Issued as part of UPCC book collections on Project MUSE.

Includes bibliographical references (pages 353-390) and index.

1. Introduction -- part I. Definitions of Catholic enlightenment -- 2. What is Catholic enlightenment? Some characteristics -- 3. The "heresy-hunting" of the obscurantists and the "martyrdom" of the enlighteners : forgotten characteristics of anti-enlightenment and Catholic enlightenment -- part II. Ecumenism and theological pluralism as main tenets of the Catholic enlightenment -- 4. Ghosts of Westphalia : fictions and ideals of ecclesial unity in enlightenment Germany -- 5. Enlightenment and ecumenism : Beda Mayr (1742-94) -- 6. A tolerant theology? Catholic irenicism, pluralism, and indifferentism -- part III. Church reform -- 7. Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim's Febronius : a censored bishop and his ecclesiology -- 8. On the way to sacrosanctum concilium : the liturgical renewal of the eighteenth century -- part IV. Catholic exegesis and the challenge of enlightenment criticism -- 9. The Bible among Catholic enlighteners -- 10. The conundrums of eighteenth-century Catholic biblical scholarship and J.L. Isenbiehl's interpretation of Isaiah 7:14 -- 11. Apocalypse 2014--post-Tridentine Catholic exegesis of Revelation : the futurist commentary of Alphonsus Frey (1762) -- 12. Apocalypse, enlightenment, and the beginning of salvation history : the ecumenical friendship of J.J. Hess and A. Sandbichler -- 13. Moses and Apollo : the beginnings of comparative religionsgeschichte in Catholic exegesis.

In the present day, there is widespread confusion regarding the theological achievements of the Catholic Enlightenment. This book outlines such contributions in the fields of biblical exegesis, church reform, liturgical renewal, and the move toward a more tolerant view of other churches and religions. Since some of the most important Catholic Enlighteners lived in Germany, this book concentrates on their endeavors, but also frequently points to other European players. Only an unpolemical historical assessment of the Catholic Enlightenment can help us to get out of the current gridlock of interpreting Vatican II: was there a break with tradition, or was there continuity? By reviewing the historical debates that preceded Vatican II, the unknown, marginalized, or deliberately forgotten roots of the conciliar debates come to light that can help us fine-tune future hermeneutical endeavors. This history is hitherto unknown to most researchers. Indeed, it is possibly the most neglected field of modern literary history.

Description based on print version record.