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History of the Church of Christ #2
História da Igreja de Cristo - Volume III - A Igreja dos Tempos Bárbaros
A magnificent history presents six centuries of the Catholic Church in its entirety, embracing not merely the development of the ecclesiastical administration but also the rise and fall of churches, empires, and dynasties. Warm, sympathetic, and insightful, it reveals the impact of faith upon the humble mass of its adherents, and its influence on learning, the arts, and even on its enemies. The author is a member of the Academie Française who wrote more than 70 books.
644 pages, Paperback
First published January 1, 1950
5 people are currently reading
165 people want to read
About the author
Henri Daniel-Rops
393 books39 followersDaniel-Rops (Henri Petiot's literary pseudonym) was born in Épinal in 1901 and died in Chambéry in 1965. He was professor of history and director of Ecclesiae magazine (Paris), and became world-famous mainly for works of historiography: (1943), Jesus in his time (1945), and the ten volumes of the History of the Church of Christ (1948 - 1965). He has also authored several essays, works of children's literature and historical novels, among which are Death, where is your victory? (1934) and The Sword of Fire (1938). He was a voter for the French Academy in 1955.
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
November 11, 2023
Having finished The Church of Apostles and Martyrs which was the first in his 10-volume history of the Church, I am moving on to the next phase — the dark ages! I have seen this historical series described as both inspired and engrossing. I agree. I always come away with a new insight.
Henri Daniel-Rops is an author you may have missed. He wrote histories of Jesus, the Old Testament, the Bible, and the Catholic Church between 1933 and his death. I really love the way he puts faith and history in context with one another. He has a way of connecting the dots and comparing those times to modern life (or back when he was writing) which is inspirational and sticks with you.
Henri Daniel-Rops is an author you may have missed. He wrote histories of Jesus, the Old Testament, the Bible, and the Catholic Church between 1933 and his death. I really love the way he puts faith and history in context with one another. He has a way of connecting the dots and comparing those times to modern life (or back when he was writing) which is inspirational and sticks with you.
January 22, 2014
It'll sound silly, but every time Daniel-Rops used an exclamation point (which was a lot) I fell a little bit more in love with him.
An earnest work by what seems to be an overwhelmingly gentle and good man. Far less prejudiced against the Invaders than the usual "Rome was the best; Civilization is great; Please ignore all the slaves," narratives. There's more color to it than the statistic-heavy histories of high scholarship, but it also feels a heck of a lot more human.
An earnest work by what seems to be an overwhelmingly gentle and good man. Far less prejudiced against the Invaders than the usual "Rome was the best; Civilization is great; Please ignore all the slaves," narratives. There's more color to it than the statistic-heavy histories of high scholarship, but it also feels a heck of a lot more human.
November 22, 2025
When I started reading the first book, I wasn’t sure I would read the entire collection—or even the second volume. But when I finished it, I was eager to continue. And the same happened again.
Rops has a unique style: clear, easy to read, and inspiring, especially at the end of the book. He closes these first two volumes with emotional and motivating words that leave the reader turning the last page wanting more, curious about the next chapter in the fascinating history of the Church of Christ.
After finishing the first book, I was certain the Church of Christ would never fall, even though it covered only five centuries of the Christian era. Now, having read about ten centuries, I am even more convinced and equipped with many arguments to support this belief.
The second book covers the period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire through the 11th century. It’s remarkable to see how the Church served as a pillar and cornerstone of our civilization. It’s impossible not to think that during dark times, Providence placed the right people in the right place at the right time. The Church skillfully utilized individuals from diverse origins and societal roles—popes, bishops, cardinals, fathers, missionaries, and even kings and pagans. In summary, this millennial institution has survived pressures from all sides seeking to destroy it, despite mistakes made by its own members.
What role did historically prominent figures play in the Church? What emotions did the civilized world experience facing the collapse of the great Roman Empire? How did they confront their fears of the unknown future amid the barbarian invasions? What was the role of the Church of Christ to guide the civilisation at that times? How did the Monks help save civilization? How did the Church handle its internal crises? People often call this period—the early Middle Ages and the entire Middle Ages themselves—the Dark Ages, but to what extent is that accurate? What role did the Church play in preventing things from becoming worse? What inspired many Christian souls during these times? Why was the monastery of Cluny created, and how important was it for the Church and civilization? Why did the Church baptize and crown certain kings? Which Pope confronted the fearsome Attila the Hun and, against all odds, subdued him? Which popes,Cbishops, and clerics brought shame to the Church during this period? What caused the East-West Schism, and how did it happen? These are just some of the questions this book answers.
Besides learning about the history of the Church of Christ, readers gain a comprehensive view of general history.
To sum up, this is another great book by Rops and well worth reading.
————————————
Quando comecei a ler o primeiro livro, não tinha certeza se leria a coleção inteira — ou mesmo o segundo volume. Mas, ao terminá-lo, fiquei ansioso para continuar. E o mesmo aconteceu novamente.
Rops tem um estilo único: claro, fácil de ler e inspirador, especialmente no final do livro. Ele encerra esses dois primeiros volumes com palavras emocionantes e motivadoras que deixam o leitor, ao virar a última página, querendo mais, curioso sobre o próximo capítulo da fascinante história da Igreja de Cristo.
Depois de terminar o primeiro livro, eu tinha certeza de que a Igreja de Cristo jamais cairia, mesmo que ele abrangesse apenas cinco séculos da era cristã. Agora, tendo lido sobre cerca de dez séculos, estou ainda mais convencido e munido de muitos argumentos para sustentar essa crença.
O segundo livro abrange o período da queda do Império Romano do Ocidente até o século XI. É notável ver como a Igreja serviu de pilar e pedra fundamental da nossa civilização. É impossível não pensar que, em tempos sombrios, a Providência colocou as pessoas certas no lugar certo e na hora certa. A Igreja utilizou habilmente indivíduos de diversas origens e papéis sociais — papas, bispos, cardeais, padres, missionários e até mesmo reis e pagãos. Em resumo, esta instituição milenar sobreviveu às pressões de todos os lados que buscavam destruí-la, apesar dos erros cometidos por seus próprios membros.
Qual foi o papel desempenhado por figuras historicamente proeminentes na Igreja? Quais emoções o mundo civilizado experimentou diante do colapso do grande Império Romano? Como enfrentaram seus medos do futuro desconhecido em meio às invasões bárbaras? Qual foi o papel da Igreja de Cristo em guiar a civilização naquela época? Como os monges ajudaram a salvar a civilização? Como a Igreja lidou com suas crises internas? Muitas vezes, esse período — o início da Idade Média e toda a Idade Média em si — é chamado de Idade das Trevas, mas até que ponto isso é preciso? Qual foi o papel da Igreja em impedir que as coisas piorassem? O que inspirou muitas almas cristãs durante esse período? Por que o mosteiro de Cluny foi criado e qual foi sua importância para a Igreja e a civilização? Por que a Igreja batizou e coroou certos reis? Qual Papa enfrentou o temível Átila, o Huno, e, contra todas as probabilidades, o subjugou? Quais papas, bispos e clérigos envergonharam a Igreja durante esse período? O que causou o Cisma do Oriente e como ele aconteceu? Essas são apenas algumas das perguntas que este livro responde.
Além de aprender sobre a história da Igreja de Cristo, os leitores obtêm uma visão abrangente da história em geral.
Em resumo, este é mais um ótimo livro de Rops e vale muito a pena ler.
Rops has a unique style: clear, easy to read, and inspiring, especially at the end of the book. He closes these first two volumes with emotional and motivating words that leave the reader turning the last page wanting more, curious about the next chapter in the fascinating history of the Church of Christ.
After finishing the first book, I was certain the Church of Christ would never fall, even though it covered only five centuries of the Christian era. Now, having read about ten centuries, I am even more convinced and equipped with many arguments to support this belief.
The second book covers the period from the fall of the Western Roman Empire through the 11th century. It’s remarkable to see how the Church served as a pillar and cornerstone of our civilization. It’s impossible not to think that during dark times, Providence placed the right people in the right place at the right time. The Church skillfully utilized individuals from diverse origins and societal roles—popes, bishops, cardinals, fathers, missionaries, and even kings and pagans. In summary, this millennial institution has survived pressures from all sides seeking to destroy it, despite mistakes made by its own members.
What role did historically prominent figures play in the Church? What emotions did the civilized world experience facing the collapse of the great Roman Empire? How did they confront their fears of the unknown future amid the barbarian invasions? What was the role of the Church of Christ to guide the civilisation at that times? How did the Monks help save civilization? How did the Church handle its internal crises? People often call this period—the early Middle Ages and the entire Middle Ages themselves—the Dark Ages, but to what extent is that accurate? What role did the Church play in preventing things from becoming worse? What inspired many Christian souls during these times? Why was the monastery of Cluny created, and how important was it for the Church and civilization? Why did the Church baptize and crown certain kings? Which Pope confronted the fearsome Attila the Hun and, against all odds, subdued him? Which popes,Cbishops, and clerics brought shame to the Church during this period? What caused the East-West Schism, and how did it happen? These are just some of the questions this book answers.
Besides learning about the history of the Church of Christ, readers gain a comprehensive view of general history.
To sum up, this is another great book by Rops and well worth reading.
————————————
Quando comecei a ler o primeiro livro, não tinha certeza se leria a coleção inteira — ou mesmo o segundo volume. Mas, ao terminá-lo, fiquei ansioso para continuar. E o mesmo aconteceu novamente.
Rops tem um estilo único: claro, fácil de ler e inspirador, especialmente no final do livro. Ele encerra esses dois primeiros volumes com palavras emocionantes e motivadoras que deixam o leitor, ao virar a última página, querendo mais, curioso sobre o próximo capítulo da fascinante história da Igreja de Cristo.
Depois de terminar o primeiro livro, eu tinha certeza de que a Igreja de Cristo jamais cairia, mesmo que ele abrangesse apenas cinco séculos da era cristã. Agora, tendo lido sobre cerca de dez séculos, estou ainda mais convencido e munido de muitos argumentos para sustentar essa crença.
O segundo livro abrange o período da queda do Império Romano do Ocidente até o século XI. É notável ver como a Igreja serviu de pilar e pedra fundamental da nossa civilização. É impossível não pensar que, em tempos sombrios, a Providência colocou as pessoas certas no lugar certo e na hora certa. A Igreja utilizou habilmente indivíduos de diversas origens e papéis sociais — papas, bispos, cardeais, padres, missionários e até mesmo reis e pagãos. Em resumo, esta instituição milenar sobreviveu às pressões de todos os lados que buscavam destruí-la, apesar dos erros cometidos por seus próprios membros.
Qual foi o papel desempenhado por figuras historicamente proeminentes na Igreja? Quais emoções o mundo civilizado experimentou diante do colapso do grande Império Romano? Como enfrentaram seus medos do futuro desconhecido em meio às invasões bárbaras? Qual foi o papel da Igreja de Cristo em guiar a civilização naquela época? Como os monges ajudaram a salvar a civilização? Como a Igreja lidou com suas crises internas? Muitas vezes, esse período — o início da Idade Média e toda a Idade Média em si — é chamado de Idade das Trevas, mas até que ponto isso é preciso? Qual foi o papel da Igreja em impedir que as coisas piorassem? O que inspirou muitas almas cristãs durante esse período? Por que o mosteiro de Cluny foi criado e qual foi sua importância para a Igreja e a civilização? Por que a Igreja batizou e coroou certos reis? Qual Papa enfrentou o temível Átila, o Huno, e, contra todas as probabilidades, o subjugou? Quais papas, bispos e clérigos envergonharam a Igreja durante esse período? O que causou o Cisma do Oriente e como ele aconteceu? Essas são apenas algumas das perguntas que este livro responde.
Além de aprender sobre a história da Igreja de Cristo, os leitores obtêm uma visão abrangente da história em geral.
Em resumo, este é mais um ótimo livro de Rops e vale muito a pena ler.
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews