This is the continuation of a previous post about Secularism and the French Revolution (posted last week).
Historical facts
Throughout the XVIII century, the Catholic Church was mocked and criticized by the philosophers and free-thinkers (libertins). The social elites turned away from Faith. To give an example, when Madame Louise de France, one of the daughters of King Louis XV decided to be a Carmelite, it was a subject of mockery in the higher echelons of the State. yet France was still a catholic country and the great majority of the population remained attached to their religion. In the meantime, because of its ancient links with the Church, the French Monarchy was increasingly criticized. I would remind you that the King of France was not only crowned, but also anointed by the Catholic Church according to a rite which goes back to the year 496 when Clovis was baptized and anointed by Saint Rémy, Bishop of Reims. According to the tradition, God performed a miracle by sending a dove appeared carrying a phial of Holy oil (Sainte Ampoule) This phial of oil was used for the consecration of the Kings of France until it was broken by a revolutionary in 1793. Whether you believe in it or not, the fact is that phial was a strong symbol of the French Monarchy and of its alliance with the Catholic Church.
So the King of France became an enemy of the Revolution because he was a Catholic King – Le Roi Très Chrétien as he was officially named! Then, during the XVIII, he became for the free-thinkers a despot instead of the elected of God. The idea that the supreme power belongs to the nation gained ground in it’s following. Nevertheless in 1789, the French people didn’t want a Revolution but just expected some reforms, which were certainly necessary. But reforms are not a change of regime. Reforms are dictated by the incidentals and the necessities of the economic or/and social context. A change of regime is the result of an ideology. In our present case, the ideology was anti-Catholicism.
- August 4th 1789: abolition of the Privileges. The clergy was until this time an order of the French society. It is no longer recognized as a particular corps.
The Declaration of Human Rights of 1789 recognizes the liberty of conscience, which puts to the end the prevailing situation of the Catholic church in the country.
- August 11th 1789: suppression of the tithe (la dime). With this tax, the Church could provide hospitals, schools and sacraments.
- November 2nd 1789: The goods of the Church are confiscated (the patrimony of the Church was 15% of the lands). This measure contradicts the Declaration of Human Rights that recognizes the right of property! By the way, this spoliation was a financial disaster for the National Assembly which then had to administer the patrimony of the Church.
- February 13th 1790: The Assembly declares that religious vows are null because they are incompatible with individual liberty. Clerics are no longer considered as ministers of cult (public function).
- July 12th 1790: Constitution Civile du Clergé
This is a major event in the religious history of the country, because this constitution created a schismatic Church in France (like the Patriotic Church in China). This Church was created and controlled by the civil government of the Revolution. Bishops and pastors were appointed by electors (even non-Catholics electors) and all the clergy were now employees of the State, which means that they were under the authority of an anti-Catholic Government that wanted to control the Church. Very reluctantly King Louis XVI signed the new Constitution of the clergy. Though he had waited anxiously for the consent of the Pope, it arrived too late. The Assembly had already promulgated the text.
Later he would acknowledge that this was a mistake. Pius VI condemned this Constitution in March 1791. Such a document in a Catholic country had a great impact and has divided the French population into two sides. This division would have tragic repercussions, especially in 1792-1793, when many faithful paid for their fidelity to the Catholic Church with their lives. Persecution against the non-juring priest would begin. In fact, even many constitutional priests were also persecuted. The purpose was simply to destroy all of religion throughout France.
- The Revolution further intensifies in 1792 with the “Convention Nationale”. The King and thousands of people are arrested. During the first week of September 1300 are executed in the jails. It is the first Terror. The Republic is proclaimed on September 21st.
- January 21st 1793: King Louis XVI is beheaded. His last document, signed one month before on Christmas-day is a beautiful testimony of Faith, which ends with these words: I end here by declaring before God, and ready to appear before Him, that I do not reproach myself with any of the crimes with which I am charged.
- The Government of Robespierre had no cause to be envious of Hitler or Stalin. All the citizens were mobilized for the revolutionary cause under a strict control. They received certificates of civism. The country underwent a massive cultural revolution accomplish by an anti-Christian politic with the goal of establishing a new order of worship: the cult of goddess-Reason! A new calendar is promulgated. The enemies of the new regime were persecuted. A law passed in June 1794 said that a prisoner at the bar of the revolutionary tribunal couldn’t retain a lawyer’s defense; There was no longer any cross-examination; and the only sentence allowed would be the death penalty. The result is 50 executions a day in July of 1794. That same year 800.000 persons are in jails just for being suspects. For a country which proclaims Liberty, Equality and Fraternity, this is quite ironic.
The Catholic Church was persecuted as an enemy of the Revolution. Many priests, religious and lay people were arrested or killed just because they were Catholic. The pontoons of Rochefort became a concentration camp for priests where hundreds, the official number being 547, of them died in terrible conditions during the year of 1794. In 1995 Pope John Paul II beatified 64 of them along with 45 martyr of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939).
Persecution continued along with the war in Vendee where an army named “Catholique et Royale” rose to defend their traditions and culture. The retort of the Convention to these brave soldiers who were just farmers was abrupt: “There will be sent in Vendée combustible materials of all kinds to set fire to wood, coppice and brooms. The forests will be cut down, the dens of the rebels will be destroyed, crops will be cut down and cattle will be seized. The race rebels will be exterminated, Vendée will be destroyed.”
In December 1793, General Westerman could say: “There is no more Vendée. It died with its wives and its children by our free sabers. I have just buried it in the woods and the swamps of Savenay. According to the orders that you gave me, I crushed the children under the feet of the horses, massacred the women who, at least for these, will not give birth to any more brigands. I do not have a prisoner to reproach me. I have all exterminated.” Under the command of General Turreau, the “infernal columns” performed a genocide, killing women, children and old people. The victims of General Turreau are estimated to be 200.000. The most sadly famous are the inhabitants of Les Lucs sur Boulogne.
Martyrs of Les Lucs-sur-Boulogne The Concordat of 1801
The Catholic Churhc recovered her rights
The Catholic Churhc recovered her rights
Paradoxically, it is a son of the Revolution who brought back religious peace. In 1799 Bonaparte assumed power as First Consul. He was not inspired by religious feelings but he was smart enough to recognize that persecuting the Church in a country who’s population was more than 90% Catholics was probably not the best thing to do in order to establish his supremacy. Concurrently, Pope Pius VII was impatient to find a solution to the situation of crisis caused by the schism. A treaty was signed on July 15th 1801 and ratified by the Pope one month later. This Concordat was in effect until 1905 and by the way, is still in effect in the North East part of France in Alsace and Lorraine because Germany took control of this territory in 1870. France resumed possession of this territory in 1918 at the end of World War I which was after the law of Separation of 1905.
And now it is the proper time for me to explain what a concordat is and to present the doctrine of the Church regarding her relations with secular Governments.
First Consul BonaparteTo be continued....
