Les prêtres réfractaires: L’Église contre la Révolution et l’Empire (1789–1815). By Xavier Maréchaux. Bibliothèque d’études des mondes Chrétiens, 15. Paris: Honoré Champion, 2024. 230 pp. €36.00 paper; €25.60 e-book.

Key Points

• The central aim is to examine the role and resistance of refractor priests during the French Revolution and the Napoleonic Empire.
• Historical analysis of primary sources from 1789 to 1815
• Review of Church documents and political records
• Contextual exploration of the societal impacts on refractor priests
• The refractor priests opposed the revolutionary changes imposed by the state
• Their actions reflected broader tensions between Church and state during this era
• The resistance of these priests significantly influenced the Church's authority and its adaptation to changing political landscapes