A Social History of French Catholicism 1789–1914

Ralph Gibson

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2025
• eBook ISBN: 9781040366851
• Topic: History
• Subtopic: French History
• Index: History

First published in 1989, A Social History of French Catholicism 1789–1914 is a clear survey of over a hundred years of Catholicism in French society. It chronicles the religious experience of French men and women, both clergy and laity, in post-revolutionary France. The book begins with a look at Catholic life in the Old Regime and during the French Revolution, and proceeds to topical chapters on the secular clergy, the religious orders, popular religion, religious practice by region, gender and age, and the social classes. The final chapter deals with the re-Christianization of France in the latter part of the nineteenth century. This volume will be of interest to students and researchers of history and religion.

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Original Title Page
• Original Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• List of illustrations
• Preface
• 1 Catholicism under the ancien régime
• 2 The Revolution
• 3 The secular clergy
• 4 The regular clergy
• 5 Popular religion
• 6 Religious practice: region, gender, and age
• 7 The Church and social class
• 8 Dechristianization and rechristianization: from a God of fear to a God of love
• 9 Conclusion
• Notes
• Guide to further reading
• Index