This book consists of a series of statements from men and women dating between 1501 to 1559. These statements illustrate the ideas; beliefs; and somtimes the fates; of the people who had come to share a profound discontent with the church as it then existed and a positive determination to change it. Writings include: Erasmus and Hutten the humanists; Luther and Melanchthon; Zwingli; Sattler the Anabaptist; Servetus the Unitarian; Calvin the theologian and lawgiver; and the English reformers; a special breed -- from the rabble-rousing Fish to Cromwell the administrator; Starkey the moderate; the King and the Archbishop of Canterbury. Spitz provides historical and theological context for each document and a reading list for further exploration.
#296324 in Books Burch Brian 2014-09-30 2014-09-30Original language:EnglishPDF # 1 9.50 x 1.30 x 6.50l; .0 #File Name: 0553418726416 pagesThe American Catholic Almanac A Daily Reader of Patriots Saints Rogues and Ordinary People Who Changed the United States
Review
44 of 44 people found the following review helpful. A book that combines history; Catholicism; and daily reading in a way that's utterly awesome!By Sarah ReinhardWhat The American Catholic Almanac does is brilliant. One page per day for one person.None of the people highlighted are stuffy or boring. Most of them are either (a) people I hadn't heard of or (b) people I didn't know were so stinkin' interesting. Even with the people who are so well-known as to be patrons of my kids; I learned interesting facts that made them more human.And the history I've gotten out of this book! I can only compare it to when I read The Frontiersman many years ago at my husband's behest.I've never been much of a fan of history. It was nothing but boring in high school; so I skipped it in college.In the last 15 years or so; I've learned more from great stories than I ever learned in high school history; and I think The American Catholic Almanac would be well placed in a history classroom.I had NO IDEA the work and hardship that early American Catholics had to work through and put up with! I had NO IDEA what kind of investment mission priests and religious made in the United States! I had NO IDEA how many inter-stinkin-esting people there were in the annals of American Catholic history!Thanks to The American Catholic Almanac; I've had a taste. (In the interest of full disclosure; I'm not all the way through the book. Though I will be soon.)This isn't a book for the bookshelf. It is; however; a book to share and reread and quote. It's a book to learn from and be inspired by.11 of 12 people found the following review helpful. I really wanted to like this book...By Alan D.I really wanted to like this book; but in its effort to "present inspiring stories (that) celebrate the historic contributions of American men and women shaped by their Catholic faith;" the choices are sometimes questionable; at least from where I started reading in mid-October. For every five stories that truly fits that description; there is one about a individual of questionable moral character; such as mobster Dutch Schultz (whose later interest in Catholicsm culminated with a deathbed baptism) on 10/23; and Antoine Laumet (10/16) and Joseph McCarthy (11/14); whose baptism appears to be tangential; if not inconsequential; to the subsequent trajectory of their lives. My understanding is that the authors had amassed a lot of extra material with which they hope to produce another edition of the book; I would have preferred they were a little more discriminating in the selections made for this one.1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. A charming and very informative book!By Natacha Pelaez WagnerI looked forward to reading the daily entry on the 365 day almanac so much; I am reading it again for a second year in a row. A fun and very thought provoking daily reader about; as the cover says; "patriots; saints; rogues and ordinary people who changed the United States". Everyone who reads it will learn about fascinating individuals in U.S. history; some just entertaining reading; others who have truly impacted Catholicism in the U.S. I found it so packed with interesting information and knowledge; some trivial; some enlightening; that I have already give eight books as gifts to friends; and one has told me it is the best gift I have ever given her. I think even non-Catholics who enjoy history would love this book.
