The Irony of Modern Catholic History

How the Church Rediscovered Itself and Challenged the Modern World to Reform

By: George Weigel

Narrated by: Rick Adamson

A powerful new interpretation of Catholicism's dramatic encounter with modernity, by one of America's leading intellectuals
Throughout much of the nineteenth century, both secular and Catholic leaders assumed that the Church and the modern world were locked in a battle to the death. The triumph of modernity would not only finish the Church as a consequential player in world history; it would also lead to the death of religious conviction. But today, the Catholic Church is far more vital and consequential than it was 150 years ago. Ironically, in confronting modernity, the Catholic Church rediscovered its evangelical essence. In the process, Catholicism developed intellectual tools capable of rescuing the imperiled modern project.
A richly rendered, deeply learned, and powerfully argued account of two centuries of profound change in the church and the world, The Irony of Modern Catholic History reveals how Catholicism offers twenty-first century essential truths for our survival and flourishing.

Critic reviews

"As with all Weigel's writing, this story is well told-richly illustrated with lively anecdotes, cogent summaries of complex ideas, and revealing quotations."—National Review

"Weigel advances a bold but credible interpretation of almost 200 years of ecclesiastical history, tracing the Church's engagement with modernity from the 19th century through today.... Weigel's ideas are certainly worth serious examination. Highly recommended."—National Catholic Register

"A fascinating look at the Catholic Church's encounter with modernity...Weigel is at once highly intellectual and thoroughly accessible as a writer as well as balanced and opinionated...A must-read book for Catholics and devotees of religious history."—Kirkus (starred review)

"George Weigel is the most interesting and authoritative American scholar and analyst of the Roman Catholic Church...[His] book is intended to refute the common notion that Catholicism has resisted modernity consistently and mostly ineffectively and has suffered as a consequence of its stubborn refusal to 'change with the times.' The truth, Weigel shows, is much more complicated than that."—New York Journal of Books

"[An] important new work...St. Teresa of Avila had it right when she said that 'God writes straight with crooked lines.' George Weigel's The Irony of Modern Catholic History traces those crooked lines in modern church history."—Washington Times

"A comprehensive interpretation of the history of the Catholic Church's encounter with modernity...This story is well told."—First Things

"Weigel ranks among the leading Christian public intellectuals of the past four decades. Stylistically, The Irony of Modern Catholic History is a pleasure to read. But the easy style disguises the fact that it's also an exercise in superb historical scholarship, from the reactionary Pope Gregory XVI in the mid-19th century, through the Modernist crisis and Vatican II, to the present."—Crisis Magazine

"Compelling...Weigel has a great eye for facts that raise eyebrows and provoke reflection...[He] is also a high-calibre phrasemaker."—Catholic Herald (UK)

"Weigel ranks among the leading Christian public intellectuals of the past four decades. Stylistically, The Irony of Modern Catholic History is a pleasure to read. But the easy style disguises the fact that it's also an exercise in superb historical scholarship, from the reactionary Pope Gregory XVI in the mid-19th century, through the Modernist crisis and Vatican II, to the present."—Catholic Philly

To Correct the Future, Know the Past

I love George Weigel. His understanding of history, and in particular Catholic history as well as knowledge of Pope John Paul II in light of Vatican II can provide a beacon for the Church to advance the future of the Church and the world.

,,A bright light in the midst of growing darkness.

In the midst of growing chaos a bright light illuminates the way to coherent order.

Interesting Take

It starts off a little slow, but in the end it shines with Mr. Wiegel’s characteristic enlightenment. Definitely worth the effort.

Intelligent review of recent church history

I am familiar with George Weigel's writing from his excellent biography of St. JPII and articles from First Things. He does not disappoint in this book. In the 20th century, communism and fascism (real fascism) were best fought and defeated by liberal democratic regimes, but we are witnessing now the excesses of radical individualism, worship of the autonomous will, materialist atheism and fear of Truth. The antidote is, of course, the teachings of our Catholic faith. But how do we share it? We Catholics tend not to be very good evangelists- but we are getting better. Weigel writes in great detail how Vatican II was all about meeting the challenges presented by theology, politics, and increasingly present communication media that had to be addressed. Even if you disagree with Weigel's narrative or analysis, (and there's an excellent critical review of the book by Andrew Willard Jones in the November 2019 issue of First Things), this book is very well worth a careful listen. The narration is pleasant, and the writing, as one would expect, clear, even, smart, and thoroughly fascinating.

A great review of the past 300 years of Catholicism

Well researched and well synthesized, George Weigel offers great insights into the past present and future of the Church in the modern world.

The one thing I’ve noticed with all the audible recordings I’ve listened to is that on any speed greater than 1.0, it tends to cut off beginning syllables of sentences or breaks in speech. This one is no exception. For example, the word may be written “Catholicism” and you only hear “licism”. Sometimes whole words are cut off altogether if they’re short enough.