H. W. Crocker III wrote a good survey of Catholic Church. Croker's book is well written and well organized. Crocker also showed wit and the book is laced with humor which keeps readers' attention. The book is a good introduction to approximately 2000 years of Catholic History and should invite further investigation..
The Prologue treated Constantine's military victory over Maxentius at Milvian Bridge in 312 AD. Crocker's description of the battle scene was suprisingly well done. If Crocker is not a military historia, he still did an exceptional job. The victory insured freedom of religious liberty for both Catholics and "Pagans."
Crocker's account of Roman control of Judea c. 63 BC provided a historiical background to Jewish background and political history from which early Catholicism emerged. Crocker explained the differences among Jewish groups such as the Sadducees, Pharisees, Essenes,etc. Readers should note that St. Paul was at one time a persecuting Pharissee.
Crocker then examined the persecution of the Early Church. Persecutions were mostly sporadic, but the reigns of Decius (249-252)and Diocletian (284-305)consisted of attempts to erase the Early Church. When one reads that the Early Church was built on the blood of its martyrs, these persecutions confirm that phrase. The Early Church faced internal problems from the Gnostics, the Arians, and others. The Council of Nicea (325) resolved these differences in favor of St. Athanasius (293-373)who argued in favor of both Christ's human and divine nature (The Nicene Creed and the Apostles'Creed).
Challenges to the early Catholic Church did not stop. The Roman civil wars and pressures from "barbarians" occured while St. Jerome (346-420)edited and translated the Vulgate Bible, and St. Augustine (354-430) wrote his classics such as THE CITY OF GOD. The Popes did what they could to maintain Catholcism in spite of barbarian invasions and fickle poltical leaders. The reputation of the Papacy and the early Catholic Church was enhanced when Pope Leo I (440-461)successfully negotiated an agreement with Atilla the Hun (400-453)not to sack Rome which later resulted in Hun defeats and the collapse of the Hun threat.
The Catholic Church also benefited from barbarian realms which were created out of the Roman Empire. From c. 500-750,barbarian leaders needed literate people to administer new found kingdoms. Since the only literate men were Catholic clergy, monks, and nuns, these Catholics were valued for their literacy. Clovis (c.480-520) gave the Benedictines land and recognition due to their learning and ability. St. Benedict (480-544)created this order whose monks created the library at Monte Casino. Pope Gregory I (590-604)encouraged learning and is credited for creating Gregorian Chant. Crocker explained that the Catholic authorities were enhanced by Charles Martel's (718-774)victory over supposedly invincible Moslems in 732. His later successor Charlemagne (768-814)was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III (795-816)to benefit of both Charlegmange's Franks and the Catholic Church.
Unfortunately, after Charlemagnes'death, the Europeans were invaded by Saracens (Noth African Moslems)Magyars (Hungarians), and especially the Scandanavians. The Papacy suffered creditibility due to simony, bribes, and nepotism. Crocker "did not shy away" from the Church scandals and carefully explained these problems. Secular rulers tried to take control of the Catholic Church, and the scandals gave cause for secular "reform." The installation of Pope Gregory VII (1073-1085)brought reform and what some historians call The Papal Revolution. Gregory's reforms led to conflict with the German ruler Henry IV (1056-1106) which led to excommunication, reconciliation, and war. While Henry's were forced to leave Italy by the Normans, the Normans looted Rome when they were not paid. Gregory did not live long enough to realize his Papal Revolution whereby the Pope and the Curia gradually wrested control of the Catholic Church
Another crisis emerged re the Crusades. When Pope Urban (1088-1099)called for the Crusades in 1095, European History changed radically. The initial success of the Crusaders was marred by later political and economic power struggles. In 1204, the Crusaders looted Constantinople in revenge for Byzantine savage attacks on Catholics previously. The Crusades were ultimately a military failure, but they helped Europeans learn from their enemies. The crudading spirit also affected Western Europe. In 1208, French Catholics defeated a much large army of Algigensians who threatened the social order and stability in Europe. The Albigensian threat was based on their fanaticism and casual toleration of murder.
To meet the threat of the Albigensians, St. Dominic (1170-1221) started a new order called The Order of Preachers or Dominicans who were a studious order who used reason and effective preaching to combat heresy. Crocker gave credit to St. Dominic,St. Albertus Magnus (1193-1280), and especially St. Thomas Aquinas (1225-1274)who re-emphasized Aristotle's work on logic to make the Catholic Faith reasonable to counter "blind faith," supersitition, and fanaticism. Crocker's coverage of St. Thomas Aquinas & co. was short but surprisingly well done.
In spite of the progress of the "High Middle Ages" (c.1050-1350),the Catholic Church had further divisions and almost complete disaster. Crocker wrote a good account of the Catholic Church's Schism (1377-1414)wherby a dispute between Phillip IV (1285-1314)and Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303) led to rival claims to Papacy, persecution, and finally reconciliation at the Council of Constance (1414-1417). However these conflicts weakened the Church and assited the "Reformation." Beginning with the political support of Luther (1483-1546)and the division of Europe, Europe was convulsed in violent religious hatred, terrible religious wars including the terrible Thirty Years War (1618-1648), and attacks on science. As some historians noted, the Europeans entered a new age of barbarism.
Yet, the Catholic Counter Reformation was spectacular. The Catholics regained areas of Poland from the Protestants. New effective Catholic orders were created, and the Society of Jesus, the Jesuits, were the most notable. St. Ignatius of Loyala (1491-1556)started the Jesuits, and their fame of learning became well know. As St. Ignatius once wrote,"Virtue unlearned is virtue unarmed." Catholics regained self confidence, and the expansion became permanent.
Crocker devoted a section to refute false claims about Catholics denying science. Father Copernicus (1473-1573)developed a heliocentric solar system which Catholic authorities promoted. The false canard that Galleo was jailed and tortured was refuted by Crocker. Galileo was never imprisosned and never tortured. His biggest fault was that he was an ungrateful guest. In 1610, Pope Paul V (1605-1621)had a large reception honoring Galileo. Later in 1624 Pope Urban VIII (1622-1644)who "persecuted" Galileo, honored Galileo with another huge reception. Galileo insulted his hosts and made claims which could not be proven at the time. Galileo was given a house arrest in 1633 which was a moot point since he was legally blind. While under arrest, Galileo resides in luxurious living quarters with his own chef and wine taster. While he was told not to write, he did, and his daughter a devout nun, did his written expression. Some of Galileo's best work re physics was done in his later life.
Crocker spent considerable time writing about the convulsions started by the French Revolution. Crocker gave "chapter and verse" details about the convulsions of the French Reign of Terror, wars of the French Revolution, the Napoleonic Wars, and the persecution of Catholics plus Catholic martyrs. With the aftermath of French Revolution and the rise of Nationalism, the Papacy lost control of the Papal States. Yet, Catholic influence did not die with the loss of the Papal States. A Catholic started renewal of Thomism and successful response to Modernism enhanced the Catholic Church both socially and intellectually.
Catholics were again challenged by the convulsions of the 20th. century. Crocker, among others, refuted the false claims that somehow Pope Pius XII was "Hitler's Pope." Crocker again cited "chapter and verse" with numerous sources as others have done. The Catholic authorities made intelligent responses to crises during and after the Cold War. Crocker summarized recent Catholic History very well.
Crocker's book is well written and informative. While this writer disagrees with Crocker's political views, the undersigned cannot deny that Crocker wrote a good book that should be attractive to readers of whatever political persuasion. The book is a good start for those interested in Catholic history.
January 11, 2015
James E. Egolf
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