The Church in the Nineteenth Century

Audio Category: The Church in the Nineteenth Century

1 – The Regalist and Naturalist Stranglehold – 1800-1848

Napoleonic and Restoration Europe was still not a world that the Catholic Church could enjoy. It was too regalist and too naturalist. Dr. John Rao discusses how secularist State interference...

2 – Rising from the Ashes, 1800-1848 – Part I

Dr. John Rao discusses the various forces which contributed to a revival of Catholic self-confidence in the years 1800-1848. These involved a number of clerical-lay circles in Germany, France, and...

3 – Rising from the Ashes, 1800-1848 – Part II

Such early nineteenth century circles, which concerned themselves with theological, philosophical, spiritual/mystical, historical, catechetical, liturgical, literary, missionary, and political and social issues are discussed here by Dr. John Rao in...

4 – Dilemmas Arising from the Catholic Revival – Part I

The next four talks by Dr. John Rao discuss the various dilemmas and disagreements arising from this movement of Catholic rediscovery. They caused clashes not only with enemies of Catholicism,...

5 – Dilemmas Arising from the Catholic Revival – Part II

One set of battles that was involved among the “revivalists” entailed quarrels with the governments of Europe: Orthodox, Protestant, Catholic, and Liberal. This, Dr. John Rao demonstrates, could lead to...

6 – Dilemmas Arising from the Catholic Revival – Part III

Another problem emerged from the effort to strengthen the backbone of the Church authorities. When bishops of national Churches did not respond, supporters of the Ultramontanist movement calling for the...

7 – Dilemmas Arising from the Catholic Revival – Part IV

Dr. John Rao also emphasizes the Intellectual disputes which began to develop. Should the Church primarily revive a knowledge of Scholasticism or the Church Fathers? Speculative theology or positive theology?...

8 – Pius IX and Catholic Freedom

Dr. John Rao indicates that the entire struggle for Catholic freedom and a Catholic declaration of independence from the regalist-naturalist stranglehold was symbolized by the work of Pius IX. Pius...

9 – The Missions

Protestant competition, and revival of Catholic religious orders backed by the aid of clerical-lay circles in Europe and the Papacy increased missionary activity in the nineteenth century. Exploration in Africa...

10 – Pius IX and Heightened Tensions – Part I

Pius IX himself saw the need for a deeper clarification of the Catholic position by 1848. The rest of his reign was spend dedicated to this work. Dr. John Rao,...