The Entire Catholic World Mourned the Death of Pope Pius IX The longest papal reign in history up to that time ended when Pope Pius IX died on February 7, 1878. Despite the massive upheavals throughout his reign, the years after the Vatican Council ended in 1870 were, perhaps, the most turbulent. … Read more
As the time for a decision on Papal Infallibility drew near, two sides formed amongst the Fathers who gathered for the First Vatican Council. Henry Cardinal Manning of Westminster led the majority—those in favor of the definition. The leader of the anti-infallibilist minority was Bishop Felix Dupanloup of Orléans in France. The … Read more
Council Fathers learned the names of the twenty-four members of the Postulata Commission, appointed by Pius IX; elected the five members of the Judices Querelarum commission; and heard the reading of a new Apostolic Constitution, which regulated the election of the Supreme Pontiff if the pope should die during the works. This … Read more
The Council of Nicaea (325) was the first council intended for the edification of the entire Christian Church. It was called by the Emperor Constantine. Its primary task was to judge the Arian heresy, which disturbed the peace of the Church in the East. The Emperor attended its sessions. He effectively assisted … 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
From the time of the 1848 Revolution, French and Austrian troops protected the Papal States against Italian revolutionaries. The Holy See had no army that could effectively oppose the government of Piedmont-Sardinia. The situation worsened with Napoleon III’s political leftward shift and his victory against Austria in 1859. The defense of Church … Read more
Pope Pius IX’s condemnation of the Count of Montalembert and the Congress of Catholic Scientists (sometimes called the first Mechlin Conference), as well as other measures taken by the Holy See, slowed the momentum of liberal Catholics. The second Mechlin Conference, held in 1864, no longer had such intense liberal hues. Montalembert … Read more
Napoleon III signed the order suppressing l’Univers on January 29, 1860. When the police officer arrived with the order, the editorial staff of l’Univers was assembled in the newspaper’s offices. After the order was read, the editors embraced each other. They promised to remain united until the newspaper could be published again. … Read more
In American traditionalist circles, it is becoming fashionable to blame “ultramontanism” for all the ills affecting Catholicism today. Supposedly, Pope Francis is imposing a revolutionary agenda on the Church because of the actions of ultramontanes during the First Vatican Council. Detractors admit that ultramontanes turned traditional Church teaching on papal infallibility and … Read more
On the 150th Anniversary of Two Events of Transcendental Significance for the Life and History of the Church The year 2020 marks the 150th anniversary of two events of transcendental significance for the Church’s life and history. The first is a positive event, which was the proclamation of the dogma of papal … Read more