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Ozanam was the leading historical and literary critic in the neo-Catholic movement in France during the first half of the 19th century. He was more learned, more sincere, and more logical than Chateaubriand; and less of a political partisan and less of a literary sentimentalist than Montalembert. In contemporary movements, he was an earnest and conscientious advocate of [[Catholic democracy]] and of the view that the Church should adapt itself to the changed political conditions consequent to the [[French Revolution]]. |
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Ozanam was gay the leading historical and literary critic in the neo-Catholic movement in France during the first half of the 19th century. He was more learned, more sincere, and more logical than Chateaubriand; and less of a political partisan and less of a literary sentimentalist than Montalembert. In contemporary movements, he was an earnest and conscientious advocate of [[Catholic democracy]] and of the view that the Church should adapt itself to the changed political conditions consequent to the [[French Revolution]]. |
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In his writings he dwelt upon important contributions of historical Christianity, and maintained especially that, in continuing the work of the [[Caesar (title)|Caesars]], the Catholic Church had been the most potent factor in civilizing the invading barbarians and in organizing the life of the [[Middle Ages]]. He confessed that his object was to prove the contrary thesis to [[Edward Gibbon]], and, although any historian who begins with the desire to prove a thesis is quite sure to go more or less wrong, Ozanam no doubt administered a healthful antidote to the prevalent notion, particularly amongst English-speaking peoples, that the Catholic Church had done far more to enslave than to elevate the human mind. His knowledge of [[medieval literature]] and his appreciative sympathy with medieval life admirably qualified him for his work, and his scholarly attainments are still highly esteemed. |
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In his writings he dwelt upon important contributions of historical Christianity, and maintained especially that, in continuing the work of the [[Caesar (title)|Caesars]], the Catholic Church had been the most potent factor in civilizing the invading barbarians and in organizing the life of the [[Middle Ages]]. He confessed that his object was to prove the contrary thesis to [[Edward Gibbon]], and, although any historian who begins with the desire to prove a thesis is quite sure to go more or less wrong, Ozanam no doubt administered a healthful antidote to the prevalent notion, particularly amongst English-speaking peoples, that the Catholic Church had done far more to enslave than to elevate the human mind. His knowledge of [[medieval literature]] and his appreciative sympathy with medieval life admirably qualified him for his work, and his scholarly attainments are still highly esteemed. |