RECUSANT PRESS is pleased to announce the publication of its first title, The Folly of Heresy, written in the 1530s by Blessed Germain Gardiner, Martyr.
The Folly of Heresy—a first-hand account of a sixteenth-century religious debate now back in print after five centuries.
The Folly of Heresy was first published in 1534. It was written in response to the trial and supposed martyrdom of John Frith, who famously denied the Real Presence of Christ in the Eucharist. The author, Blessed Germain Gardiner—himself martyred in 1544 for denying King Henry's religious supremacy—saw in Frith's case a dangerous occasion for confusion and scandal among England's Catholics. How could they, he asked, honor a man who denied so important a doctrine of the faith? The work (which first bore a verbose title beginning with A letter of a yonge gentylman...) is not only a Scriptural-Patristic defense of the Real Presence but also a brief chronicle of Blessed Germain's personal interviews of Frith before the latter's sentencing. His account, beyond being valuable to Christians interested in Sacramental and Eucharistic theology, is in fact of extraordinary value to scholars of Henrician religious history. Despite its value, it has remained out of print since it was first issued almost five hundred years ago.
The present edition has been thoroughly revised: archaic and unintelligible spellings and grammar have been adjusted, many explanatory notes have been added, and the originally very lengthy paragraphs have been divided up for easier digestion. An introduction, textual-critical endnotes, an appendix, and indices have also been created for this edition by the editor. These editorial supplements will serve to make an otherwise inaccessible piece of English history not only approachable but enjoyable for the modern reader, whether his interest be casual or scholarly.
(No artificial intelligence was used in the creation or editing of any part of this book.)
Buy a physical or digital copy of Blessed Germain's Folly of Heresy now via Amazon ($10 for paperback, $5 for digital format).
Boone W. Larson.
Feast of Saint Bernard, 20 August 2025.
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