Priests of the French Revolution. Joseph F. Byrnes

Priests of the French Revolution

JOSEPH F. BYRNES

Priests of the French Revolution

SAINTS AND RENEGADES IN A NEW POLITICAL ERA

THE PENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY PRESS

UNIVERSITY PARK, PENNSYLVANIA

FRONTISPIECE: “Put ’er there, Father, I knew you would be on our side” might well translate the French caption “Touchez-là, M[onsieur] l’Curé. J’savais ben qu’vous seriais des nôtres,” the words of a poor French peasant. This simplified the story somewhat, because the Revolution was mainly a revolution of the middle class, but the commoner class included everyone who was not an aristocrat, making it possible to suppose that the Revolution belonged to the poor—and that good priests would work on their behalf in particular. (Bibliothèque nationale de France)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Byrnes, Joseph F., 1939– , author.

Priests of the French Revolution : saints and renegades in a new political era / Joseph F. Byrnes.

p. cm

Summary: “Explores how priests and bishops who embraced the French Revolution creatively followed or destructively rejected traditional versions of priestly ministry”—Provided by publisher.

Includes bibliographical references and index.

ISBN 978-0-271-06377-5 (cloth : alk. paper)

1. France—History—Revolution, 1789–1799—Religious aspects.

2. Christianity and politics—France—History—18th century.

3. Church and state—France—History—18th century.

4. Priests—France—History—18th century.

5. France—Church history—18th century.

I. Title.

DC158.2.B97 2014

940.2’71—dc23

2014004247

Printed in the United States of America

Published by The Pennsylvania State University Press,

University Park, PA 16802-1003

The Pennsylvania State University Press is a member of the Association of American University Presses.

It is the policy of The Pennsylvania State University Press to use acid-free paper. Publications on uncoated stock satisfy the minimum requirements of American National Standard for Information Sciences—Permanence of Paper for Printed Library Material, ANSI Z39.48–1992.

This book is printed on paper that contains 30% post-consumer waste.

For VERONICA AND MICHAEL

Contents

List of Illustrations

Acknowledgments

Prologue

PART I: ENGAGEMENT, 1789–1791

1 The Formation of a Revolutionary Priest: Sieyès and Grégoire

2 The Priests in Action: From Estates General to National Assembly

3 Claude Fauchet at the Bastille

4 The Church of Adrien Lamourette and His Allies

PART II: SURVIVAL, 1791–1795