The Catholic Church The First 2000 Years

Martha Rasmussen

This book is a popular overview and study guide to the history of the Catholic Church. Written for non-scholarly readers with little historical background, it includes descriptions of society in different historical eras in order to make the history of the Church more understandable. The book avoids unnecessary names, dates, and scholarly disputes, but it explains important doctrinal, spiritual, and historical questions and developments. It identifies many popular saints and includes interesting historical characters.

This book opens many avenues for readers to explore, and Catholics seeking a deeper spiritual life and a closer relationship with God will find many helpful ideas to trust God's love and care for them. The story of how the Church survived earlier trials will encourage people struggling with current challenges in the Church or discouraged by difficulties in their own lives.

This book would be useful in RCIA classes, religious education classes, for personal study, Catholic high school or college classes, or for discussion groups.

"Martha Rasmussen has the ambition to tell a great story on a grand canvas, and she does it admirably well. Rasmussen's grasp of Catholic history is thorough, engrossing and filled with excellent discussion questions for personal reflection and group study. She illuminates the truth and beauty of the Church today with the 2,000 years of light."
-Most Reverend Charles J. Chaput, Archbishop of Denver

Martha Rasmussen received a Master's Degree in Medieval History from the University of Colorado. She has taught in private and parochial schools.