History of the Church

There was a moment in history when the Church seemed to be trembling. Europe was tearing itself apart. Poorly formed priests, moral abuses, absentee bishops, a deep spiritual crisis… and in the midst of it all, a rupture that would change the course of Christendom: the Protestant Reformation initiated by …

When today we hear the word Inquisition, the collective imagination runs wild: damp dungeons, endless torture, religious fanaticism, and a Church thirsty for blood. It is an image repeated so often that almost no one stops to ask whether it is historically honest. But history —as almost always— is more …

History, theology, and an urgent lesson for our time There are scenes that seem taken straight from a medieval novel: a man being pursued, wounded, out of breath, running through stone alleyways while hearing the footsteps of those who want to kill him. Suddenly, before him, he sees a great …

In the history of the Church, few figures combine spiritual depth with such decisive historical influence as Saint Bernard of Clairvaux. His sweetness, ascetic firmness, and theological clarity not only transformed monastic life in the 12th century but also marked a turning point in the defense of the faith. Among …

When people speak about medieval military orders, the same names almost always come up: the Templars, the Hospitallers, perhaps the Order of Santiago. However, there is an order far less known in the popular imagination, yet decisive for the history of Europe, evangelization, and the spiritual shaping of the continent: …

Introduction: a wound that never fully heals There are dates that are not merely history, but a true examination of conscience. The Sack of Rome in 1527 was not just another violent episode in Europe’s long chronicle of wars. It was something far more serious and unsettling: Rome, the Holy …

A revolt, a cross, an eternal lesson for today’s Catholics To speak of the Pilgrimage of Grace is not merely to recount a historical episode from the sixteenth century. It is to speak of awakened consciences, of a simple people who, faced with a direct attack on their faith, decided …

Imagine an old house, with its dark hallways, creaking stairs, and thick walls. Within those walls were tiny spaces designed for a very special purpose: to shelter priests celebrating Mass in secret. These spaces, known as priest holes, are tangible symbols of a history of faith, courage, and fidelity that …

The Catholic Church, with two thousand years of history and tradition, preserves Latin expressions that are not only juridical or ritual, but also carry a profound spiritual and pastoral meaning. One of these is in pectore, an expression that literally means “in the chest” or “in the heart.” Although it …

Introduction The history of Christianity is marked by lights and shadows, by moments of triumph and also of humiliation. One of the oldest testimonies we have of the faith in Christ is not a golden icon, nor a solemn fresco in a basilica, nor a precious reliquary. It is a …

We live in times of confusion. The Catholic faith, which for centuries has been a firm light in the midst of darkness, is today shaken by contradictory currents, spiritual fashions, and ambiguous messages that seem to dilute the Gospel into human opinions. Faced with this panorama, an urgent question arises: …

What can a simple fish drawing teach us today? Much more than you might think.Behind this humble symbol lies a passionate story of faith, courage, theology, and community. The Ichthys, more than just an ancient graffiti, is a true profession of faith that speaks powerfully to us today—especially in times …

A Light Amidst the Modern Darkness Introduction: A Letter That Still Resounds with Power On March 19, 1937, on the solemnity of Saint Joseph, Patron of the Universal Church and Protector of the Redeemer, Pope Pius XI published a prophetic, vigorous, and deeply pastoral encyclical: Divini Redemptoris, “On Atheistic Communism …

A theological and spiritual guide to understanding, with truth and depth, what the Catholic Church really teaches Introduction: When History Gets Distorted For many, the word indulgence evokes negative images: ecclesiastical corruption, medieval abuses, and the outbreak of the Protestant Reformation. In 1517, Martin Luther famously nailed his 95 theses …

“Be imitators of God, as beloved children, and walk in love, just as Christ also loved us and gave Himself up for us” (Ephesians 5:1–2) Introduction In times of noise, hyperactivity, and a constant search for immediate gratification, speaking of an austere life, hidden and fully surrendered to God may …

Introduction The Catholic Church is not just an institution. It is the Mystical Body of Christ, a divine reality made manifest through the human. Over the centuries, the Church has developed a rich, complex, and profoundly spiritual administrative structure. Far from being mere bureaucracy, this organization expresses a living theology: …

Introduction: A Ghost Haunting History In the 4th century, the Church faced one of its most devastating crises: Arianism. This heresy not only questioned the divinity of Christ but also divided bishops, confused the faithful, and tested the loyalty of true Catholics. St. Jerome bitterly wrote: “The world groaned and …

Introduction: A Call to Renewal In the history of the Church, few topics are as fascinating—and at the same time as controversial—as that of ecclesiastical reform. Two figures stand out in this context: Saint Francis of Assisi, the poverello of Assisi, and Martin Luther, the Augustinian friar who sparked the Protestant Reformation. …

INTRODUCTION “Papist.” A short word, yet heavy with centuries of controversy, prejudice, and—paradoxically—truth. Historically used as an insult, “papist” has been hurled at Catholics loyal to the Pope as an accusation of fanaticism, blind submission, or veiled heresy. But what if I told you that being a “papist”—rightly understood—is one …

Introduction: What Can an Old Book on Witchcraft Teach Us Today? In a world obsessed with the esoteric, where the occult disguises itself as entertainment and evil is relativized in the name of freedom, the need to recover forgotten wisdom rings louder than ever. One of the most controversial and …

Introduction: Returning to the Living Sources Imagine being able to read a letter written by a Christian who was a direct disciple of the Apostles. A testimony that crossed centuries of persecution, hidden in caves, copied by hand by monks, venerated by saints, and now available to you. The early …

Introduction: A Letter That Crossed the Centuries Sometime around the year A.D. 112, the Roman governor Pliny the Younger wrote a letter to Emperor Trajan. What at first glance seemed like a bureaucratic inquiry about how to deal with Christians, ended up becoming — without their knowing — the first …

A spiritual journey through martyrdom, fidelity, and the courage of those who defended their faith to the very end ✝️ Introduction: When faith is persecuted, Heaven opens In 1936, Spain became a proving ground for the Catholic faith. While Europe was shaken by political and ideological tensions, the Iberian Peninsula …

Introduction: The Paradox of the Church’s Permanence In a world where empires, ideologies, and religions have risen and fallen, the Catholic Church endures. Two thousand years of history, persecutions, heresies, scandals, and revolutions have failed to extinguish it. Critics point to the sins of some of its members, human errors, …

Introduction: The Church’s Most Critical Hour in the 20th Century On October 9, 1958, after the death of Pope Pius XII—a giant of orthodoxy and the last pontiff before Vatican II—the Catholic Church plunged into a historic crossroads. The ensuing conclave would not only define the successor of Peter but …

“You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our heart is restless until it rests in You.” —Saint Augustine Introduction: Who are the Augustinians and why do we need their legacy now more than ever? In a fast-paced, superficial, and often disenchanted world, the charism of the Augustinians rises …

Introduction: What if I told you that there is a Christian text older than many books of the New Testament? And what if I added that this text, called the Didache, offers a clear, simple, and deeply spiritual guide on how to live as a true disciple of Christ? The …

Introduction: Smoke That Is More Than Symbol In the heart of Rome, above the Sistine Chapel, a small chimney becomes the focus of the entire world for a few days. From it may rise white smoke… or black smoke. And while many interpret it simply as a sign of “no …

Introduction: More Than a Name, a Cross When the white smoke rises from the chimney of the Sistine Chapel, the whole world holds its breath. A new Pope has been elected. Millions of Catholics, journalists, and opinion leaders rush to post messages, express joy or disappointment, weigh ideologies, and make …

Introduction: Who Can Judge the Pope? At the heart of the Catholic Church resounds a phrase that is both powerful and mysterious: “Prima sedes a nemine iudicatur” —“The First See is judged by no one.” This ancient juridical maxim has defined the understanding of the Pope’s role, the Successor of …