The Church in History

  • Aug 3, 1096

    The first Crusades

    The first Crusades
    The People's Crusade - Freeing the Holy Lands. 1st Crusade led by Count Raymond IV of Toulouse and proclaimed by many wandering preachers, notably Peter the Hermit
  • Oct 27, 1198

    The Inquisition

    The Inquisition
    The Inquisition was a Roman Catholic tribunal for discovery and punishment of heresy, which was marked by the severity of questioning and punishment and lack of rights afforded to the accused.
  • Feb 3, 1570

    Elizabeth I was excommunicated

     Elizabeth I was excommunicated
    Penal measures against Catholics subsequently became more severe.
  • The Gunpowder Plot

    The Gunpowder Plot
    The Gunpowder Plot, an attempt by Catholic fanatics to blow up James I of England.
  • Death of Matteo Ricci

    Death of Matteo Ricci
    Death of Matteo Ricci, outstanding Jesuit missionary to China, pioneer in cultural relations between China and Europe.
  • Founding of the Oratorians.

    Founding of the Oratorians.
    A Place of Prayer. Prayer life in the Oratory is comparably simple, but it is indeed a way of life.
  • Catholics were banned from Scandinavia.

    Catholics were banned from Scandinavia.
    Catholics were prevented from holding public office
  • Founding of the Congregation of the Mission

    Founding of the Congregation of the Mission
    Founding of the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians) by St. Vincent de Paul. He founded the Sisters of Charity in 1633.
  • Death of Galileo, scientist

    Death of Galileo, scientist
  • Start of publication of the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum, a critical work on lives of the saints.

    Start of publication of the Bollandist Acta Sanctorum, a critical work on lives of the saints.
  • Provisions in the Peace of Westphalia

    Provisions in the Peace of Westphalia
    Provisions in the Peace of Westphalia, ending the Thirty Years’ War, extended terms of the Peace of Augsburg (1555) to Calvinists and gave equality to Catholics and Protestants in the 300 states of the Holy Roman Empire.
  • Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland

    Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland
    Oliver Cromwell invaded Ireland and began a severe persecution of the Church there.
  • Pope Innocent X condemned five propositions of Jansenism

    Pope Innocent X condemned five propositions of Jansenism
    Pope Innocent X condemned five propositions of Jansenism, a complex theory which distorted doctrine concerning the relations between divine grace and human freedom. Jansenism was also a rigoristic movement which seriously disturbed the Church in France, the Low Countries and Italy in this and the 18th century.
  • The Test Act

    The Test Act
    The Test Act in England barred from public office Catholics who would not deny the doctrine of transubstantiation and receive Communion in the Church of England.
  • The Toleration Act granted a measure of freedom of worship to other English dissenters but not to Catholics.

    The Toleration Act granted a measure of freedom of worship to other English dissenters but not to Catholics.
  • Chinese Rites

    Chinese Rites
  • The Passionists were founded by St. Paul of the Cross.

    The Passionists were founded by St. Paul of the Cross.
  • The Redemptorists were founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori.

    The Redemptorists were founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
    The Redemptorists were founded by St. Alphonsus Liguori.
  • Freemasonry was condemned by Clement XII

    Freemasonry was condemned by Clement XII
    Freemasonry was condemned by Clement XII and Catholics were forbidden to join, under penalty of excommunication; the prohibition was repeated by Benedict XIV in 1751 and by later popes.
  • Josephinism, a theory and system of state control of the Church

    Josephinism, a theory and system of state control of the Church
    Josephinism, a theory and system of state control of the Church, was initiated in Austria; it remained in force until about 1850.