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Question Title Posted By Question Date
Where to learn church history properly TJ Monday, October 12, 2009

Question:

Dear Brother

I doubt wikipedia is the best way to go with learning our history. Basically I have had a desire lately to truly learn the history of our church from the beginning (where the bible leaves off). I recently visited the Greek orthodox church near by for a festival and read their pamphlet describing how they are "the true church" and how the west was basically punished with the protestan reformation and now countless sects for leaving the eastern churhes and such. I wish to have references unbiased but contain the truth about what led up to the great schism and the way the Roman church meaning the pope led the patriarchs. Even the truth about the Protestant reformation and what led up to it. I feel this history is not really taught to us or at least me and I went to a catholic highschool :). Thank you for your previous answers and I wanted to let you know that you prayers have really helped me with my spiritual warfare. I'm trying not to be afraid of the Devil while I pray for my family and those I meet everyday.

Also I would just ask where some of your prayers come from just from curiosity. Suh as the hedge prayer of protection.

TJ



Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear TJ:

The best one-volume book on Church History is Triumph: The Power and the Glory of the Catholic Church

Another very good book is Christ the King-Lord of History: A Catholic World History from Ancient to Modern Times, by Dr. Anne W. Carroll, which is a high school book, but excellent for adults as well.

For a professionally definitive and scholarly book is the multi-volume work by Dr. Warren H. Carroll, (Anne Carroll's husband), History Of Christendom. Five volumes have been published so far with at least one more to come:

Vol 1: The Founding of Christendom (to 325)
Vol 2: The Building of Christendom
(325-1100)
Vol 3: Glory Of Christendom (1100-1517)
Vol 4: Cleaving Of Christendom (1517-1661)
Vol 5: The Revolution Against Christendom (1661-1815)

These references will give you the accurate and definitive information on Church History.

Concerning the prayers in our Spiritual Warfare Catalog, they come from a wide variety of sources. Some are written by me, some are written by others and I have edited or modified them, and some are verbatim from their original authors. As to which prayers come from which source, I have no idea. I do not even know which ones I have written or modified myself. I pay no attention to where these prayers come from. All that matters is that the prayers are consistent with Catholic theology and efficacious for what the prayer is asking for.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary


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