It was the French thinker Charles Maurras — not himself a Catholic until the very end of his life — who conceived of the notion that that (since the Revolution) there was not one France but two: le pays réel and le pays legal; The real France, Catholic and true, versus the official France, irreligious and contrived.
This flag is the French tricoloeur superimposed with the Sacred Heart of Vendée, used by Catholic traditionalists who accept the Republic.
I learned something new....Thank you Mark for the link. I have been to Europe one time. A gift from my son and daughter for our 25th Wedding Anniverary. It was a bus tour of Holland,Belgium,Germany,Austria Italy Switzerland and finally France. Of course the trip was planned to be scenic and quaint. It was very noticable that the further south we traveled that the Catholic Faith was stronger in Austria. It seemed every village or mountain trail had a stations of the cross. One Sunday we were in an Austrian Town and many of the women and a few men wore traditional clothing to Mass ( not blue jeans and flip flops !) In France it seemed as though the churchs were more museum than house of prayer. Having French Canadian Ancestory that came to North America long before the American or French revolutions it is good to read that there is still a Catholic culture amoung some of todays French!
ReplyDeleteIsn't that ringing another change on the traditional "Quid est imperatori cum ecclesia?"?
ReplyDeleteAs far as I know, that is not a tradition. Historically, the Church has often had a role in government, but more often has been oppressed by government.
ReplyDeleteCatholic social doctrine insists on the participation of Catholics in civil life as Catholics, as being 'a light unto the world'. In democratic countries, even contemplative, cloistered monastics vote.