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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
Catholic Life, 1850s	Jeanine	Thursday, February 10, 2005
Question: I'm writing a historical fiction novel, in which my main character is an Irish Catholic immigrant who lives in a city in Connecticut. He arrives in America a 16-year-old boy, recently orphaned, whose uncle is a priest in Ireland. The time period covered is 1855 to about 1862. I'd like to educate myself as to what daily life was like for a practicing, devout Catholic of the time, so that I can include the information in an accurate way in my story. My main character will deal with the local priest (obviously) but also a convent, the dilemma of the lure of sin and the sinful people around him, etc. Obviously I don't expect you to tell me everything I'd like to know. If you could recommend a book or series of books that would be wonderful. I have spoken to our diocesan librarian (not in the context of the library, however), and she wasn't able to help me. There are plenty of books about general Church history, some of which I've read, and reams of information about the Vatican II era. So far, though, I've been unable to discover anything that would illustrate the everyday Catholic spiritual life in the 19th century. Thanks in advance! Jeanine
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Jeanine: There is nothing I can refer you to specifically at the moment, but the kind of information you need may be found in novels about Catholics and Catholic priests in that time period. Even some novels set in the time period of the 1950's can give some clue. I can think of one novel, "One of Our Priests Is Missing" by William J. Weatherby. It is set in the early 1950's. I would advise searching for Catholic novels set in the time period of your project. Also, Catholic reference books from that time period would be helpful. I have a few old books talking about Catholic life that are about 100 years old or more. A good place to search is a monastery or seminary library. If there is a old Catholic seminary near by, I would suggest looking through their collection. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below: Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum. Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

Catholic Life, 1850s

Jeanine

Thursday, February 10, 2005

Question:

I'm writing a historical fiction novel, in which my main character is an Irish Catholic immigrant who lives in a city in Connecticut. He arrives in America a 16-year-old boy, recently orphaned, whose uncle is a priest in Ireland. The time period covered is 1855 to about 1862.

I'd like to educate myself as to what daily life was like for a practicing, devout Catholic of the time, so that I can include the information in an accurate way in my story. My main character will deal with the local priest (obviously) but also a convent, the dilemma of the lure of sin and the sinful people around him, etc.

Obviously I don't expect you to tell me everything I'd like to know. If you could recommend a book or series of books that would be wonderful. I have spoken to our diocesan librarian (not in the context of the library, however), and she wasn't able to help me. There are plenty of books about general Church history, some of which I've read, and reams of information about the Vatican II era. So far, though, I've been unable to discover anything that would illustrate the everyday Catholic spiritual life in the 19th century.

Thanks in advance!
Jeanine

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Jeanine:

There is nothing I can refer you to specifically at the moment, but the kind of information you need may be found in novels about Catholics and Catholic priests in that time period.

Even some novels set in the time period of the 1950's can give some clue. I can think of one novel, "One of Our Priests Is Missing" by William J. Weatherby. It is set in the early 1950's.

I would advise searching for Catholic novels set in the time period of your project. Also, Catholic reference books from that time period would be helpful. I have a few old books talking about Catholic life that are about 100 years old or more.

A good place to search is a monastery or seminary library. If there is a old Catholic seminary near by, I would suggest looking through their collection.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

Footer Notes: This forum is for general questions on the faith. See specific Topic Forums below:
Spiritual Warfare, demons, the occult go to our Spiritul Warfare Q&S Forum.
Liturgy Questions go to our Liturgy and Liturgical Law Q&A Forum
Liturgy of the Hours (Divine Office) Questions go to our Divine Office Q&A Forum
Defenfing the Faith Questions go to our Defending the Faith Q&A Forum
Church History Questions go to our Church History Q&A Forum