History Of The Cathars

Posted on by Steve Harris

by Sean Martin

ISBN: 978-0-85730-309-7

First published 2018

205 pages (excluding end notes)

Publisher: oldcastlebooks.com

Cover design by Elsa Mathern

4 / 5 Stars

A really interesting introduction to the history of the Cathar movement. Sean discusses the Catholic church background of the movement and how it was able to grow, given the corruption and abuse that was widespread in the church.

There are 7 chapters

  • Heresy and Orthodoxy – interesting background to the history of Dualism that the Cathars believed in.
  • The Foxes in the Vineyard of the Lord – A description of the rites and structure of the Cathar church. For instance, Priest was called a Perfect, Baptism was the Consolamentum.
  • The Albigensian Crusade – It should be noted that the Catholic Church, whilst apologizing for other horrors, has still not apologised for the genocide of the Cathars.
  • The Inquisition – Yes, it is as bad as you think.
  • The Autier Revival – Discussing the Cathar Endura, the equivalent of performing the Last Rites in the Catholic Church, and the Last Perfect in Languedoc. How the desire for a more honest church predates Martin Luther’s Reformation by several centuries, and how the Cathar church lingered on.
  • Italy and Bosnia – How there were break away groups of Cathars in both regions.
  • The Cathar Treasure – An analysis of the various myths and legends that have grown up around the Cathar movement.

In summary an excellent book to accompany any tour of the French Languedoc region.

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