Dr. Donald S. Prudlo, assistant professor of ancient and medieval history at Jacksonville State University in Jacksonville, Ala., will present “The Inquisition: Separating Fact from Fiction” on Thursday, Jan. 18, at Holy Spirit Preparatory School as part of the Holy Spirit College’s ongoing lecture series.

The lecture begins promptly at 7:30 p.m. in the college lecture classroom located on the second floor of the Commons building on the Upper School campus. The campus is located at 4449 Northside Drive near the intersection with Mt. Paran Road. Refreshments will be served prior to the lecture, at 7 p.m.

What was the Inquisition and why, for nearly 500 years, has there been a “Black Legend” spread about it? Come learn more about this controversial period of Catholic history as Dr. Prudlo separates fact from fiction. He will dispel the myths created by historical imprecision and give a balanced historical account of the inquisitions, their origins, and their procedures.

Dr. Prudlo received his bachelor of arts degree from Christendom College and holds a master’s degree in theological studies from the Notre Dame Graduate School of Christendom College. In 2004, he was awarded a Ph.D. from the University of Virginia, where he specialized in European religious history, with a particular emphasis on the medieval period. His first book, “The Martyred Inquisitor: The Life and Cult of Peter of Verona,” will be published next year by Ashgate Publishing. He is currently working on a book tracing the historical development of papal infallibility in canonization.