The new Series "Studies on the History of Councils"

On behalf of the Gesellschaft für Konziliengeschichtsforschung, Johannes Grohe and Thomas Prügl have launched a new series published by Aschendorff, the first volume of which is opened in a worthy manner by Klaus Schatz with a compilation of his essays on the First Vatican Council (1869/70).

It covers a number of interesting topics: the reform of religious orders, which was already overdue at the time, the missions, the question of just war, the role of the Church Fathers and the early councils (e.g. the Honorius question) in the primacy debate, the reassessment of historical conciliarism, the question of monarchy by the grace of God, and more.

The volume ends with updates: Historians' thoughts on primacy, Papal infallibility today, What does reform of the Church mean?

These last topics in particular, which run to around 70 pages, show that Schatz always places his historical research in the context of the present day and - without endeavouring to be pathos-laden - makes us aware of the extent to which old-fashioned councils continue to have an effect today, both for good and for ill.

The second volume in José Díaz-Dorronsoro's new series is about the Second Vatican Council and the mass media.

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Category: Recommended reading