CTS Concise Histories
Fr Anthony Meredith SJ
Catholic Truth Society
ISBN 9781860824203
CTS Booklet H506
This is the third volume I have read in the CTS Concise Histories series. I have enjoyed the few books I have read in this series. This volume could almost serve as an introduction for the first book in the new series Reclaiming Catholic History Series, The Early Church by James L. Papandrea. This book was a great little read.
The chapters in this small volume are:
Introduction
The Pre Constantinian Church
Apologists for the Church
The Church in North Africa
The Church and Culture
Schism and Heresy
Conclusion
The description of the volume is:
“The growth of the Church in her first three hundred years was faster and stronger than can easily be accounted for on purely historical grounds. While Christianity offered a brighter hope to a weary world than rival religions, it demanded a drastic change of life: the courage of Christians under persecution and their care for the poor and widows were remarkable, but in the end Fr. Meredith attributes her remarkable vigour to her message about Jesus and the continuous guidance of the Holy Spirit.”
This book is a great resource. It is truly a concise volume. Coming in at 48 pages of text. The book does a great job of showing the mixed blessing of Constantine’s conversion and the change in the church from a persecuted minority to much bigger role. Fr Meredith has written a clear history. He presents both the growth of the church. The apostolic age, and the early heresies.
This is a volume you can read on an afternoon over a large mug of tea. It is a great starting point or jumping off place. It is a wonderful read in an excellent series.
Note: This book is part of a series of reviews: 2020 Catholic Reading Plan! For other reviews of books from the Catholic Truth Society click here.
Books in the CTS Concise Histories Series:
A Brief History of English Catholicism - Nicholas Schofield
Heresy through the Ages - Jerome Bertram
The Crusades What Really Happened - Jonathan Riley-Smith
The Reformation in England – Raymond Edwards
The Inquisition – Fernando Cervantes
The Early Church From Christ to Constantine – Fr. Anthony Meredith SJ
The Dowry of Mary - Dr Raymond Edwards and Mgr John Armitage
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