Part 01 - Bathing in the Fresh Springs of Ignorance

Modernity, Dr. John Rao argues, had intellectually deconstructed itself as much as possible by the end of the nineteenth century. What was left to do was to deconstruct itself politically and socially and destroy the very building blocks of western life. Nietzsche rejoiced in the disasters he awaited in the 1900's, arguing that they would bring an escape from the absurd historical attempt to find meaning in life. 

Part 02 -The Roman School

The nineteenth century Catholic revival was very rich and variegated. Aspects of it had combined together by the turn of the century to create a distinct "Roman School" dominating the life of the Church. Dr. John Rao shows how this "School", promoted by popes, certain bishops, and some universities, institutes, religious orders, and individual scholars, focused primarily on the need to support Ultramontanism, Thomism, liturgical improvement, and a broader "transformation of all things in Christ". 

Part 03 - Separating the Modern From Modernity - I

Dr. John Rao shows that Pope Leo XIII to begin with, and Pius X much more so, had to find a way to separate what was merely modern and innovative from "modernist" ideas that represented a root and branch attack on the supernatural and Christian revelation.  

Part 04- Separating the Modern From Modernity - II

Dr. John Rao continues the previous discussion by illustrating that separation of the modern from modernity involved work on many levels. It included theology, philosophy, biblical exegesis, historical studies, the question of the relationship of Church and State, and Catholic Action in such matters as the formation of political parties and labor unions. Leo XIII's condemnation of Americanism and Pius X's syllabus in Pascendi, attack on the Sillon, and support for Italian participation in political life were major aspects of the work of separation. 

Part 05- WWI and the Peace of Christ in the Reign of Christ

World War I was a disaster that Dr. John Rao shows the Church had long predicted and Pope Benedict was slandered for trying to end. The Church held only limited hopes for the Peace of Paris following the conflict as well. The only future that Pius XI saw for the European world was to build the peace upon the idea of Christ as King of society. 

Part 06 - The Roman School Revisited

What was the Roman School's "program" in the years 1918-1939? Dr. John Rao illustrates how much this was connected with, on the one hand, Pius XI's missionary concerns, and, on the other, his promotion of a Catholic Action which could fight ideology, nationalism, and all forms of secularization. 

Part 07- Secular Obstacles to the New Christendom

Pius XI spoke of the Roman School's program as the construction of a New Christendom. This faced many secular obstacles in the form of Marxism-Leninism, Fascism, Nazism, and the continued influences of Liberalism, Nationalism, and also Colonialism. Dr. John Rao discusses how these obstacles manifested themselves in the interwar world.

 Part 08 - Spiritual Obstacles to the New Christendom - Orthodoxy and Protestantism

Eastern Orthodoxy and Liberal/Evangelical Protestantism continued to offer problems for the Roman program in the interwar period. A new phenomenon also now entered into the picture: the ecumenical movement. Dr. John Rao treats of the dangers and limited hopes of Catholic/Orthodox/Protestant relations in the twentieth century. 

Part 09 - The Internal Debate (1918-1939) - I

Dr. John Rao deals with the internal Catholic debate over the program of the Roman School in the years 1918-1939. This debate involved theological methodology, missionary activity, political concerns, and liturgical matters. Catholic Action movements in Portugal, Austria, France, and Italy are examined.

Part 10 - The Internal Debate (1918-1939)- II

The internal debate fed on the "vitalist" and "personalist" ideas described by Dr. John Rao in some detail. These claimed that in order to succeed in both the external missionary world and the internal Christianized world's fight for political domination and social justice, it was necessary for Catholics to tap into what was most "energetic" in modern life. That meant trying to understand Marxism, Fascism, Youth, and non-Christian cultures, and "diving" into and promoting their conquering spirit. Opponents to these views said that Catholics would lose their identity if they did so.

Part 11 - Danger on All Fronts (1939-1945)

World War II placed the Church in an impossible position. It could not support a Nazi Europe. On the other hand, it could not rejoice over an Allied victory signifying the entry of Soviet Russia and Americanist concepts into the mainstream of European life. Dr. John Rao talks of Pius XII's difficulties in sailing through these troubled waters.

Part 12 - Pius XII in a Marxist/Pluralist Maze - I

Dr. John Rao's next three talks all take up the problem of the Church's struggle with a postwar world dominated by Marxism on the one hand and Americanist Pluralism on the other. Both of these forces insisted the Church join with them at the risk of otherwise being called Fascist and Nazi. 

Part 14 - Pius XII in a Marxist/Pluralist Maze - III

In the American dominated Pluralist world, Catholics were called upon to be anti-communist. This was no problem, as Dr. John Rao admits. Nevertheless, they were also urged not to be "divisive" and to "integrate" with all other pluralist forces. This could easily combine together with vitalist and personalist concepts in a way that caused Catholics to lose their identity. 

These talks were taken from: The Church of Eugenio Pacelli - 2000 VonHildebrand Institute