Chapter 17 The French Revolution

PART I From Revolution to Republic

The First Estate Clergy Divided between wealthy Influential clerics and poor parish priests

The Second Estate Nobles Exempted themselves from taxation Refused to modernize the economic structure

The Third Estate 97% of the population Could not claim nobility Exempted themselves from taxes (bourgeoisie) Poor/urban workers and rural peasants

Estates General Came together to organize the three estates (by the nobility) The first and third estate rejected the nobility

The Declaration of the Rights of Man and Citizen All men are equal/have rights to liberty, property, security, and resistance Opened the persecution of the Church Could practice any religion

The Civil Constitution of the Clergy Church property/wealth seized to help balance budget Clergy could not leave their parishes for more than two weeks Outlawed the publication of papal documents

Bl. Fr. William Chaminade Bordeaux, France Defied Civil Constitution of the Clergy Underground Formed Society of Mary (Marianist)

Bl. Fr. William Chaminade Christians needed to bring the story of Jesus/Good News to life through their daily activities Example to follow: Mary …do whatever He tells you.

Venerable Sr. Adele Daughters of Mary Immaculate Created female lay communities/ convent United with Fr. Chaminade in face of persecution

Marie Thèrése Gathered parishioners for prayer, religious instruction, spiritual guidance, secret Masses Spent time counseling Prostitutes after the Revolution

PART II The Death of Louis XIV and the Age of the Revolutionary Republic

The “De-Christianization” of France The Reign of Terror Missionary Reps: Closed down Churches /basilicas Killed priests who tried to flee Seized the Cathedral of Notre Dame/dedicated it to the “Goddess of Reason”

Deistic Religion Mass replaced with civil ceremonies. Pagan Cults centered upon justice, liberty, and equality Saint’s days were replaced with festivals dedicated to justice, etc.

The Directory Extremely hard on the Church Oppressed priests who would not take an Oath to the Republic Refused to replace bishops Reigned under Napoleon

Pope Pius VII Goal: To revive the Christian Faith Sympathized with the movement for liberty/equality/justice Saw that the French were using unjust means to gain rights Christ is the fulfillment of these rights

PART III Napoleon Bonaparte

Concordat of 1801 Guaranteed the free and public practice of Catholicism Civil authorities could only interject in matters of public safety Bishops reduced Napoleon could nominate bishops France agreed to compensate the Church for loss of property

The Organic Articles Prohibited the publication of papal documents/council decrees without consent from the government Gallican Catechism Limited the administrative powers of the bishops

Emperor Napoleon vs. Pope Pius VII “Napoleonic Code” –Religious denominations equal –Freedom of religious practices –Civil marriage and divorce –Church heavily restricted

Napoleon vs. Pope Pius VII Pope Pius: -Asked to annul Napoleon’s brother’s marriage -Refused to join Continental System

Napoleon vs. Pope Pius VII Napoleon: -Threatened to abolish priestly celibacy -Suppressed religious orders -Established a French Patriarch -Ordered troops to Rome

Napoleon vs. Pope Pius VII Napoleon: -Seized papal states -Assumed jurisdiction over the pope -Issued a salary to the pope -Restricted papal power -Arrested/excommuni cated the pope