RELIGIOUS RENEWAL IN FRANCE, 1789-1870 IBD

Sinopse

This book provides a study of the manner in which the Roman Catholic Church in Franceáresponded to successive revolutions between 1789 and 1870 as well as to the cultural upheavaláassociated with accelerating socio-economic change. It focuses on the Church as anáinstitution engaged in a dynamic process of (re)Christianization and determined, as the onlyárepository of the true faith of Jesus Christ, to fortify belief , and to combat the âÇÖSatanicâÇÖ forcesáof moral corruption and revolutionary chaos and create a âÇÖcounter societyâÇÖ, the société parfaite.áDiscussion of the Church as an institution in crisis, of the recruitment, instruction and mind-setsáof its bishops, parish clergy, and the members of religious orders, of its hierarchical structuresáand internal discipline, and of the need to compensate for the losses suffered during a periodáof revolutionary upheaval, provides the basis for an exploration of its evolving doctrine(s) andásense of purpose, for an assessment of the pastoral care provided to parish communities, and ofáthe leadership and moral qualities of the clergy, before final consideration of the reception ofáthe religious message(s).