Vatican I : The Council and the Making of the Ultramontane Church

The enduring influence of the Catholic Church has many sources--its spiritual and intellectual appeal, missionary achievements, wealth, diplomatic effectiveness, and stable hierarchy. But in the first half of the nineteenth century, the foundations upon which the church had rested for centuries were shaken. In the eyes of many thoughtful people, liberalism in the guise of liberty, equality, and fraternity was the quintessence of the evils that shook those foundations. At the Vatican Council of 1869-1870, the church made a dramatic effort to set things right by defining the doctrine of papal infallibility. In Vatican I: The Council and the Making of the Ultramontane Church, John W. O'Malley draws us into the bitter controversies over papal infallibility that at one point seemed destined to rend the church in two. Archbishop Henry Manning was the principal driving force for the definition, and Lord Acton was his brilliant counterpart on the other side. But they shrink in significance alongside Pope Pius IX, whose zeal for the definition was so notable that it raised questions about the very legitimacy of the council. Entering the fray were politicians such as Gladstone and Bismarck. The growing tension in the council played out within the larger drama of the seizure of the Papal States by Italian forces and its seemingly inevitable consequence, the conquest of Rome itself. Largely as a result of the council and its aftermath, the Catholic Church became more pope-centered than ever before. In the terminology of the period, it became ultramontane. In 1869, some seven hundred Catholic bishops traveled to Rome to participate in the first church-wide council in three hundred years. The French Revolution had shaken the foundations of the church. Pope Pius IX was determined to set things right through a declaration by the council that the pope was infallible. John W. O'Malley brings to life the bitter, schism-threatening conflicts that erupted at Vatican I. The pope's zeal in pressing for infallibility raised questions about the legitimacy of the council, at the same time as Italian forces under Garibaldi seized the Papal States and were threatening to take control of Rome itself. Gladstone and Bismarck entered the fray. As its temporal dominion shrank, the Catholic Church became more pope-centered than ever before, with lasting consequences. "O'Malley's account of the debate over infallibility is masterful." — Commonweal "[O'Malley] excels in describing the ways in which the council initiated deep changes that still affect the everyday lives of Catholics." — First Things "An eminent scholar of modern Catholicism...O'Malley...invit[es] us to see Catholicism's recent history as profoundly shaped by and against the imposing legacy of Pius IX." — Wall Street Journal "Gripping...O'Malley continues to engage us with a past that remains vitally present." — The Tablet "The worldwide dean of church historians has completed his trinity of works on church councils...[A] masterclass in church history...telling us as much about the church now as then." — America In the nineteenth century, the foundations upon which the Catholic Church had rested for centuries were shaken by liberalism. At the Vatican Council of 1869-1870, the church made a dramatic effort to set things right by defining the doctrine of papal infallibility. O'Malley draws us into the bitter controversies over papal infallibility that at one point seemed destined to rend the church in two. The growing tension in the council played out within the larger drama of the seizure of the Papal States by Italian forces and its seemingly inevitable consequence, the conquest of Rome itself. In the aftermath, the Catholic Church became ultramontane: advocating supreme papal authority in matters of faith and discipline. -- adapted from jacket and online dictionary In The Nineteenth Century, The Foundations Upon Which The Catholic Church Had Rested For Centuries Were Shaken Were Shaken By Liberalism. At The Vatican Council Of 1869-1870, The Church Made A Dramatic Effort To Set Things Right By Defining The Doctrine Of Papal Infallibility. As A Result, The Church Became More Pope-centered Than Ever Before -- Catholicism And The Century Of Lights -- The Ultramontane Movement -- The Eve Of The Council -- Under Way And Moving Toward Dei Filius -- Infallibility. John W. O'malley. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "In the nineteenth century, the foundations upon which the Catholic Church had rested for centuries were shaken were shaken by liberalism. At the Vatican Council of 1869-1870, the church made a dramatic effort to set things right by defining the doctrine of papal infallibility. As a result, the church became more pope-centered than ever before" -- Provided by publisher In the nineteenth century, the foundations upon which the Catholic Church had rested for centuries were shaken were shaken by liberalism. At the Vatican Council of 1869 1870, the church made a dramatic effort to set things right by defining the doctrine of papal infallibility. As a result, the church became more pope-centered than ever before.