The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identities
The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identities
by Rose-Marie Peake
Amsterdam University Press, 2020 eISBN: 978-90-485-3797-6
ABOUT THIS BOOK | AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY | TOC
ABOUT THIS BOOK
The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identities studies the value system of the French Catholic community the Filles de la Charité, or the Daughters of Charity, in the first half of the seventeenth century. An analysis of the activities aimed at edifying morality in the different strata of society revealed a Christian anthropology with strong links to medieval traditions. The book argues that this was an important survival strategy for the Company with a disconcerting religious identity: the non-cloistered lifestyle of its members engaged in charity work had been made unlawful in the Council of Trent. Moreover, the directors Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul also had to find ways to curtail internal resistance as the sisters rebelled in quest of a more contemplative and enclosed vocation.
AUTHOR BIOGRAPHY
Dr Rose-Marie Peake is a postdoctoral researcher at the Academy of Finland Centre of Excellence in the History of Experiences, Tampere University. She specializes in the religious and gender history of early modern France.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
AcknowledgementsThree Worlds, Three Portraits: Introduction-Studying the moral management of the Daughters of Charity: methods and sources-Study in scholarly contextChapter I: At the cradle: gender and power in seventeenth-century Parisian society1. The elitist facelift of Paris2. The dévotes and the spiritual facelift of Paris3. Social problems and the reorganization of nursingChapter II: Portrait of Louise de Marillac: ensuring resources for moral management1. The credible head: Louise de Marillac and the elite networks of the Company2. The living saint: managing spiritual authority3. The passive penitent: portraying orthodox power relationsChapter III: Portrait of the Daughter of Charity: safeguarding the execution of moral management1. Martha and Mary: conflict and reconciliation2. Cloistered outside the cloister: managing spiritual position3. Moderate Magdalene: devotional practices and social status4. Superior saint of Jerome - justifying the mixed vocationChapter IV: Portrait of the underprivileged: managing the ignorant substitute of Christ1. Ignorant soul to be saved: motivation through prejudice2. Jesus nursed: motivation through love3. Creating the ideal underprivileged to protect the Company: substance of the moral managementFrom conservative moral management to survival: conclusionsSourcesNote on vocabularyIndex