Reform, instruction, and practice: the impact of the Catholic Revival on the laity in the Dublin diocese, 1793-1853
O'Driscoll, Katherine
O'Driscoll, Katherine
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2016-09-14
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Thesis
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In the aftermath of the 1793 Catholic Relief Act the Catholic Church in Dublin experienced a period of revival. The building of new churches, the flourishing of religious orders, and the development Sunday Schools all point towards a Catholic renewal within the Dublin Diocese. The period 1820-45 witnessed a wave of religious activity aimed at transforming the religious experience of the laity. The introduction of new religious devotions, the development of liturgical practice, and the formation of confraternities and sodalities, during this period, had an impact on the religious practice of the laity. Paramount to this Catholic revival was the development of the Catholic print trade. The Church relied on religious texts to disseminate catechetical and instructional knowledge to the laity with the expectation that knowledge would lead to improved religious practice. In order to provide the laity with access to print the Church formed the Catholic Book Society in 1827 and supported the formation of the Free Book Society in 1835, in addition the Church encouraged the formation of parish libraries and supported individual printers. This thesis explores the importance of print and knowledge in the reform efforts of the Catholic hierarchy in the Dublin Diocese. Particular attention is paid to the Church’s involvement in, and use of, print, and the impact of reform on the Catholic laity.
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Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Ireland