Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church - A 2,000 Year History (Updated and Expanded)

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 ChurchAnother 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, 2015James E. Egolf

H.W.Crocker has done an indepth and scholarly review of Christianity. He begins with Christ himself and Pentecost, the start of the Church. Crocker reveals several things, none of which he apologises for: 1) the Catholic Church is the only true and original Church with roots to Christ Himself. 2) The Catholic Church has not vacillated on dogma or doctrine in its 2000 year history. 3) the Catholic Church has had some popes and other leaders which by their human faults made some bad decisions. None of these decisions were ex-cathedra or of the infallible kind. 4) the Church continues to function not as a man made democracy, but as a theocracy headed by the Bishop of Rome who is a direct apostolic successor to Saint Peter. 5) this original Church has survived in nearly its original form for 2000 years. With this background Crocker relates how the Church has evolved and how other religions came into existence. He also tells how these religions and other secular entities have interacted with the Catholic Church. Again, Crocker does not apologize for his views; whether or not you agree with this view, this is an excellent read.

I really enjoyed Crocker's history of the Catholic Church. I am a Protestant exploring Catholicism, and I really liked getting to learn about the history of the ante-Reformation Church. I think this book is detailed and inspiring. With that said I cannot give it five stars because it is not above reproach. As should come as a surprise to no one given the title, the book sometimes ventures more into polemics than the type of unbiased scholarship some readers would expect as a norm. One example can be found in the fact that Crocker accurately informs his reader that the early Calvinists shut down the theatres (among other anti-fun measures like banning Christmas), but in his many complaints here and those he levels against Moliere he somehow neglected to mention that "Moliere" was a pen name, and it was used because the Catholic Church denied actors the sacraments in France at that time period, and has herself had a bit if a rocky relationship with the theatre (and music) over the centuries. One is left to wonder if the author is always inclined to be completely fair in his discussion of other religious groups, or non-conservative ideas in general. I would also note that, for better or worse, he paints a pretty bleak picture of Luther. Furthermore he has a pretty dim view of the American Revolution. With that said he is by no means anti-American and is not above criticism of Catholic and English figures. Additionally I want to point out that the author sort of gives the impression that the Church supports capital punishment...and that's not true. Perhaps I misunderstood Crocker in the book- I'm certainly not calling him a liar, but read the CCC or any modern documents on the subject put out by the bishops and it will be clear that the Catholic Church opposes the use of the death penalty in most if not practically all cases in these modern times regardless of historical pratices. All in all this is a good book, but a book named "the power and glory of the Catholic Church" adorned with an endorsement by Sean Hannity of Fox News on the cover can hardly be expected to be perfectly objective, and in this regard Crocker has truly Triumphed, amid his victories in history and religion.

Against the modern background of anti-Catholicism, it is a distinct relief to turn to H.W. Crocker’s history of Catholicism. It takes a fair and balanced approach to Catholic history and doesn't shy away from some of the failings of Catholics.

I have read some books on Church History, this has been one of the best, considering size, depth, organization, analysis.

In an epic sweet across European history, this book portrays a vision of the catholic church as the guarantor of a libertarian political order in which popes restrict the power of otherwise all-powerful kings. While the book can be taken at face value as just a well written history, charting history from the birth of Jesus through to the modern day, the more interesting side of the book lies in the authors perspective on events along the way. Our modern way of viewing the world---perceiving monarchs as inherantly bad etc---can often be disruptive when trying to understand history: it's hard for an athiest to grasp why trivial distinctions between protestants and catholics lead to the thirty years war. The authors staunchly catholic perspective is fascinating to take on board. This is a book which will no doubt set many an athiests on the route to catholicism. It's message will stay with me for many a year.The book begins with Jesus and Paul the Apostle, describing how the early church was built within the Roman empire, how the faith was strengthened in the crucible of persecution. With echos of the modern age, he notes how Christians distinguished themselves in Rome in an era when most the society was using contraceptives and commiting infanticide. Crocker begins his reevaluation of history early on during the discussion of Emporer Julian, whom Edward Gibbon noted 'deserved the empire of the world' for his role as a philosopher king: he appears to view him instead as just another decadent rationalist indulging himself in paganism to avoid accepting universal morality.As the Roman empire crumbles, a picture is painted of the church arising triumphant: battling heratics in Europe, Asia and North Africa in favour of a single uniform belief system. When one thinks of these wars outside of context they are hard to understand: did anyone really care enough about the monophysite heresy to fight a war over it? But when framed within the later context of political catholicism the reasoning is clear: a patchwork of states with intermediate levels of pooled sovereignty can only work when it is focused on one agreed moral code. Allowing heresy refutes the possibility of a central authority. Hence it was neccesary to insist on the centrality of the Trinity as interpreted by Rome. One also notes in reading this that the perspective of god which is communicated in the 21st century and which has driven so many people away from the church ('a seperate thinking entity sitting on a cloud directing the ways of the world') is clearly heretical: the genius of the church's early founders becomes clear.With Rome fallen, it then fell to the church to unify Europe again. We read of St Patrick going to Ireland and raising a literate priestly caste there, establishing many monastries and developing a church government. From here, these Irish priests spread across Europe, teaching and building goverenance systems. Then come the Vikings, pillaging towns and churches across Europe; who was to stand in their way? Who on this disorganised and chaotic continent had a system for raising people into an army to fight back? The abbots and bishops of the catholic church. Not just did they fight though, but they preached, eventually converting the Vikings to the church and unifying them with the people. In Italy, there were invasions by the Moors, driven back by the pope. In the east, there were invasions by Magyars, halted by the Catholic Ottonians. With Otto I we see the Holy Roman Empire coming into form, acknowledging the unity of crown and alter, acknowledging (unlike the degenerate Italians of the time) that even with sovereignty devolved, there must be central morality and direction.With the Crusades we see the Church as the one force which can unify the disparate peoples of Europe. Byzantium is falling and the Christians of the middle east are under threat. The great holy sites of the anciests are controlled by heretics, and the church falls for united efforts to bring them back under control and to defend the European borders (in Spain and Eastern europe). The story of the Knights Templar is one of the most intriguing parts of this section: how the nobles of Europe would deposit their European estates with the Knights before leaving for crusades, then cashing them in upon arrival in the Outremer, and through this establishing the first international bank. While the Crusades in the middle east eventually failed, those within Europe succeeded and thereby proved that a patchwork of small states can act to defend themselves against external threats, when they share a common philosophical code.As Europe (and Cristendom) expands out, colonising the Balkans, one sees the Church reaching the height of it's power: the glorious cities and art works of Italy and the medieval world funded through indulgences. But this triggered a reaction: Luther, portrayed here as a deluged madman hand in hand with tyranical calvinists, attempting to engineer society in accordance with their personal (and heretical) notions of what christianity involves. The clash of political catholicism and protestantism is made clear here, with Luther rejecting the need for independence of canon law from the state. He is explicit in portraying the great achievement of christendom is the use of the church as a means to limit the powers of soldiers and kings: something rejected by protestants who then sought to unify church with state. The catholic church is shown as the centre of science and learning, in contrast to a protestantism which believes each man can find god himself: "an educated priesthood is unneccesary when God speaks directly to man".The inquisitions are portrayed here not as a great crime of the catholic past, but as a neccesary process to maintain Medieval society against the herasies of protestantism. Later in the book it is noted that if the inquisition had operated within 1930's germany, Hitler would never have had the power he did.While the book is quite light on describing how the Catholic church actually governed it's society, one can see reflections of this when reading about events such as the dissolution of the monastries. How 15000 monks were hurled onto the street when the government seized and dissolved their hospitals, schools and charitable houses. One glimpses a vision of an alternative political system whereby the territorial government only handles 'maintaining peace' and religious orders handle most the functions of society associated with modern governments. This is what political catholicism is really about, and one sees in the remaining chapters of the book how it was destroyed by power hungry monarchs (and then democrats) cheered on by protestants (and then by liberals).

This is a masterpiece. Very well written. It is used by some traditionalists as a Church history text book.

Really good!