Whether we like it or not, history is something that has an impact on all of our lives. We hopefully learn from it, honor those who came before us, and treasure mementos from the past that have significant meaning for us. In his new book A History of the Church in 100 Objects author and church historian Mike Aquilina looks at 100 objects in Church history and assembles a story of us. A story of Christ’s church.
The author was assisted by his daughter Grace and looks at items such the Silver Star in Bethlehem, a catacomb painting, Saint Patrick’s bell, and new items such as newspaper headlines. The book is broken up into the following seven groups: The Church of the Apostles and Martyrs, The Church and the Empire, the Dark Ages, The Middle Ages, Renaissance and Reformation, The Age of Revolutions, and the Global Village. The author did this because most people tend to look at history as eras. Each object has a story and meaning behind it. Each chapter is fairly short, only two to three pages, but packed with data.
Church history is our story. It is our story and the items presented in this work are like family heirlooms. The items have a story that speak of our Christian ancestors and about their faith. As the author states, “So when Christians tell our story, we don’t just write it in books. We preserve the memory in memorials, monuments, and museums. We build grand basilicas to house tiny relics” (page 3).
I am a student of church history (that was my major at Liberty University), and am excited to recommend this book. The pictures are colorful and the writing is relatable. Mr. Aquilina has a writing style that is easy to comprehend and makes the subject come alive. Highly recommended!
[Note: This book was received free of charge from Ave Maria Press in exchange for an honest review.]
William Hemsworth-The Bible Catholic 