A Concise History of the Catholic Church (Revised Edition)

Expanded and updated for the new millennium.

Covering the life of Christ, the election of Pope Benedict XVI, and everything in between, A Concise History of the Catholic Church has been one of the bestselling religious histories of the past two decades and a mainstay for scholars, students, and others looking for a definitive, accessible history of Catholicism. With a clarity that will appeal to any reader, Thomas Bokenkotter divides his study into five parts that correspond to the major historical and epochal developments in Catholicism. His authoritative, thorough approach takes readers from the Church’s triumph over paganism, through "the sound and fury of renewal," to a new section devoted to such topics as dissent and current developments in the ecumenical movement. Informative illustrations throughout the book, new to this edition, enrich the reader's experience, and the addition of a wide-ranging bibliography increases its value as a sourcebook.

THOMAS BOKENKOTTER, the author of the bestselling Church and Revolution, teaches at Xavier University. He is also the pastor of Assumption Church and is active in the social ministry, running a soup kitchen that he founded twenty years ago and a transitional living facility for homeless women and children. He lives in Cincinnati, Ohio.