Religious Renewal in France, 1789-1870 : The Roman Catholic Church Between Catastrophe and Triumph

This book provides a study of the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in France responded to successive revolutions between 1789 and 1870 as well as to the cultural upheaval associated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as an institution engaged in a dynamic process of (re)Christianization and determined, as the only repository of the true faith of Jesus Christ, to fortify belief , and to combat the ‘Satanic’ forces of moral corruption and revolutionary chaos and create a ‘counter society’, the société parfaite. Discussion of the Church as an institution in crisis, of the recruitment, instruction and mind-sets of its bishops, parish clergy, and the members of religious orders, of its hierarchical structures and internal discipline, and of the need to compensate for the losses suffered during a period of revolutionary upheaval, provides the basis for an exploration of its evolving doctrine(s) and sense of purpose; for an assessment of the pastoral care provided to parish communities; and of the leadership and moral qualities of the clergy; before final consideration of the reception of the religious message(s). This book provides a study of the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in France responded to successive revolutions between 1789 and 1870 as well as to the cultural upheaval associated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as an institution engaged in a dynamic process of (re)Christianization and determined, as the only repository of the true faith of Jesus Christ, to fortify belief, and to combat the 'Satanic' forces of moral corruption and revolutionary chaos and create a 'counter society', the société parfaite. Discussion of the Church as an institution in crisis, of the recruitment, instruction and mind-sets of its bishops, parish clergy, and the members of religious orders, of its hierarchical structures and internal discipline, and of the need to compensate for the losses suffered during a period of revolutionary upheaval, provides the basis for an exploration of its evolving doctrine(s) and sense of purpose; for an assessment of the pastoral care provided to parish communities; and of the leadership and moral qualities of the clergy; before final consideration of the reception of the religious message(s).-- Provided by publisher "This book provides a study of the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in France responded to successive revolutions between 1789 and 1870 as well as to the cultural upheaval associated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as an institution engaged in a dynamic process of (re)Christianization and determined, as the only repository of the true faith of Jesus Christ, to fortify belief , and to combat the 'Satanic' forces of moral corruption and revolutionary chaos and create a 'counter society', the société parfaite. Discussion of the Church as an institution in crisis, of the recruitment, instruction and mind-sets of its bishops, parish clergy, and the members of religious orders, of its hierarchical structures and internal discipline, and of the need to compensate for the losses suffered during a period of revolutionary upheaval, provides the basis for an exploration of its evolving doctrine(s) and sense of purpose; for an assessment of the pastoral care provided to parish communities; and of the leadership and moral qualities of the clergy; before final consideration of the reception of the religious message(s)."--Back cover Annotation This title provides a study of the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in France responded to successive revolutions between 1789 and 1870 as well as to the cultural upheaval associated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as an institution engaged in a dynamic process of (re)Christianisation and determined, as the only repository of the true faith of Jesus Christ, to fortify belief, and to combat the 'Satanic' forces of moral corruption and revolutionary chaos and create a 'counter society', the société parfaite. Discussion of the Church as an institution in crisis, of the recruitment, instruction and mind-sets of its bishops, parish clergy, and the members of religious orders, of its hierarchical structures and internal discipline, and of the need to compensate for the losses suffered during a period of revolutionary upheaval Front Matter ....Pages i-xi Introduction (Roger Price)....Pages 1-5 Front Matter ....Pages 7-7 God’s Church (Roger Price)....Pages 9-72 Doctrine: The Move Towards Rome (Roger Price)....Pages 73-112 Pastoral Care: The Clergy and the People of God (Roger Price)....Pages 113-167 The Protection of Moral Order (Roger Price)....Pages 169-213 Saints and Sinners (Roger Price)....Pages 215-261 Front Matter ....Pages 263-263 The Practice of Religion (Roger Price)....Pages 265-325 Anti-Clericalism (Roger Price)....Pages 327-345 Conclusion (Roger Price)....Pages 347-350 Back Matter ....Pages 351-416 This book explores the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in France responded to successive revolutions in 1789, 1830, 1848 and 1871, as well as to the cultural upheaval associated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as an institution; on the activities of its parish priests; and on the response(s) of those to whom they offered pastoral care. It takes a social and cultural approach, drawing on recently published prosopographical work by French historians as well as substantial archive research.