3/17/25
19th Century Gender and Religion
● Women also come to symbolize the weakness of the church and the constant threat of
their victimization from the secular powers that surrounded her
○ Said that women fall under the seduction of the priests
○ Catholic church was falling at this time
● Women as bulwark to society’s morals
○ Seen as the ones who can uphold society’s morals
● Raise citizens
● Marian piety
○ Role of women to valorize and honor the Virgin Mary ; Catholic church doesn’t
believe that Jesus had siblings or that she had sex after Jesus was born
○ Says that Mary is the ultimate virgin
● Men began to care greatly about women’s sexual habits, while not noticing their own
double standard
○ Huge growth in prostitution and brothels
Cult of Virginal Saints
● St. Philomene : Philomena
○ She promised herself to Jesus and would not allow a man to have sex with her ;
was killed for this
○ Her martyrdom assumed the narrative of pious sexual resistance
○ There are 0 documents or memories of this woman ; everything we know comes
from another woman’s vision of Philomena
○ Her miracles are healing children, she had a way with them ; important because
she was a virgin who helped raise children and heal them
○ She was maybe 15 when she was killed for promising herself
○ The cult explodes after her death
● Saint Joan of Arc and Saint Therese
○ Both of them died as virgins ; seen as martyrs
○ Saint Therese
● All virgins
Marian Worship
● 1854 : the doctrine of the immaculate conception was dogmatically defined
○ Pope Pius IX his papal bull, Ineffabillis Deus
○ Mary as a perpetual virgin (some protestant denominations think Mary and Joseph
had other kids)
○ Feast days start for her ; flowers placed at her feet (statues)
● St. Bernadette and the Miracle at Lourdes
○ Young girl who sees an appearance of Mary and talks to her
○ A spring appears and it is supposed to have healing powers
19th Century Gender and Religion
● Women also come to symbolize the weakness of the church and the constant threat of
their victimization from the secular powers that surrounded her
○ Said that women fall under the seduction of the priests
○ Catholic church was falling at this time
● Women as bulwark to society’s morals
○ Seen as the ones who can uphold society’s morals
● Raise citizens
● Marian piety
○ Role of women to valorize and honor the Virgin Mary ; Catholic church doesn’t
believe that Jesus had siblings or that she had sex after Jesus was born
○ Says that Mary is the ultimate virgin
● Men began to care greatly about women’s sexual habits, while not noticing their own
double standard
○ Huge growth in prostitution and brothels
Cult of Virginal Saints
● St. Philomene : Philomena
○ She promised herself to Jesus and would not allow a man to have sex with her ;
was killed for this
○ Her martyrdom assumed the narrative of pious sexual resistance
○ There are 0 documents or memories of this woman ; everything we know comes
from another woman’s vision of Philomena
○ Her miracles are healing children, she had a way with them ; important because
she was a virgin who helped raise children and heal them
○ She was maybe 15 when she was killed for promising herself
○ The cult explodes after her death
● Saint Joan of Arc and Saint Therese
○ Both of them died as virgins ; seen as martyrs
○ Saint Therese
● All virgins
Marian Worship
● 1854 : the doctrine of the immaculate conception was dogmatically defined
○ Pope Pius IX his papal bull, Ineffabillis Deus
○ Mary as a perpetual virgin (some protestant denominations think Mary and Joseph
had other kids)
○ Feast days start for her ; flowers placed at her feet (statues)
● St. Bernadette and the Miracle at Lourdes
○ Young girl who sees an appearance of Mary and talks to her
○ A spring appears and it is supposed to have healing powers
