The Nostalgia for a New Christendom

by Mario Ramos-Reyes

Mario Ramos-Reyes shares the political schizophrenia of mid-20th century Latin America and the healing process that sought to fill the void between Enlightenment liberalism and the Catholic tradition. The cure was the work of maritainismo, a proposal inspired by Jacques Maritain (1882-1973), the most admired and criticized Catholic thinker in the first half of the 20th century. Beginning with the Social Christian movement conference in Montevideo, Uruguay, in 1947, the era of the new Latin American Christendom became a model that aspired to be democratic, liberal, and Christian. This project lasted until 1968, when Catholic thought abruptly turned toward liberation theology. Today, remembering the maritainista proposal in the face of the liberal secularist and populist postmodern avalanche is not a futile exercise of nostalgia but an urgent necessity.
 

Hardback: $29.95 | Paperback: $24.95| Kindle: $9.99

TESTIMONIALS

“This important work by Mario Ramos-Reyes traces the influence of Jacques Maritain’s mature social and political philosophy in Latin America in the mid-twentieth century. Maritain’s Catholic philosophical foundation for a democratic pluralist society appealed to a generation of Latin American political and social thinkers who sought to build a democratic order in Latin America based on the dignity of the human person and Catholic social teaching. Ramos-Reyes expresses a hope that after the tragic eclipse of this vision, which was attacked from both the right and the left, this kind of democracy inspired by a Thomistic Catholic philosophy may come once again to be politically fruitful in Latin America and around the world.” – Dr. Lawrence Feingold, Professor of Theology and Philosophy, Kenrick-Glennon Seminary
“While everybody will not agree with the politics of this book, Latin Americanists should find the argument universally fascinating and enlightening because of its implications for the embeddedness of philosophy and religion (and philosophers and priests) in Latin American politics.” – Elizabeth Kuznesof, Professor and Director of the Center for Latin American Studies, University of Kansas
“Amid historical vicissitudes, Mario Ramos Reyes has sought the essentials of Maritain’s spirit: a Constitutional Democracy and the rule of law based on a Christian ethos. These still provide answers to this unmade world between postmodernism and woke ideologies and to this Latin America that, bleeding between socialist Christian utopias and its military-conservative reactions, has not yet found its path to institutional stability.” – Gabriel J. Zanotti, Professor, of UCEMA, and academic director of the Friedman-Hayek Center, and the Acton Institute, Buenos Aires, Argentina 

“Ramos-Reyes is a tragic optimist. The eclipse of Christian Democracy is indisputable. Even its resurgence can seem little more than a nostalgic dream. And yet, to draw from Scripture, he asks whether these ‘dead bones can rise again.’ He tells us that if they do, it will be at the summons of a new generation of Latin American thinkers and activists.” – James Hanink, Past President, American Maritain Association

“In The Nostalgia for a New Christendom, Mario Ramos-Reyes has written a thoughtful analysis of the thought of Jacques Maritain and its influence on Latin America. He both analyzes skillfully the insights and the failures of the Christian Democratic movement that Maritain inspired and offers an impressive defense of the relevance of Maritain’s philosophy of human dignity for the twenty-first century.” – Carl Strikwerda, former president Elizabethtown College and former dean College of William and Mary

“I recall reading William Cavanaugh’s book, Torture and Eucharist, and his call for a more radical, supernatural, Eucharistic approach to politics and his criticism of Maritain as a proponent of the Christian Democratic vision that Cavanaugh thought had marginalized and neutered the Church. Then, liberation theology took up so much of the debate. Against that was a traditional conservatism that called for a Catholic country that did not make much room for liberalism in the best sense. Then, of course, the strong secularization brings with it the legalization of abortion and the rejection of the family. Yes, where have you gone, Jacques Maritain? Well, at least there is an answer to this: the writing of Mario Ramos Reyes.” – Daniel Philpott, University of Notre Dame

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Mario Ramos-Reyes is a philosopher, teacher and diplomat. He was born in Asuncion, Paraguay, and has lived in the United States for several decades. He holds a degree in philosophy and law from the Catholic University, Our Lady of Asuncion, where he taught for many years. He has completed postgraduate studies in Natural Law at the University of Navarra, Spain. He holds a master’s degree in Moral Philosophy from Holy Apostles College in Connecticut and a master’s degree in Pastoral Theology from Ave Maria University in Florida. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of Kansas, specializing in Political Philosophy and History of Ideas with emphasis on Latin America. He is currently dedicated to teaching and research, and he is a columnist for the newspaper La Nación of Asunción. The Consular Corps of Kansas City conferred upon him the title of Consul General Emeritus.
 
OTHER PUBLICATIONS BY THE AUTHOR
  • En Búsqueda de la República (2023) Intercontinental Editora
  • Filosofía para tiempos misteriosos (2022) Intercontinental Editora
  • La larga marcha hacia la libertad (2019) Biblioteca de Estudios Paraguayos, Vol. 114
    Centro de Estudios Antropológicos de la Universidad Católica.
  • Los que se fueron (2014) Biblioteca de Estudios Paraguayos, Vol. 103 Centro de
    Estudios Antropológicos de la Universidad Católica.
  • La república como tarea ética (2009) Biblioteca de Estudios Paraguayos, Vol. 77 Centro
    de Estudios Antropológicos de la Universidad Católica.
  • Ética y Filosofía. Ensayos Dispersos (2005) Biblioteca de Estudios Paraguayos Vol. 64
    Centro de Estudios Antropológicos de la Universidad Católica
  • Filosofía y pensamiento democrático (1998) Biblioteca de Estudios Paraguayos, Vol. 58
    Centro de Estudios Antropológicos de la Universidad Católica

OTHER CATHOLIC ACADEMIC BOOKS

Rigidez: Fidelidade ou Heterodoxia? por Pedro Gabriel

Rigidez: Fidelidade ou Heterodoxia? por Pedro Gabriel

Rigidez: Fidelidade ou Heterodoxia? por Pedro Gabriel "Porque é que o Papa Francisco está sempre a criticar os católicos fiéis?" é uma pergunta frequentemente repetida sempre que o Santo Padre faz uma das suas habituais invectivas contra a rigidez religiosa. De facto,...

read more
Rigidity: Faithfulness or Heterodoxy by Pedro Gabriel

Rigidity: Faithfulness or Heterodoxy by Pedro Gabriel

Rigidity: Faithfulness or Heterodoxy? by Pedro Gabriel “Why is Pope Francis always criticizing faithful Catholics?” is an oft-repeated question whenever the Holy Father makes one of his usual invectives against religious rigidity. Francis has indeed made such...

read more
Mary, Star of the New Evangelization by James Likoudis

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization by James Likoudis

Mary, Star of the New Evangelization by James Likoudis, edited by Andrew Likoudis This anthology of Dr. James Likoudis’s essays in Mariology, entitled Mary, Star of the New Evangelization, offers readers a comprehensive look into the teachings and beliefs of the...

read more
Contemporary Sacred Art: Conversations on Art & Faith

Contemporary Sacred Art: Conversations on Art & Faith

Contemporary Sacred Art: Conversations on Art & Faith by Dr. Michela Beatrice Ferri In translation now from the Italian. Buy it in the original language here: What is the so-called “Contemporary Sacred Art”? In her book, Michela Beatrice Ferri inquires about the...

read more
Elements of Christianity: The Beauty of the Christian Faith

Elements of Christianity: The Beauty of the Christian Faith

Elements of Christianity: The Beauty of the Christian Faith by Tonino Vicari This book attempts to make accessible to the average reader the basic elements of Church teaching concerning morality, natural law, and supernatural truths that have been passed down through...

read more
Consuming Love by Fr. Gregory Cleveland, OMV

Consuming Love by Fr. Gregory Cleveland, OMV

Consuming Love by Fr. Gregory Cleveland, OMV The Eucharist is the “sacrament of love.” Jesus Christ is the true Bridegroom of our hearts, and it is he whom we receive in holy Communion. Even if you have received our Lord thousands of times in the Eucharist, Consuming...

read more
Heresia Disfarçada de Tradição por Pedro Gabriel

Heresia Disfarçada de Tradição por Pedro Gabriel

Heresia Disfarçada de Tradição por Pedro Gabriel Uma afirmação muito difundida nos círculos católicos atuais é que se pode ignorar os ensinamentos do Papa Francisco ou do Concílio Vaticano II se eles ensinarem algo que parece ir contra a tradição. Será que isso é...

read more
Unpacking Palamism: A Catholic Critique

Unpacking Palamism: A Catholic Critique

Unpacking Palamism: A Catholic Critique by James Likoudis with essays selected and edited by Andrew Likoudis Unpacking Palamism: A Catholic Critique, penned by esteemed scholar Dr. James Likoudis, meticulously scrutinizes the doctrines of Palamism, a theological...

read more
Mary, the New Woman by Diego G. Passadore

Mary, the New Woman by Diego G. Passadore

Mary, the New Woman by Diego G. Passadore Mary, the New Woman is an apologetic exegesis from the Bible, Jewish texts, and other Christian confessions, designed to bring the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception closer to the unbeliever and to promote the dignity of women...

read more
The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism

The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism

The Lord of the Rings and Catholicism: Exploring the Christian Roots of The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by Madeleine Dobrowski This book explores the Catholic themes that can be found in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. It is written for all lovers of Tolkien, Catholic or...

read more
Human Nature: Moral Norm

Human Nature: Moral Norm

Human Nature: Moral Norm by Francis Etheredge There is a 'difference, both anthropological and moral, between contraception and recourse to the rhythm of the cycle: it is a difference which is much wider and deeper than is usually thought, one which involves in the...

read more
Heresy Disguised as Tradition

Heresy Disguised as Tradition

Heresy Disguised as Tradition by Pedro Gabriel A widespread assertion in Catholic circles today is that one can disregard the teachings of Pope Francis or the Second Vatican Council if they teach something that seems to go against tradition. Is this the case? In this...

read more
The Social Encyclicals and Saint Thomas Aquinas

The Social Encyclicals and Saint Thomas Aquinas

The Social Encyclicals and Saint Thomas Aquinas by Dr. Donald G. Boland The social encyclicals of the Catholic Church provide an opportunity to treat human behavior from a practical moral philosophical point of view grounded in Aristotle as interpreted by Saint Thomas...

read more
The Necessity of Knowledge for Love and its Application

The Necessity of Knowledge for Love and its Application

The Necessity of Knowledge for Love and Its Application by Fr. Paul Ezinando In this work, Fr. Paul Ezinando not only demonstrates that knowledge is a necessity for love, but he also shows that proper knowledge promotes love. Following the argument of St. Augustine,...

read more
Unfolding a Post-Roe World

Unfolding a Post-Roe World

Unfolding a Post-Roe World by Francis Etheredge Unfolding a Post-Roe World is the second edition of what had formerly been entitled The ABCQ of Conceiving Conception. It explores what is involved in grasping the beginning of each of us – but we need the truth to open...

read more
Los principios del cambio

Los principios del cambio

Los principios del cambio: La reforma carmelita de Teresa de Ávila y las ideas de la gestión del cambio Kristina R. Olsen Este libro se basa en los principios de gestión del cambio organizacional para examinar la reforma de la Orden Carmelita de Teresa de Ávila en el...

read more
The Wonder of the Eucharist

The Wonder of the Eucharist

The Wonder of the Eucharist: More Voices from the Twentieth Century by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book examines some of the major literary voices from the past century who deepened our understanding of the Eucharist by embedding it in their short stories, novels,...

read more
Paradoxes of Faith and Reason

Paradoxes of Faith and Reason

Paradoxes of Faith and Reason by Dr. Shalina Stilley Paradox it is at the very heart of the Gospel message. The Trinity, the Incarnation, the Cross and Resurrection, and the problem of evil are but a few examples of paradoxes of faith and reason. How can God be three...

read more
Rise and Fall of the American Empire

Rise and Fall of the American Empire

A new book from En Route Books and media critically analyzes how the Republic fashioned by the Framers of the Constitution in 1787 has been transformed into a deep Administrative State ruled by non-elected experts.Rise and Fall of the American Empire by Dr. Richard...

read more
Reaching for the Resurrection: A Pastoral Bioethics

Reaching for the Resurrection: A Pastoral Bioethics

Reaching for the Resurrection: A Pastoral Bioethics Loneliness, Aloneness, Euthanasia, Meaning, Anorexia, Brain Death, Conversion, and the Death and Resurrection of Christ   by Francis Etheredge Francis Etheredge returns to the subject of bioethics with essays on...

read more
Principles of Change by Kristina R. Olsen

Principles of Change by Kristina R. Olsen

Principles of Change: Teresa of Avila’s Carmelite Reform and Insights from Change Management Kristina R. Olsen This book draws from organizational change management principles to examine Teresa of Avila’s 16th-century reform of the Carmelite Order. During the last...

read more
Exploring the Belief in the Real Presence

Exploring the Belief in the Real Presence

Exploring the Belief in the Real Presence (Second Edition) by Dr. David J. Keys When an evangelical minister asked him why one would believe that Jesus is present -- body, blood, soul, and divinity -- in communion, Dr. Keys began an intensive study into the ancient...

read more
The Biblical Qur’an: A Christian Investigation

The Biblical Qur’an: A Christian Investigation

The Biblical Qur'an: A Christian Investigation by Michael Healy, Jr. Can Christians interpret the Qur’an Christocentricly, as we have always done with the Old Testament? How would such a reading of the Qur’an modify our understanding of Christian and Muslim history?...

read more
History of Peter

History of Peter

History of Peter by Roger Skrenes Peter is spoken of 195 times in the New Testament, twice as many times as all the other Apostles combined. Today, when Peter is discussed, however, what is most often emphasized is the erratic or sinful side of his personality. Jesus...

read more
Peter and Wendy

Peter and Wendy

Peter and Wendy: Growing Up in Neverland by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book looks at J. M. Barrie's classic children's story Peter Pan to see what it can tell us about ourselves and our situation today. It discovers in this classic fairy-tale about the boy from...

read more
Weeds Among Wheat

Weeds Among Wheat

Weeds Among Wheat: L'Arche and the Tainted Legacy of Jean Vanier by Dennis Billy, C.Ss.R. This book is about baking the bread of Christian community from the grains of our broken humanity. It is primarily concerned with distinguishing L'Arche's authentic spirituality...

read more
21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages by Albert Domm

21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages by Albert Domm

21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages by Albert Domm Focused on our Catholic faith, Albert Domm's 21 Centuries of Church History in 21 Pages engages the Catholic reader in a concise but rich history of our Church one full century at a time. A narrative flow, this...

read more
Romans by Paul, authored by Richard L. Akins

Romans by Paul, authored by Richard L. Akins

Special congratulations to Rick for his being awarded third place in the 2020 Catholic Book Awards contest for best Catholic novel for Rebirth of Nicodemus.Romans by Paul: The Apostle's Defense of Catholic Doctrine by Richard L. Akins We are often challenged in our...

read more
Wisdom Literature

Wisdom Literature

Wisdom Literature by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA The seven books of wisdom include Job, the Psalms, Proverbs, Ecclesiastes, Song of Solomon, Wisdom, and Sirach, all of which teach one thing in a universal and essentially poetic manner: wisdom. Wisdom is  a practical...

read more
Pentateuch by Very Rev. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA

Pentateuch by Very Rev. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA

Pentateuch: A Spiritual Interpretation by Fr. Peter Samuel Kucer, MSA This book gives a special emphasis to a spiritual interpretation of the Pentateuch in a manner that springs forth from and is based on the literal interpretation, in particular the actual words used...

read more