The Religion of the Poor: Rural Missions in Europe and the Formation of Modern Catholicism, c.1500-c.1800

by Louis Châtellier, Brian Pearce

Overview

The Religion of the Poor is a major work of early modern history, an ambitious survey of Catholic missions into the European countryside from 1500-1800. Louis Chatellier analyzes the impulses to missionary activity at the end of the Middle Ages, and outlines in detail the development of missionary activity after the Council of Trent. He discusses the type of religion proffered by the missionaries, and documents the way in which mission activities changed in reaction to external social and political circumstance.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780521562010
Publisher:	Cambridge University Press
Publication date:	08/28/1997
Pages:	262
Product dimensions:	5.98(w) x 9.02(h) x 0.63(d)

Table of Contents

Introduction; List of Abbreviations; List of Maps; Part I. The Extent of the Missions in Europe: 1. From the Middle Ages to modern times; 2. The spirit of the Council; 3. From the missionary impulse to the impossible mission; 4. Apotheosis; Part II. The World Disillusioned: 5. God; 6. The cross; 7. Bread; 8. From pardon to salvation; 9. Satan; Part III. Towards a New Religion: 10. Changing the village; 11. The missions challenged; 12. From the religion of the poor to the religion of modern times; Conclusion; Notes; Index.

Editorial Reviews

"...the book admirably serves its purpose as a sweeping survey of a neglected subject." Choice

"Châtellier has written a fascinating book.... The book itself is worth reading for those interested in a variety of subjects in Reformation and Catholic Reformation history...." Kathleen M. Comerford, Church History

"I hope Cambridge University Press will continue to make this prlific and insightful scholar's works available by the translation of his recent two-volume synthesis of the development of early modern Catholicism in France: Le catholicisme en France (Paris, 1995)." Carter Lindberg, The Journal of Religion

"Chantellier does a magnificent job..." Andrew Barnes, Journal of Social History

From the Publisher