Church and state in Bourbon Mexico: the Diocese of Michoacán, 1749-1810

In the eighteenth century the Mexican Church experienced spiritual renewal and intellectual reform. The establishment of Franciscan missionary colleges, of the Oratory and of convents and sisterhoods greatly enlivened devotion in the diocese of Michoacan. Thriving confraternities demonstrated the vigour of parochial life. But the secular clergy remained divided between a wealthy elite and an impecunious mass of curates and country vicars, with the cathedral chapter dominated by a group of enlightened peninsular canons. Charles III and his successor expelled the Jesuits, secularised mendicant parishes, closely invigilated popular religion, stripped the clergy of their immunity from royal courts and then seized their wealth. In 1810 priests from the Michoacan diocese led the popular Insurgency which challenged Spanish rule. Here is a rounded portrait of the Mexican Church at its meridian, which touches upon virtually all aspects of religious life and highlights the clash between post-Tridentine baroque Catholicism and enlightened despotism. Annotation In the 18th century the Mexican Church experienced spiritual renewal and intellectual reform. The establishment of Franciscan missionary colleges, of the Oratory, and of convents and sisterhoods was to the great benefit of the diocese of Michoacan. Thriving confraternities demonstrated the vigour of parochial life. But the secular clergy remained divided between a wealthy elite and an impecunious mass of curates and country vicars, with the cathedral chapter dominated by a group of enlightened peninsular canons. Charles III and his successor expelled the Jesuits, secularised mendicant parishes, investigated closely popular religion, stripped the clergy of their immunity from royal courts and then seized their wealth. In 1810 priests from the Michoacan diocese led the popular Insurgency which challenged Spanish rule. Here therefore is a rounded portrait of the Mexican Church at its meridian, touching upon virtually all aspects of religious life. At its core is the clash between post-Tridentine baroque Catholicism and enlightened despotism In the eighteenth century the Mexican Church experienced spiritual renewal and intellectual reform. The establishment of Franciscan missionary colleges, of the Oratory, and of convents and sisterhoods was to the great benefit of the diocese of Michoacán. Thriving confraternities demonstrated the vigour of parochial life. But the secular clergy remained divided between a wealthy elite and an impecunious mass of curates and country vicars, with the cathedral chapter dominated by a group of enlightened peninsular canons. Charles III and his successor expelled the Jesuits, secularised mendicant parishes, investigated closely popular religion, stripped the clergy of their immunity from royal courts and then seized their wealth. In 1810 priests from the Michoacán diocese led the popular Insurgency which challenged Spanish rule. Here therefore is a rounded portrait of the Mexican Church at its meridian, touching upon virtually all aspects of religious life. At its core is the clash between post-Tridentine baroque Catholicism and enlightened despotism Frontmatter List of tables (page x) Preface (page xi) Part 1: The religious orders 1 Jesuit expulsion (page 3) 2 Mendicant chronicles (page 20) 3 Oratorians (page 40) 4 Secularisation (page 62) 5 Nuns (page 82) Part 2: Priests and laity 6 Priests (page 105) 7 Confraternities and parochial income (page 131) 8 Devotion and deviance (page 150) Part 3: Bishops and chapter 9 Cathedral and chapter (page 173) 10 A bishop and his canons (page 192) 11 Tithes and chantries (page 211) 12 Liberal prelate (page 228) Appendices (page 255) Notes (page 267) Bibliography (page 287) Index (page 294)

This book describes virtually all aspects of religious life in a Mexican diocese in the eighteenth century. It covers the Franciscan missionary colleges, the new Oratory at San Miguel, new convents and sisterhoods, confraternities and popular religion, the composition and earnings of the secular clergy, conflicts in the cathedral chapter, and the involvement of the clergy in the 1810 Insurgency. A central issue is the conflicts between Church and state and between the culture of baroque Catholicism and enlightened despotism.

D.a. Brading. First Published 1994; First Paperback Edition 2002. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 287-293) And Index. In 1767 Charles III (1759-88) summarily expelled all Jesuits from his dominions in Europe and America.