History of the Catholic Church from the Renaissance to the French Revolution — Volume 2

"History of the Catholic Church from the Renaissance to the French Revolution" by James MacCaffrey is a journey through a pivotal period in religious history, charting the course of the Catholic Church from the Renaissance to the upheaval of the French Revolution. The narrative begins by setting the scene in England during the reign of Henry VII, observing the diminishing power of the aristocracy and the ascent of the Tudor dynasty under Henry VIII. The book carefully examines Henry VIII's controversial reign, especially his marriage to Catharine of Aragon and the political strategies that triggered the English Reformation. It challenges the common belief that the people of that time were uneducated, highlighting the schools and religious feelings that existed before the significant religious changes in England.