Privilege, Persecution and Prophecy: The Catholic Church in Spain 1875-1975

by Frances Lannon

The century between the restoration of the Bourbon monarchy in 1875 and the death of Franco in 1975 saw profound social, religious and political changes for the Spanish Catholic church. A turbulent period in Spanish history, the Church endured--and matured--first through the civil war, and then through the Franco dictatorship. Looking at both social and political history as it was recorded in Catholic and ecclesiastical archives, this work examines popular cults, religious communities, the clergy, Catholic social organizations and ecclesiastical politics to present a fully rounded picture of the Catholic life and politics of the time.

289 pages, Hardcover

First published April 9, 1987

Reviews

[Sigrid Delphine · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Church’s role in Spain, especially its role during Franco’s regime, has often been oversimplified and made to look deceptively monolithic. Scholars who are not well versed in the specifics of the Spanish Catholic Church even if they are well versed in Spanish history may be excused for this, for the facts are confusing. Privilege, Persecution and Prophecy would be an especially commendable book for such scholars, and in fact anyone who wishes to see the full picture of Spanish modern history. Lannon offers us a balanced account of events that is remarkable for its diverse perspectives, its strong foundations in terms of primary sources and contextualisation and its richness in terms of details and historical analysis. Even with new work appearing on the daily, Lannon’s book certainly forms a strong foundation.