The Catholic Peace Tradition [Paperback]

Ronald G. Musto (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1, 2002

This book is a history of the peace tradition in the Roman Catholic Church from the time of the Gospels to the twentieth century. Its purpose is to show that there is a continuing, unbroken, and self-sustaining stream within Catholicism from the martyrs and pacifists of the early church to John XXIII and the peacemakers of our time.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A fascinating, rich and highly readable narrative." -- Books and Religion, March/April 9187

"a first-class example of the tradition of scholarship in the service or morality and education." -- American Historical Review, April 1988

"a remarkable historical synthesis...control[s] and evaluate[s] a vast amount of historical and literary material." -- Journal of Religion, April 1988

About the Author

Ronald G. Musto is a historian, the editor of "Liberation Theologies" and the author of the forthcoming "Apocalypse in Rome: Cola di Rienzo and the Politics of the New Age."

Product Details

• Paperback: 380 pages
• Publisher: Peace Books (March 1, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0934977135
• ISBN-13: 978-0934977135
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.3 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,330,356 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must!, January 29, 2007

By 

J. Breneman - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Catholic Peace Tradition (Paperback)

-Really- indepth and well researched. I found this to be very readable and found myself going through the pages with much attention.

I was amazed at how little I knew of the Catholic peace heritage and gave me a sense of joy to know that there has always been a nonviolent force out there despite discouraging history that we are often (only) told.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Outstanding!, August 10, 2004

By 

Joseph J. Fahey "faheyjj" (White Plains, NY United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Catholic Peace Tradition (Paperback)

Musto has put together an outstanding in-depth survey to the Catholic peace tradition from the Scriptures through early Christian pacifism, the Just War, the Crusades, and international law. He even demonstrates there were peace movements during the Crusades! This book is a wonderfully researched, nuanced book that belongs on the bookshelf of anyone who wants a fair, balanced picture of war and peace in the Catholic tradition. A must for teachers.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Catholic HIstory of Peacemaking Timely Republished from a Twenty year old Excellent Comprehensive Orbis Publication, April 18, 2007

By 

C. Scanlon "least helpful reviewer" (among us humans) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: The Catholic Peace Tradition (Paperback)

This republication five years ago of the excellent and comprehensive text on the complete history of Catholic peacemaking originally published by the great Catholic publication house Orbis Books twenty years ago remains ever more timely and important for our consideration as our national and unrelenting rush to total war recreates our theology into its own warrior image and likeness.

This well written and comprehensive academic tome begins by defining its terms, in particular and understanding of the meaning of this active Catholic peacemaking as concept and as praxis which goes beyond the tenets of pacifism to create and extend the peace. We also explore the etymology of Peace, through the Latin PAX, the Greek Eireme and the Hebrew Salom which gives us the name of the City of Jerusalem. This section concludes with a discussion of the complementary concepts of Peace and Justice (recalling Pope Paul's famous dictum: If you wish peace work for justice) and that Eschatological Peace which awaits the actively faithful in eternity.

The New Testament Peace is then carefully examined up through Saint Paul's message and wish of Peace which precedes each of his letters. Then begins a complete history of Catholic Peacemaking, parting from Paul through the martyrs whose conscientious objection to imperial army conscription caused their violent murders for the Living Faith. Then the cruel and heretical compromise with Constantine which brought the monastic revolt in sacramental commitment to the divine commandment of Peacemaking, through the time of the barbarians to Charlemagne, touching of course on Ambrose and Augustine, through the era of the Crusades, and the Catholic protest of those same warrior crusades for a terrestrial zone rather than the heavenly Jerusalem, relevant to the misused and heated rhetoric of today. Then a full discussion of the Orders of Poverty including Saint Francis of Assisi and his orders. Then s discussion of the many Popes as Peacemakers up to the discovery of the Americas and a chapter on the missions including the great Fray Bartolome de las Casas. Saint Thomas More and Erasmus are each given special and full consideration.

This summary already grows overlong. The lessons of the Twentieth Century reaches back earlier to Leo XIII, Benedict XV in WWI, Pius XI and Pius XII in WWII, and the various aspects of several Catholic groups in Germany, in Europe and elsewhere responding to WWII. The role of the Church around Vatican II and PAcem in Terris and up through Solidarity is then examined.

Separate sections consider the Catholic History of Peacemaking in the Third World (as it was known at the original publication date) including South Africa under apartheid, the Philippines, El Salvador and peacemaking among Catholics in Northern Ireland. The Conferences of the Latin American bishops in Medellin and in Puebla, which developed the theology of Peacemaking are also fully examined. Such figures as Dom Helder Camara and the Blessed Archbishop Oscar A. Romero are presented as well.

The final discussion fully presents the Catholic History of Peacemaking in these United States of America, from the earliest times up to 20 years ago, including such great American Catholic leaders as Father Thomas Merton, Dorothy Day and the brothers Berrigan.

In brief, this is the best in-depth over-view of the Catholic History of Peacemaking and thus the best history of Catholicism you can find. This perceptive and complete study reveals to the reader the true meaning, message and mission of our Catholic and apostolic and universal Church, pilgrim on the way all together as one family unto the Kingdom of God.