A History of Canadian Catholics (McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion, Series Two) [Paperback]

Terence J. Fay (Author)

Book Description

Series: McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion, Series Two | Publication Date: May 2002

In A History of Canadian Catholics Terence Fay relates the long story of the Catholic Church and its followers, beginning with how the church and its adherents came to Canada, how the church established itself, and how Catholic spirituality played a part in shaping Canadian society. He also describes how recent social forces have influenced the church. Using an abundance of sources, Fay discusses Gallicanism (French spirituality), Romanism (Roman spirituality), and Canadianism - the indigenisation of Catholic spirituality in the Canadian lifestyle. Fay begins with a detailed look at the struggle of French Catholics to settle a new land, including their encounters with the Amerindians. He analyses the conflict caused by the arrival of the Scottish and Irish Catholics, which threatened Gallican church control. Under Bishops Bourget and Lynch, the church promoted a romantic vision of Catholic unity in Canada. By the end of the century, however, German, Ukrainian, Polish, and Hungarian immigrants had begun to challenge the French and Irish dominance of Catholic life and provide the foundation of a multicultural church. With the creation of the Canadian Catholic Conference in the postwar period these disparate groups were finally drawn into a more unified Canadian church. A History of Canadian Catholics is especially timely for students of religion and history and will also be of interest to the general reader who would like an understanding the development of Catholic roots in Canadian soil.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"Dr Fay offers the student and general reader a sweeping narrative of the history of the Church." Mark G. McGowan, author of The Waning of the Green: Catholics, the Irish, and Identity in Toronto, 1887-1922 ---- "Fay's book marks a major advance in bringing together the stories of the Catholic church's two main linguistic groups, bridging the divide that exists between English-speaking and French-speaking scholars. His accessible style will help lay-people to understand and appreciate their own history." Brian P. Clark, author of Piety and Nationalism: Lay Voluntary Associations and the Creation of an Irish-Catholic Community in Toronto, 1850-1895

About the Author

Product Details

• Paperback: 392 pages
• Publisher: McGill-Queen's University Press (May 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0773523146
• ISBN-13: 978-0773523142
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,593,461 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3.0 out of 5 stars An Ecclesiastical History, January 23, 2003

By 

Allan M. Savage (Thunder Bay, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Canadian Catholics (McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion, Series Two) (Paperback)

Fay provides a good orientation within his subject matter for the reader and new student. Selecting from published materials he presents a chronology of the growth of the institutional Catholic presence in Canada by assessing, analyzing and interpreting of information in an ecclesiastical framework. He says that "many colleagues and students have let me know that an outline history of the Canadian Catholicism is needed now" (p.ix). The title, A History of Canadian Catholics, however, led me to expect a disclosure of some personal thoughts or motivations of the individuals who have left their mark on Canadian Catholic Church history. Rather, I discovered their views to have been presented through an ecclesiastical filter. To my mind, the book could have been entitled, An Ecclesiastical History of Catholics in Canada, since it is the corporate identity that provides the threat that links his subject matter. Fay has made choices in presenting his material and has remained faithful to his theme. He has chosen to cite individuals whose contributions or comments impinge directly on a corporate influence of the Church. His book does meet a current need in understanding Canadian Catholicism and I will recommend it to students I teach.

3.0 out of 5 stars An Ecclesiastical History, June 18, 2002

By 

Allan M. Savage (Thunder Bay, Ontario) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: A History of Canadian Catholics (McGill-Queen's Studies in the History of Religion, Series Two) (Paperback)

Fay provides a good orientation within his subject matter for the reader and new student. Selecting from published materials he presents a chronology of the growth of the institutional Catholic presence in Canada by assessing, analyzing and interpreting of information in an ecclesiastical framework. He says that "many colleagues and students have let me know that an outline history of the Canadian Catholicism is needed now" (p.ix). The title, A History of Canadian Catholics, however, led me to expect a disclosure of some personal thoughts or motivations of the individuals who have left their mark on Canadian Catholic Church history. Rather, I discovered their views to have been presented through an ecclesiastical filter. To my mind, the book could have been entitled, An Ecclesiastical History of Catholics in Canada, since it is the corporate identity that provides the threat that links his subject matter. Fay has made choices in presenting his material and has remained faithful to his theme. He has chosen to cite individuals whose contributions or comments impinge directly on a corporate influence of the Church. His book does meet a current need in understanding Canadian Catholicism and I will recommend it to students I teach.