Catholic Revival in the Age of the Baroque: Religious Identity in Southwest Germany, 1550-1750 (New Studies in European History)

This book seeks to explain the origins of the Catholic identity of the population of southwest Germany between 1550 and 1750. Many studies of this subject credit rulers and church leaders with creating and enforcing religious identity in Germany "from above." In contrast, this study argues that there were important local and religious reasons why people came to consider themselves loyal Catholics; and in order to understand the origins of Catholic identity, it examines the nature of "Baroque Catholicism"--including the significance of pilgrimages, processions, confraternities, and other religious ceremonies. Cover......Page 1 Half-title......Page 3 Series-title......Page 4 Title......Page 5 Copyright......Page 6 Dedication......Page 7 Contents......Page 9 Maps......Page 11 Acknowledgments......Page 13 Secondary works......Page 15 Introduction......Page 17 CHAPTER 1 The Counter-Reformation offensive, 1550–1650......Page 34 The case of Burkheim, 1585–1587......Page 37 State-led reform......Page 42 TRIDENTINE REFORM IN THE BISHOPRIC OF CONSTANCE......Page 52 Synods......Page 54 Visitations......Page 57 The Clerical Council and the episcopal seminary......Page 64 CATHOLIC REFORM UNDER LOCAL LEADERSHIP......Page 66 The Catholic cities......Page 67 Monasteries and reform......Page 69 CONCLUSION......Page 74 CHAPTER 2 The sacral landscape and pilgrimage piety......Page 77 Parish churches......Page 80 Chapels......Page 83 Shrines, roadside crosses, and holy trees......Page 88 Monasteries and convents......Page 91 The interior of churches and their decoration......Page 92 PILGRIMAGE PIETY......Page 99 Pilgrimages and shrines......Page 100 Pilgrimage and confessionalism in the late sixteenth century......Page 102 Pilgrimage and the Thirty Years’ War......Page 106 The heyday of pilgrimage......Page 107 Maria Steinbach and the multiple meaning of pilgrimage......Page 113 Communal pilgrimage......Page 118 CONCLUSION......Page 120 THE LITURGICAL YEAR AND EVERYDAY RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE......Page 122 The rites of passage......Page 124 The liturgical year......Page 126 Processions......Page 132 Weekly and daily services......Page 138 THE RISE OF INDIVIDUAL DEVOTION......Page 147 Confraternities......Page 149 Personal and private devotion......Page 163 CLERICALISM AND COMMUNALISM......Page 168 CLERICALISM AND ANTI-CLERICALISM......Page 173 THE PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE PARISH CLERGY......Page 183 Clerical celibacy......Page 184 Salem and the secular clergy......Page 186 Toward a professional parish clergy......Page 189 CONCLUSION......Page 199 CHAPTER 5 The communal church in German Catholicism......Page 201 The administration of the parish......Page 203 Communal supervision of the clergy......Page 208 Organizing devotional life......Page 213 Seefelden, 1620s......Page 215 Schönau, 1661......Page 218 Dellmensingen, 1692......Page 219 Bermatingen, 1701......Page 221 CONCLUSION......Page 222 CHAPTER 6 Reformers and intermediaries, 1650–1750......Page 224 Tridentine reform after 1650......Page 226 Confessionalization after 1650......Page 233 The Jesuits and Capuchins......Page 236 INTERMEDIARIES......Page 244 POPULAR CATHOLICISM, LOCAL RELIGION AND REGIONAL PATTERNS......Page 249 Conclusion......Page 257 Hauptstaatsarchiv Stuttgart (HStASt.)......Page 261 SECONDARY WORKS......Page 262 Index......Page 273 "This book is a study of Catholic reform, popular Catholicism, and the development of confessional identity in southwest Germany. Based on extensive archival study, it argues that Catholic confessional identity developed primarily from the identification of villagers and townspeople with the practices of Baroque Catholicism - particularly pilgrimages, processions, confraternities, and the Mass. Thus the book is in part a critique of the confessionalization thesis which currently dominates scholarship in this field." "The book is not however focused narrowly on the concerns of German historians. An analysis of popular religious practice and of the relationship between parishioners and the clergy in villages and small towns allows for a broader understanding of popular Catholicism, especially in the period after 1650. Local Baroque Catholicism was ultimately a successful convergence of popular and elite, lay and clerical elements, which led to an increasingly elaborate religious style."--Jacket This book is a study of Catholic reform, popular Catholicism, and the development of confessional identity in southwest Germany. Based on extensive archival study, it argues that Catholic confessional identity developed primarily from the identification of villagers and townspeople with the practices of Baroque Catholicism - particularly pilgrimages, processions, confraternities, and the Mass. Thus the book is in part a critique of the confessionalisation thesis which currently dominates scholarship in this field. The book is not however focused narrowly on the concerns of German historians. An analysis of popular religious practice and of the relationship between parishioners and the clergy in villages and small towns allows for a broader understanding of popular Catholicism, especially in the period after 1650. Local Baroque Catholicism was ultimately a successful convergence of popular and elite, lay and clerical elements, which led to an increasingly elaborate religious style. Many studies of the subject of 'Catholic identity' seek to credit rulers and church leaders with creating and enforcing religious identity in Germany 'from above'. In contrast, this study argues that there were important and specific local and religious reasons why people came to consider themselves loyal Catholics Southwest Germany, like the rest of Catholic Europe, experienced the Counter-Reformation in the form of measures taken by both the Church and Catholic states to combat the spread of Protestantism.