BOOK REVIEWS

Church history the ‘story of our lives and of our people’

THE COMPACT HISTORY OF THE CATHOLIC CHURCH by Alan Schreck, PhD. Servant Books, Cincinnati, Ohio, ©2009. Paper, 232 Pages. $12.99 US. Reviewed by Edwin Buettner, SFO.

While the title of this book may evoke a sense of dispassionate historical writing, it is more a testament of faith than an academic study. Now in its second edition, The Compact History of the Catholic Church was commissioned by the International Catholic Charismatic Renewal Office (ICCRO) to meet the need for a “series of simple lessons on the history of the Catholic Church, as a followup to the Life in the Spirit seminars, especially for use in Third World countries.” The author, a professor of theology at Franciscan University in Steubenville, describes his work as “a look at the nature and history of the people that God has called forth and formed on the earth.”

Given the realities of corruption within the church, a faith-grounded writer must walk a fine line between remaining true to the historical record while maintaining a foundational perspective of the church as a visible sign of God’s covenant. Schreck seems to have found that balance in his writing. Though he does not shrink from the less palatable aspects of the church’s past, he is able to place those missteps in the broader context of God’s grace superseding human folly. In Schreck’s words, “It is evident that the history of the church is marked by both sin and weakness as well as by grace and the protection of God.”

The author’s writing style has a succinct quality and the text is highly accessible. Though it will serve well as an introduction to church history for the general reader, it is perhaps best seen as a sourcebook for (high school and adult) catechetical work. It would be particularly useful for instructors who have a limited background in church history. Among the helpful aspects is the appendix, which consists of a detailed timeline and a short summary of each chapter. These components maximize the utility of this book as a reference for those interested in specific historical periods.
Almost one third of this book focuses on the modern church, particularly the era ushered in by Vatican II. Included in this section are summaries of the major documents emerging from the Council. Their inclusion in an historical work supports the view that there has been a positive evolution of the church over its 2,000-year history. For example, in commenting on Vatican II’s Decree on Ecumenism (Unitatis Redintegratio), Schreck states, “Throwing off all triumphalism of the past, the Catholic Church openly acknowledged its share of the blame for the division of Christianity.”

For the person of faith, the study of church history can at times become an exercise in courage. From Schreck’s point of view, however, church history is the “story of our lives and of our people.” In other words, the reader who has acknowledged his or her own inner contradictions and poverty is more likely to come away from this book with a strengthened belief in God’s overarching love and care for his vulnerable and often flawed church.

Originally from the St. Brieux district, Buettner is a retired educator living in Winnipeg. He is a member of the Secular Franciscan Order.