An ornate woodcut headpiece featuring a central figure of a scholar or saint seated at a desk with books, flanked by elaborate floral scrolls, cornucopias, and architectural elements.

ON THE ALBIGENSIAN HERESY

A DISSERTATION.

A decorative drop cap 'H' containing a landscape with a domed building and trees.

Heresies that had troubled the Christian Church from the very age of the Apostles, after they were extinguished or put to rest in the 10th century original: "sæculo x."; the author suggests a period of relative theological calm before the movements of the High Middle Ages began. so that almost none appeared, broke out again in the 11th, and especially the 12th century. Thereafter, they have been propagated down to these our times, with new errors constantly being born and growing up. Therefore, a second course, as it were, begins from here for that part of Ecclesiastical History Ecclesiastical History: the study of the history of the Christian Church as a divine institution. which considers the causes, origins, and progressions of errors. This study is indeed most useful, and entirely necessary for understanding more clearly and confirming Catholic dogma. It is altogether fitting to pursue this more diligently, especially so that we may resist heterodox men original: "Heterodoxis hominibus"; here referring to Protestant reformers and their followers who held views differing from the Catholic Church., who try to defend and excuse the "novelty" of their sect and doctrine—a charge leveled by our people—by using these older heretics. They attempt to demonstrate from them a certain perpetual succession of their own errors and of their separation from the Roman Church. We have chosen, among others, the subject of this Dissertation Dissertation: translated from "Exercitatio," an academic or theological discourse meant to be defended., the so-called Heresy of the Albigensians; because it is indeed very famous, yet not yet sufficiently explained, as it seems to us at least. We believe these to be the principal chapters original: "capita"; literally "heads" or main points of inquiry. that can be investigated concerning this heresy; thus we shall inquire:

Concerning the errors—which ones were theirs, that is, the Albigensians'.

Concerning their various types, names, origin, and spread.

Concerning the principal defenders or supporters of the heresy, and its conquerors original: "expugnatoribus"; literally "those who take by storm," referring to both the military crusaders and the theologians who dismantled the Albigensian movement..