The Conquest of the Soul: Confession, Discipline, and Public Order in Counter-Reformation Milan (Studies in Medieval and Reformation Traditions)

Carlo and Federico Borromeo achieved fame by turning Milan into the foremost laboratory of the Italian Counter-Reformation. This monograph interprets their programme of penitential discipline as a quest to reshape Lombard society by reaching into the souls of its inhabitants. This integration of the public and private spheres had vast implications- the transformation of the clergy into a professional body, a bureaucratic-juridical turn into sacramental practice, interventions into the ritual order (notably the introduction of the confessional), and new models of discipline and "civilized" behaviour. Catholic confessionalism thus conceived had decidedly mixed outcomes. While it transformed the religious landscape forever, its deepest ambitions foundered amidst political opposition, popular resistance, and a bureaucratic accommodation. Annotation Carlo And Federico Borromeo Achieved Fame By Turning Milan Into The Foremost Laboratory Of The Italian Counter-reformation. This Monograph, The First On The Subject To Appear In English, Interprets Their Program Of Penitential Discipline As A Quest To Reshape Lombard Society By Reaching Into The Souls Of Its Inhabitants. This Integration Of The Public And Private Spheres Had Vast Implications - The Transformation Of The Clergy Into A Professional Body, A Bureaucratic-juridical Turn In Sacramental Practice, Interventions In The Ritual Order (notably The Introduction Of The Confessional), And New Models Of Disciplined And 'civilized' Behavior. Catholic Confessionalism Thus Conceived Had Decidedly Mixed Outcomes. While It Transformed The Religious Landscape Forever, Its Deepest Ambitions Foundered Amidst Political Opposition, Popular Resistance, And Bureaucratic Accommodation. Milan Was Never To Be A City On A Hill. Part One : Strategies -- Asserting Hierarchy : The Clergy And The Early Counter-reformation -- Discipline Of The Soul : Confession, Conversion, Coercion -- Constraints Of The Body : The Confessional And Church Design -- The Politics Of Civility : Federico Borromeo And The Late Counter-reformation -- Part Two : Advances And Retreats -- The Administration Of The Sacraments : Piety And Obligation -- Governing The Soul : The Limits Of Discipline -- Priestly Exercises : Schoolroom And Confessional -- Defining The Sinful : The Case Of Superstition. By Wietse De Boer. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [331]-347) And Indexes. Carlo and Federico Borromeo achieved fame by turning Milan into the foremost laboratory of the Italian Counter-Reformation. This monograph, the first on the subject to appear in English, interprets their program of penitential discipline as a quest to reshape Lombard society by reaching into the souls of its inhabitants. This integration of the public and private spheres had vast implications - the transformation of the clergy into a professional body, a bureaucratic-juridical turn in sacramental practice, interventions in the ritual order (notably the introduction of the confessional), and new models of disciplined and 'civilized' behavior. Catholic confessionalism thus conceived had decidedly mixed outcomes. While it transformed the religious landscape forever, its deepest ambitions foundered amidst political opposition, popular resistance, and bureaucratic accommodation. Milan was never to be a city on a hill. "2001 Winner of the Howard R. Marraro Prize of the American Catholic Historical Association,"