{"product_id":"the-heresy-of-popular-sovereignty-1","title":"The Heresy of Popular Sovereignty","description":"\u003cp\u003eFor the first time since its original release in 1892, Charles Maignen's influential work \u003cem\u003eLa souveraineté du peuple est une hérésie\u003c\/em\u003e (The Sovereignty of the People Is a Heresy) is now available in English, introduced as the second volume of Stabat Mater Press' \u003cem\u003eLibrary of Catholic Political Thought\u003c\/em\u003e. This powerful theological and political treatise challenges one of modernity's foundational principles-the idea that sovereignty resides inherently in the people. This second Stabat Mater Press edition includes a foreword from \u003cstrong\u003eDr. John Rao\u003c\/strong\u003e. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eDrawing on Catholic doctrine and the teachings of Suarez, Maignen argues that true sovereignty belongs to God and is exercised through legitimate authorities, not directly by the people. He exposes the revolutionary doctrine of popular sovereignty as a dangerous error and a heresy that undermines divine order and social stability.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eAn important read for anyone interested in Catholic political philosophy, this work provides a rigorous critique of liberal and democratic ideologies from a 19th-century wholly Catholic integralist perspective. Maignen's sharp defense of monarchy and divine authority fits well with ongoing debates about legitimacy, governance, and morality.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2219\" data-start=\"1317\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e\u003cem\u003eLAUDS AND APPROBATIONS\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“\u003cstrong\u003eThe author opposes the doctrine of \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cstrong\u003epopular sovereignty\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, which derives from the impious and heretical slogan of the Revolution, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003eAll power comes from the people.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e He therefore opposes not this or that form of government, but the Revolution itself: ‘Do you want to kill it?’ says he. ‘\u003cstrong\u003eStrike the liberal Catholics, and you will kill the Revolution!\u003c\/strong\u003e’ Yes, it is indeed true: the liberal Catholics (or the liberals who call themselves Catholics, regardless of whether or not they understand what they are saying), by calling themselves by that name, \u003cstrong\u003eare in fact the vanguard of Freemasonry\u003c\/strong\u003e, the wise according to the flesh (I Corinthians 1:26), the heroes of fear, the valiant soldiers of retreat! And thus they are an obstacle to the good cause. ‘\u003cstrong\u003eHerein lies the obstacle to salvation—liberal Catholicism!\u003c\/strong\u003e’”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eLa Civiltà Cattolica\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 1892.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“The proof of the principles set forth is presented… in the book in clear and concise terms, and can be read even by those who have little time. The author has sought to clarify the points upon which contemporary errors are based and to demonstrate the consequences of false maxims that, due to a sort of conventional wisdom, are accepted as true by many people.”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eL’Université catholique\u003c\/em\u003e\u003cspan\u003e, 1892.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003e“Was it not already a revolution to proclaim… that the law is the expression of the general will, and that the source of all authority lies essentially in the nation? Is this organization of society without God not, then, \u003cstrong\u003ethe most formidable of errors, ‘total heresy’\u003c\/strong\u003e as… Charles Maignen calls it—in a word, the Revolution?”\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003cspan\u003e—Henri Lucien-Brun, \u003c\/span\u003e\u003cem\u003eRevue Catholique des institutions et du droit\u003c\/em\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-end=\"2219\" data-start=\"1317\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Fr. Charles Maignen","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":67675206943005,"sku":null,"price":19.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Hardcover","offer_id":67675206975773,"sku":null,"price":25.99,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0951\/9176\/1181\/files\/Screenshot2026-10-04at8.39.35PM.png?v=1791160807","url":"https:\/\/stabatmaterpress.com\/products\/the-heresy-of-popular-sovereignty-1","provider":"Stabat Mater Press","version":"1.0","type":"link"}