The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identities

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.

List of contents

Acknowledgements, Introduction, I. At the cradle: gender and power in seventeenth-century Parisian society, II. Portrait of Louise de Marillac: ensuring resources for moral management, III. Portrait of the Daughter of Charity: safeguarding the execution of moral management, IV. Portrait of the underprivileged: managing the ignorant substitute of Christ, Sources, Note on vocabulary, Index

About the author

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.

Product details

• Authors: Rose-Marie Peake
• Publisher: Taylor and Francis
• Languages: English
• Product format: Paperback / Softback
• Release: 01.12.2025
• EAN: 9781041188841
• ISBN: 978-1-041-18884-1
• No. of pages: 246
• Series: Crossing Boundaries: Turku Medieval and Early Modern Studies
• Subjects: Humanities, art, music > History > General, dictionaries; European History, RELIGION / Institutions & Organizations, HISTORY / Social History, HISTORY / Modern / 17th Century, Early modern history: c 1450/1500 to c 1700, History and Archaeology, RELIGION / Christian Living / Social Issues