L'Affermazione del Cattolicesimo nel Nord America: Elite, Emigranti e Chiesa Cattolica negli Stati Uniti e in Canada, 1750-1920 (review)

The only drawback to this work is that it is not yet translated into English, thus beyond the grasp of most Americans who could benefit greatly from this accurate view of American ecclesiastical history written from a European point of view.

This is one of the most interesting historical narratives I have seen in the past years treating of the broad topic of the development of Catholicism in North America, including both the United States and Canada, from the middle of the eighteenth century until the opening of the roaring Twenties at the close of the Great War. The author is complete, concise, and nuanced, tying together the many threads of the complex history of Catholicism developing in two relatively anti-Catholic cultures, invaded by hordes of Catholic immigrants, touched during much of the nineteenth century by the Holy See's continued battle with the Italian Risorgimento. Sanfilippo has employed extensively and superbly the resources of the Vatican Archives and those of the Propaganda Fide, as well as numerous other sources, both published and archival. His text is very readable, and his style exciting! How often have you read these words describing any recent work in church history?

Of the many fascinating facets of this book, Sanfilippo's treatment of the Church's stance during the American Civil War is splendid. While clearly presenting the Church's official neutrality, Sanfilippo smartly develops the effect of the Risorgimento and the Vatican's preoccupation with defending and preserving the papal Temporal Power on its positions on the contemporary scene. While opposed to slavery, Pius IX thought there were methods other than war that could have brought about its cessation in the United States. Neutrality was insisted upon in order to preserve the unity of the Church in America, since the pope sensed the many and nuanced reasons for the conflict. Yet, there was a personal sympathy on the part of the pope for the South, not for slavery, but for the agrarian culture about to be beaten down by the industrial North. Pius manifested this sympathetic view, colored also by his hope for a Confederate victory or independence that might support the Papal States, in his letter to President Jefferson Davis, and in the crown of thorns reputedly fashioned by the pope and sent to the fallen Confederate president after his imprisonment. Pius was sympathetic to a fellow ruler, whose reign was ending because of forces beyond their control, and the pope hoped for support from a victorious Confederate government in his upcoming battles with the powers from Northern Italy to maintain his own temporal throne and influence.

I wholeheartedly recommend this work to any serious student of church history, not only as a good reference source, but also as a fine example of how one should research and write history.