La red parroquial y el clero rural en la Galicia de los siglos XVI-XIX: resultados de una investigación en curso

Abstract

Rural Galicia had a dense stable network of parishes that structured a habitat of small and very numerous settlements from the Later Middle Ages to the present time. This network was hardly affected by the great population growth from the XVth century to de middle of the XIXth century and by the later reformist projects after the concordats of 1753 and 1851. However, that map of parishes hides very important changes in the leading role that this ecclesiastical institution was acquiring in the local everyday life, because of economic, social, religious and cultural changes. The parochial life was notably intensified after the Council of Trento –even in profane aspects–, because priestly omnipresence makes compatible with the peasantry multiform sociability –profane too–, so they feel inhabitants of their parishes. Neither the religious and profane celebrations nor the increasing parochial identity can hide the social differences of peasant families and rural clergy. This clergy is numerous and diverse, and their members have family ties with the houses of hidalgos and the rich local peasantry, as exemplified by chaplains of the diocese of Lugo.