Mexico Most Rev. Francis C. Kelley This book is pivotal to understanding Mexico! Shows how Catholic Spain during 300 years - 1521-1821 - formed Mexico and made her prosperous and happy, but how the great Masonic Revolution (1821 - 1928) has made her poor and miserable. Shows that Mexico is still basically Catholic (97%) but is …

The Book of Pastoral Rule By St Gregory the Great Popular Patristics Series Introduction & translation by George E. Demacopoulos Recognized as the most thorough pastoral treatise of the patristic era, this sixth-century work by St Gregory the Great carefully details the duties and obligations of the clergy concerning the spiritual formation of their flock. "Pastoral Rule has served …

The Liber Pontificalis is an invaluable historical document, cataloging the names and dates of the first 65 Pontiffs of Rome beginning with St. Peter himself. Though of unknown authorship, its antiquity is well established. Modern scholarship has determined that the Liber was probably first compiled in the 6th century AD and continued piecemeal thereafter. This English edition, originally …

Hilda van Stockum When Janna is suddenly summoned from Germany to join her actor parents in Nazi-occupied Amsterdam, she is shocked by the Dutch hatred for the Germans. Her favorite Nordic tales and Hitler Youth indoctrination have not prepared her for the complexities of living in a house requisitioned by a military friend of her parents; or for the violence she sees on the streets. With her …

This second volume tells the story of the great heresies that seemed to carry all before them, yet always failed to gain their final goal of capturing the Papacy; of St. Patrick's mission to Ireland; of how the Popes became judges of kings and the First Crusade swept on to victory against all odds; of how the Church bridged the abyss of the Dark Ages and laid the foundations of a new Christian …

  Building the Free Society Edited by George Weigel and Robert Royal Through the insightful and thought-provoking commentaries of ten distinguished Catholic writers, Building the Free Society critically examines a century of Catholic reflection and argument on human freedom, the just society, and the international order. Adopting the best from A Century of Catholic Social Thought , …

The Byzantine Rite A Short History Robert Taft, S.J. Much has been written regarding the western liturgy; the same cannot be said of the Byzantine liturgy. Father Taft contributes to a remedy of that shortfall through this work. In it he traces the origins of the Byzantine Rite during its period of formation: from its earliest recorded beginnings until the end of Byzantium (1453 c.e.). While …

John Henry Cardinal Newman This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other …

John Henry Cardinal Newman This scarce antiquarian book is included in our special Legacy Reprint Series. In the interest of creating a more extensive selection of rare historical book reprints, we have chosen to reproduce this title even though it may possibly have occasional imperfections such as missing and blurred pages, missing text, poor pictures, markings, dark backgrounds and other …

This is the authoritative catechism produced by the Council of Trent and published by order of St. Pius V. which was originally commissioned during the Reformation period, in order to explain the Faith clearly and calmly in the face of Protestant objections. It still serves as an excellent compendium of the Church’s traditional life and belief.

Hilaire Belloc Imprimatur. The Catholic Church claims to speak with Divine and Infallible Authority. Certain objections and detractors from history say that this is not true. Hilaire Belloc’s object in this book is to rebutt these objections from protestant and agnostic arguments. In Belloc’s own words, the modern world “. . . is rapidly becoming divided into two fairly definite camps: those …

Our knowledge of the Catholic faith is immeasurably broadened and deepened by studying twenty centuries of Catholic experience. This book surveys the Church's past from Abelard to Zwingli, introducing the reader to hundreds of fascinating people, places, events, ideas, institutions, and movements that have made their mark on our spiritual heritage and shaped the Church as we know it today. A …

Martha Rasmussen This book is a popular overview and study guide to the history of the Catholic Church. Written for non-scholarly readers with little historical background, it includes descriptions of society in different historical eras in order to make the history of the Church more understandable. The book avoids unnecessary names, dates, and scholarly disputes, but it explains important …

The first comprehensive history of the century that produced the greatest number of Catholic martyrs ever: it is estimated that more than one million people died for their faith in "the century of progress." From Edith Stein to Oscar Romero, from the Calvary of Romania to the Chinese carnage-the stories told in this book (organized by geographic area) paint a challenging picture of what it …

Catholicism Christ and the Common Destiny of Man by Henri Cardinal de Lubac, S.J. This book first appeared just over fifty years ago. It is the pilgrimatic work of one of the 20th century's greatest theologians. Deeply rooted in tradition, it breaks ground and sows seeds which will bear their fruit in the Second Vatican Council's central documents on the Church. Here, de Lubac gathers from …

Stefan Heid Heid presents a penetrating and wide-ranging study of the historical data from the early Church on the topics of celibacy and clerical continence. He gives a brief review of recent literature, and then begins his study with the New Testament and follows it all the way to Justinian and the Council in Trullo in 690 it the East and the fifth century popes in the West. He thoroughly …

As with the Crusades and the Galileo case, any mention of the Inquisition sets off a series of preconceived judgements against the Catholic Church in the minds of those who hear about it today. Yet few today can give a really accurate description of what the Inquisition really was - why it came about, its aims, its methods, the number of persons involved in it, the true record of its history, …

Characters of the Reformation may well be the most universally fascinating book ever written by the great Cathoic historian, Hilaire Belloc.  Here in bold, living colors he sketches 23 famous men and women of the Reformation period, analyzing their strengths, weaknesses, mistakes and motives and pinpointing deeds that changed the course of history. There are more than a few surprises …

Scott McDermott "A Roman Catholic but an Ardent Patriot." (from a letter by John Adams, writing on Charles Carroll) Charles Carroll did everything he could for the Revolutionary cause except to pick up a rifle and head into battle.  He didn't need to, because he had already succeeded in leading into the Patriots' cause virtually all the Catholic population of Maryland - along with many …

"What if nothing wonderful happens on the 13th?  Aren't you afraid people will laugh at you then?" asked the parish priest, as he looked closely at 10-year-old Lucia. "Oh no, Father!" replied Lucia.  "I know something wonderful is going to happen on the 13th.  The Lady told us so."  Nine-year-old Francisco and 7-year-old Jacinta were equally …

Christ and the Americas  is the long-awaited high school American history text by the author of Christ the King-Lord of History. It fills a great void because it gives proper attention to and appreciation for the role of the Catholic Church in American history. Beginning before Columbus and concluding with the 1990's, this book covers the vast panoply of American history in a fast-paced …

At last, a workbook for students to use along with Anne Carroll's Christ and the Americas! The workbook helps the student in mentally processing a large amount of information and grasping the major historical concepts as well as names, places, dates and events. Then, with the answers filled in, the questions become a great study guide and memory aid. This workbook includes the Catholic …

Christ in Dachau Rev. John M. Lenz Forgotten Priests in a Nazi Hellhole Dachau concentration camp held the largest number of Catholic priests—more than 2400—in the Nazi camp system. They came from two dozen countries, from every background—parish priests and prelates, monks and friars, teachers and missionaries. Over one-third were killed. Among the survivors was Fr. Johannes Lenz, who was …

This is the Official Commemorative book on Pope Benedict’s 2008 apostolic visit to the USA April 15 – 20.  This lavishly illustrated, large-size edition, has dozens of fabulous photos of all the papal visit venues during his historic visit, with inspiring, informative commentary on the various papal events, and also includes the texts all the Pope’s addresses, homilies, …

Here is a fast-paced, enjoyable, highly readable and fascinatingly interesting Catholic world history that is in great demand for high-school students-and makes excellent, informative reading for adults too! It covers largely Western world history since the coming of Christ-and all from a Catholic viewpoint. The book just flows and flows, recounting episode after interesting episode of our …

Jordan Aumann, O.P. The well-known author gives a complete overview and history of Catholic spirituality from the Apostles to the present day.

From the Introduction Christianity inhabits a strange space in American life. It is by far the predominant religion in the most religious country in the industrialized world, with more than 90 percent of its citizens professing belief in God and a large majority claiming allegiance to a Christian denomination or sect. Yet Christians are regularly targeted for ridicule and vilification by a …

This book, which includes a new preface by the author, offers an engrossing portrayal of the early years of the Christian movement from the perspective of the Romans.

The Chronicle of John, Bishop of Nikiu is an important source for the history of the turbulent 6th and 7th centuries. Focusing on Egypt where he was a Monophysite bishop, John is one of the few contemporary historians who describes the conquest of this formerly Roman province by the Muslims.      Though his Chronicle follows closely that of John Malalas and the anonymous …