As Minister of Public Instruction, Frédéric Alfred Pierre, Count de Falloux showed the full measure of his political value. Alexis de Tocqueville was utterly indifferent to de Falloux’s ideological orientation. Émile Oliver openly disliked him. Yet, sboth men were profoundly impressed by his abilities. De Tocqueville stated: “Whoever has not seen de … Read more
In 1835, two close friends from France met in a London hotel. One was a Legitimist returning from a visit to old King Charles X. The other was a Bonapartist at the service of the ex-King Joseph, brother of Napoleon I. They were Frédéric Alfred Pierre, Count de Falloux and Jean Fialin, … Read more
Bishop Clausel de Montals’ pastoral letter was not limited to merely attacking the University’s monopoly. It went on to campaign against France’s entire system of higher education. As such, it sharply divided the camps. The University’s supporters like Victor Cousin could not continue the pretense they had hitherto maintained. Led by the … Read more
During the early nineteenth century, the idea of Catholics uniting to defend the Church was a novelty. The notion met with opposition from even the best quarters of French society. The bishops and the vast majority of the clergy did not support establishing a Catholic Party. The laity viewed Count Montalembert’s efforts … Read more
According to the Catholic Encyclopedia, the term “ultramontanism” is “a term used to denote integral and active Catholicism, because it recognizes as its spiritual head the pope….” Ultramontanism has its historical roots in the Middle Ages and became popular in the nineteenth century with leading figures such as Blessed Pius IX, St. … Read more
Many Catholics today are unaware of the immense contributions of the Ultramontanes of the nineteenth century to the resurgence of Catholicism worldwide. Prof. Fernando Furquim de Almeida (1913-1981) studied the Movement and produced dozens of articles detailing its work. We have edited these articles and will be featuring them. They highlight the … Read more
The Oxford Movement began shortly after Catholic Lay Leader Daniel O’Connell compelled the English government to suppress some Anglican dioceses in Ireland. The Movement’s “flash point” was a sermon on “National Apostasy” delivered by Anglican Pastor John Keble on July 14, 1833. Pastor Keble’s sermon’s resounded broadly in Protestant circles. Recovering the … 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
The terrible crisis afflicting Church and papacy fills good and faithful Catholics with unspeakable sorrow. However, in resisting the errors being promoted at the highest levels in the Church, some conservative critics seem to be slipping now and then into confusion. The Danger of Attacking the Papacy Itself Some of them have … Read more