Church History in a Year – Detailed Plan

Introduction – Why Study Church History?

#1 Why Study Church History? (Video #1)

  • What is the Church? p.13, 2.5
  • What is History? p.16, 1.5
  • Our Family History p.18, 1
  • The Importance of Learning Church History p. 19, 3.5
  • The Best Method of Learning Church History p.21, 2

The Beginning — Pentecost and the Spread of the Gospel (33-49 AD)

#2 Pentecost and the Spreading of the Gospel (Video #1)

  • Introduction p.25, 1.5
  • Replacement for the Betrayer p.27, 0.5
  • Pentecost, the Birthday of the Church p.27, 1, 1
  • The First Martyrs, p.28, 1
  • The Spread of the Gospel p.29, 1
  • The Greatest Missionary (St. Paul)  p.30, 2
  • Gentile Converts p.32,1.5
  • The Council of Jerusalem, 34, 1.5, 3

The Empire and the Church (49 – 305 AD)

#3 The Burning of Rome and the Fall of Jerusalem (Video #1)

  • Introduction p.37, 0.75
  • What was the Roman Empire? p.38, 1.25
  • The Burning of Rome p.39, 2, 4
  • The Jewish Revolt p.41, 2, 5
  • The Holy City Destroyed p.43, 2, 5
  • The Didache p.45,1, 6
  • The Faith Spreads p.46, 1.25

#4 Clement of Rome and Pagan Attacks on the Church (Video #2)

  • More Persecution p.47,1, 7
  • The Epistle of St. Clement of Rome, p.48, 1.5, 8
  • What was the Church in the Roman Empire? p.50, 1
  • Pagan Attacks on the Church, p.51, 5
  • The Time of Major Persecutions, p.56, 1

#5 Early Heresies and St. Polycarp (Video #2)

  • The Persecution of Trajan, p.57, 2.5, 10
  • Early Heresies, p.59, 3, 11
  • Marcion the Heretic, p.62, 0.5
  • St. Polycarp, p.62, 1
  • Montanism, p.63, 1

#6 The Apologists and Some Horrific Persecutions (Video #3)

  • The Anti-Pope who became a Saint, p.64, 2
  • The Apologists, p.66, 4.5
  • The First Empire-wide Persecution, p.71, 1
  • Valerian Persecutes the Church, p.72, 1

#7 Diocletian’s Division and Great Persecution, p.73, 7 (Video #3)

Conversions (305 – 496 AD)

#8 Constantine and the Church (Video #3, #4)

  • Introduction p.81, 1
  • The Victory at the Bridge p.82, 2, 15
  • The Battle of Milvian Bridge p.84, 1, 15
  • Constantine and the Church p.85, 1.5, 
  • The Donatist Controversy p.87, 1.75
  • The Edict of Milan p.88, 1
  • Sole Emperor p.89, 1
  • Heresy p.90, 0.75

#9 Arius the Heretic and the Beginnings of Monasticism (Video #4)

  • Arius the Heretic p.91, 2.75, 
  • The Council of Nicea p.94, 4, 17
  • The Beginnings of Monasticism p.97, 4, 18

#10 St. Athanasius and the End of Arius (Video #5)

  • Arianism Continues p.101, 0.75
  • Athanasius – Defender of Orthodoxy p.102, 2, 19
  • The End of the Heretic and the Emperor p.104, 1.5
  • Persecution of the Orthodox p.105, 2.25
  • The Apostate Emperor p.108, 4, 20

#11 St. Ambrose and other Church Fathers

  • The End of Paganism p.112, 1.5
  • Church Fathers p.113, 0.75
  • The Soldier, Bishop, and Saint p.114, 3
  • The Unlikely Bishop, Protector of the Church (Ambrose) p.117, 3.5

#12 Saints John Chrysostom, Jerome and Augustine (Video #5)

  • The Golden-Mouthed (John Chrysostom) p.120, 1.5
  • The Irascible Translator (Jerome) p.122, 2
  • The Greatest Pagan Convert (Augustine)  p.125, 6, 22

#13 Mary is the Mother of God (Video #5)

  • Mary is the Mother of God – the Council of Ephesus p.131, 2.25, 23
  • The First Great Pope (Leo the Great and the Council of Chalcedon) p.134, 4, 24 & 25
  • Two Swords p.140, 0.5
  • The Germanic Tribes p. 140, 3

Bright Lights in a Dark Time (496 – 909 AD)

#14 Were the Dark Ages Really Dark? (Video #6)

  • Introduction p.147, 0.75
  • “Dark Ages”? p.148, 1
  • Patrick and the Irish, p.149, 2
  • The Father of Western Monasticism (St. Benedict)  p.151, 2, 28
  • Gregory the Great p.153, 4, 29

#15 The Rise of Islam (Video #6)

  • The Rise of Islam p.160, 6.75, 32 
  • The Battle of Poitiers p.167, 3.33, 35
  • The World After Mohammed p.171, 1

#16 Charlemagne and the Church (Video #7)

  • The Political Situation of the Frankish Kingdom p.178, 2.75
  • Charles the Great p.181, 6.5, 36

#17 A Slide Toward Chaos and the Beginning of Reform (Video #7)

  • Image breaking and the Second Council of Nicea p.188, 3
  • The Slide Towards Chaos p.193, 3
  • The Year of Horror p.196, 2.5
  • Cluny and the Beginning of Reform p.198, 2, 39

Cathedrals and Crusades (909 – 1274 AD)

#18 The Great Schism (Video #8)

  • Introduction p.201, 0.75
  • Buildings for the Glory of God p.202,1
  • Saint Peter Damian and the Reform of the Clergy p.203,2.5
  • The Papal Reform Movement p.205,2
  • The Reform Pope p.207, 1.5
  • The Great Schism p.209, 3, 40

#19 The Crusading Movement (Video #8)

  • The Crusading Movement p.216, 2.75, 42
  • Rallying Christendom p.219, 1.5
  • Responding to the Summons p.221, 0.5
  • Why did they go? P.222, 1.75

#20 Some Crusades (Video #8)

  • The First Crusade (1096-1102) p.223, 6.75
  • The Crusade of Kings (1189-1192) p.239, 3.75

#21 King St. Louis and the Albigensian Heresy (Video #10)

  • The Saintly King and Crusader p.256, 5
  • The Albigensian Heresy and Crusade (1208-1229) p.261, 5, 49

#22 The Inquisition and the Rise of Beggar Monks (Video #10)

  • The Medieval Inquisitors p.266, 4.25, 50
  • The Beggar Monks – Franciscans and Dominicans p.274, 3.75, 47
  • Teaching the Faith – The Rise of the Scholastics p.277, 2.5, 48

The Family Weakens — Prelude to Division (1274 – 1521 AD)

#23 The Exile of the Papacy (Video #11)

  • Introduction p.281, 1
  • The Troubled Papacy p.282, 1
  • A Pope Resigns – The Story of Celestine V p.283, 1
  • A Troubled Pontificate p.284, 2.25
  • The Avignon Papacy p.287, 2, 53
  • The Black Death p.288, 2.25

#24 St. Catherine of Sienna and the Pro-Protestants (Video #12)

  • The Woman Who Brought the Pope Home (St. Catherine of Sienna)  p.291, 3.5, 55
  • The Great Western Schism p.295, 2.75, 57
  • The Proto-Protestants (Wyclif and Hus) p.300, 3.5, 58

#25 St. Joan of Arc and the End of the Empire (Video #12)

  • The Maid of Orleans – St. Joan of Arc p.303, 4.25, 60
  • The Council of Florence (1431-1445) p.307, 0.75, 61
  • The End of the Empire – Constantinople Falls p.308, 5, 62

#26 The Spanish Inquisition (Video #12)

  • Safeguarding the Faith – The Spanish Inquisition p.313, 9, 63

#27 The Renaissance and Some Worldly Popes (Video #12)

  • The Renaissance p.323, 1
  • Secular Princes or Popes (1447-1521) p.323, 2.5
  • The Fiery Preacher of Florence p.326, 2.5
  • The Warrior Pope p.328, 1.33
  • The Last Renaissance Pope p.330,1.5

The Great Divorce — Revolt against the Church (1521 – 1588 AD)

#28 The Rise of Martin Luther, (Video #13)

  • The Protestant Revolution p. 334, 1.5
  • Factors that Led to the Protestant Revolution p.335, 3
  • Reasons for the Success of the Protestant Revolution p.339, 1.75
  • Martin Luther – A Troubled Soul p.340, 1.5
  • Trip to Rome p.342, 0.75
  • Luther and Salvation p.343, 2

#29 Luther’s Heresy (Video #13)

  • Indulgences and the 95 Theses p.346, 4
  • The Disputation at Leipzig p.350, 2.5
  • Exurge Domine – Luther Condemned p.352, 2.33

#30 The Three Treatises and the Diet of Worms (Video #13)

  • The Three Treatises p.355, 4.75
  • Catholics Respond to Luther p.360, 1
  • The Emperor Defends the Faith – The Diet of Worms p.361, 4.5, 67

#31 The End of Luther (Video #13)

  • Violence Begins p.365, 1
  • Rejecting the Priesthood p.366, 1.5
  • The Sack of Rome p.368, 1.75
  • The Advance of the Protestant Movement p.370, 2.5
  • The Bigamy of Philip Hess p.372, 1
  • Luther’s Last Writings p.373, 1.75
  • The End of Martin Luther p.375, 0.75

#32 John Calvin (Video #14)

  • John Calvin – A Calculating Soul p.376, 4.75
  • Establishing Theocracy – Geneva p.381, 2
  • The War Against Joy p.383, 2.75
  • The Importance of Calvin p.387, 1.5

#33 Henry VIII and the Church of England (Video #14)

  • The English Accident p.393 , 7, 72 & 73
  • England Embraces Heresy p.403, 2

#34 Our Lady of Guadelupe and the Catholic Queen of England (Video #15)

  • Our Lady Appears (Guadelupe) p.400, 2.5, 71
  • The Catholic Queen of England p.405, 5.5

#35 The Persecutor Queen (Video #15)

  • Elizabeth I – the Persecutor of Catholics p.410, 7
  • The Political Effects of the Protestant Revolution p.420, 4.5

The Great Reform (1534 – 1683 AD)

#36 The Catholic Reform Begins (Video #15)

  • Introduction p.427, 1
  • The Reform Begins p.428, 1.33
  • The Council of Trent p.430, 3.5, 74
  • The Father of the Catholic Reformation p.433, 0.75
  • The Society of Jesus p.434, 1.25, 78
  • Reforming Saints – Mystics p.436, 1.25, 79
  • Reforming Saints – Activists p.437, 1.25, 79

#37 Reforming Saints and Missionary Activity in the New World (Video #12)

  • Reforming Saints – Missionaries to Protestant Territory p.438, 1.25
  • The Age of Discovery and Christopher Columbus p.440, 3
  • Reforming Saints – Missionaries to Asia p.441, 1.75
  • Missionary Activity in the New World – Spain p.444, 3.25

#38 A Definitive Victory over Islam (Video #16)

  • The Struggle against the Turk p.455, 6.75, 82
  • The Battle of Lepanto p.461, 3.75, 77

The Modern Attack (1633 –  1958 AD)

#39 Science, Religion, and the Enlightenment (Video #16, #17)

  • Introduction p.469,1
  • The Galileo Affair p.470, 7, 81
  • The Enlightenment (includes the suppression of the Jesuits)  p.478, 3.33, 83

#40 The French Revolution and the Church (Video #17)

  • Janssenism p.481, 1.5
  • Gallicanism p.482, 1
  • The French Revolution and the Persecution of the Church p.483, 5
  • Napoleon Bonaparte p.488, 1.5

#41 Modernism Rears its Head (Video #18)

  • The Industrial Revolution p.490, 0.75
  • Modernism p.491, 0.75, 87
  • Pro Nono p.491, 2
  • The First Vatican Council and Papal Infallibility p.493, 2, 89
  • KuturKampf p.496, 1.25, 91
  • Condemning Modernism p.498, 0.75
  • The Suicide of Civilization (World War I)  p.498, 3

#42 Fatima and War in Mexico and Spain (Video #18)

  • Our Lady of Fatima p.501, 3.25, 94
  • Revolution and Persecution in Mexico p.505, 3.5
  • The Spanish Civil War p.508, 2.25

#43 Fascist Italy, Nazi Germany and World War II (Video #18)

  • Fascist Italy and Nazi Germany p.510, 4
  • Pope Pius XII p.515, 5.5

Hope and Mercy (1958 – Present)

#44 The Second Vatican Council (Video #19)

  • Introduction p.521, 1.25
  • Good Pope John p.523, 2
  • The Second Vatican Council p.525, 5, 97

#45 Some Challenges and Our Future (Video #20)

  • Humanae Vitae p.530, 1,5, 98
  • The Heroic Holy Father (John Paul II)  p.531, 2.5, 100
  • The Future of the Family p.534, 3
  • Our Role in the Story of God’s Family p.537, 1

Optional Readings

  • #4a The Canon of the Bible: Who Decided What Made it In? https://theimaginativeconservative.org/2023/04/canon-bible-lyle-boudreaux.html
  • #14a St. Boniface and the Christmas Tree
    • The Apostle to the Germans p.157,3, 34
  • #15a The other Councils of Constantinople
    • The Second Council of Constantinople p.172, 3.5, 30
    • The Third Council of Constantinople p.175, 3.25, 33
    • The Photian Schism and the Fourth Council of Constantinople p.191, 2
  • #18a Pope Gregory
    • The Pope – Judge of Kings p.212, 4.75
  • #20a The Crusades, Part II
    • The Second Crusade (1147-1149) p.230, 5.5
    • Trouble in the Kingdom p.235, 3.5
    • Pope Innocent III p.242, 1
  • #20b The Crusades, Part III
    • The Crusader without Faith – Frederick II and the Sixth Crusade (1228-1229) p.254, 2.25
    • The Spanish Armada p.417, 2.75
  • #22a St. Thomas Becket
    • Death of the Archbishop – The Tale of Thomas Becket p.271, 3
  • #32a The Curious Case of Michael Servetus p.386, 1.5
  • #32b Radical Reformers p.389, 4
  • #37a Slavery and the Jesuits in the New World
    • The Church and Slavery p.448, 2.5
    • [the Jesuits] Activity in the New World p.450, 4.33
  • #38a Another Victory over Islam
    • Victory at Vienna p.465, 4

Epic: A Journey Through Church History (mapped to meeting topics)

Video 1: Introduction & Mustard Seed (Episodes #1,#2, and #3)

Video 2: Persecution – Part I (Episodes #4 and #5)

Video 3: Persecution – Part II (Episodes #6, #7, and #8)

Video 4: Conversion & Councils – Part I (Episodes #8, #9)

Video 5: Conversion & Councils – Part II (Episodes #10, #12, #13)

Video 6: Missionaries & The Emperor Part I (Episodes #14, #15)

Video 7: Missionaries & The Emperor Part II (#16, #17)

Video 8: Crusaders & Scholars – Part I (Episode #18, #19, #20)

Video 9: Crusaders & Scholars – Part II (Optional reading #7)

Video 10: Crusaders & Scholars – Part III (Episode #20b, #21, #22, #22a)

Video 11: Weak Leaders & Schism – Part I (Episode #23)

Video 12: Weak Leaders & Schism – Part II (Episode #24, #25, #26, #27, #37)

Video 13: Protestors & Defenders Part I (Episode #28, #29, #30)

Video 14: Protestors & Defenders Part II (Episode #32, #33)

Video 15: The Catholic Reformation – Part I (Episode #34, #35, #36)

Video 16: The Catholic Reformation – Part II (Episode #38, #39)

Video 17: Revolutions & Modernism (Episode #39, #40)

Video 18: A World at War (Episodes #41, #42, #43)

Video 19: The New Springtime (Episode #44)

Video 20: The Threshold of Hope & Conclusion (Episode #45)