HIS 300 Lecture Notes - Lecture 4: French Organ School, Currying, Age 12
Document Summary
Wide gap between religiosity/strict morality of early clergy and colonists. % sons of local farmers (80% by 1750s were canadian born) Badgered to pay tithe, % not attending mass, and % decreasing in number of burials without last rites- were these people particularly devout as catholics o. Tried to bring his dog to church, churchwarden tried to stop him, said even the king would not stop him, struck the warden in the priest"s presence. Not devoid of religion- blurring of magic/religion and orthodoxy/supersti- tion treasure (moogk, p. 237) Benefits expected from latin prayers- to cure toothache, to locate hidden. Prevalence of blasphemy- fearful reverence for holy objects. Belief in witchcraft and sorcery: werewolves (loup garou)/fireflies. Wayside crosses in new france (nf): symbols of christ"s resurrection (eg. hammer, ladder) Everyone who passes by these landmarks crosses himself, raises his hat, or does some bit of reverence. Public acknowledgement of role of virgin mary or saints (typically ste.
