Renowned Catholic historian Christopher Dawson divided the history of the Catholic Church into six "ages" or 350- to 400-year periods that each began with great vitality and ended in decline and loss. In The Catholic Church Through the Ages Fr. John Vidmar surveys the history of the church, from its beginnings up to Pope Benedict XVI's pontificate, through Dawson's lens. He writes with enthusiasm and a down-to-earth quality born of years of teaching. Each chapter ends with an annotated list of readings and audio-visuals, and even includes historical novels to help convey a "feeling" for an age. Book jacket.