The religious history of France during the Revolution is one of the most dramatic episodes in the history of Christianity. A great persecution rised up then against religion.
This persecution was unexpected, shocking, and marked by extreme cruelty.
It was unexpected. Fourteen centuries had passed since the last pagan persecution, that of Diocletian. Since that time, the persecution of Christians happened, but no one would have dreamed of persecuting Christianity. The persecution effected by the French Revolution was the first in the West since the edict of Constantine.
This persecution was shocking. Did it not take place in the century of Enlightenment, the century that haile tolerance?
It was marked by extreme cruelty. In it, 8000 priests, religious men and women were killed, and several thousand lay faithful were put to death in odium fidei. The accusation of cruelty was made to its face one day by one of its victims. It was in Le Puy-en-Velay in 1794. Suspected of having housed her son, a non-juror priest, Madame Beauzac, 60, had just been condemned to death. When she climbed the guillotine, she turned to her judges and told them: "A dog can feed its offspring, but a mother cannot feed her child. You are more cruel than tigers!"
Le livre noir de la Révolution française
(Paris, Les Éditions du Cerf, 2008)
"The Black Book of the French Revolution" is a compilation of articles by several contemporary historians who deconstruct, chapter by chapter, any illusions born by minds still under the impression that the French Revolution had any good in it. Several chapters are dedicated to the religious persecution that took place in those dark years - the words above were written by professor Jean de Viguerie.
The passion of so many martyrs of history can inspire us deeply during the most solemn penitential season of the year: what are your suggestions for this season?
