When Pius IX published the bull Aeterni Patris convening the First Vatican Council in 1868, Ultramontanism was practically victorious in France. The Catholic movement had received a vigorous boost from the apostolate of the nineteenth century’s early Ultramontanes. Throughout the century, it advanced and remained steadfastly orthodox despite some leaders’ attempts to … Read more

The crisis inside liberalism has prompted many to admit its numerous problems. However, most people accept liberalism as a default because they find nothing better to replace it. Few know how to answer the stinging question: What comes after liberalism? Most replies either devise some plan within the liberal box (usually meaning … Read more

The year 1867 was the eighteenth centenary of the martyrdom of the Apostles Peter and Paul. Pius IX took advantage of the occasion to emphasize the Church’s universality and the unity between the worldwide episcopate and the Holy See. At the same time, the pope was under attack by liberals throughout Europe, … Read more

After his death, Louis Veuillot’s descendants found a series of short studies on the men of his time among his papers. Veuillot had never intended these for publication. The subject of one such profile was Eugène Taconet, the owner of l’Univers until its suppression in 1860. He had saved the paper from … Read more