Catholic churches and mass mobilization in Austrian Galicia : 1890-1914

Abstract

For the citizens of Europe, the late nineteenth century was marked by the beginning of mass mobilization. In many states, including the Habsburg Empire, people were transformed from subjects into citizens and the representatives of certain political preferences and national identities. I research the beginning of this mass mobilization process with specific attention to the role of the Catholic Church in Austrian Galicia, as the Church was a leading social institution and set an example of action for its laity. With this thesis, I aim to contribute to the history of mass mobilization and social history by emphasizing the changes and challenges that the mass mobilization process brought to the Catholic Church (divided in Galicia into the Greek Catholic and the Roman Catholic churches) and its laity during the fin de siècle. The Greek and Roman Catholic churches, which I understand as consisting of high hierarchs, clergy, and laypeople, were important players in the mass mobilization process and managed to influence it dramatically. The beginning of mass mobilization challenged the strong position of the hierarchy and clergy and stimulated them to produce new strategies and values in order to remain influential and important, especially for their laity. By laity, I mean those who were part of these institutions, more precisely the peasants.