Recent French Studies on Early Church History

Abstract

If one considers the French production on early Church History, it is necessary to keep in mind two facts. First, the French State Universities have, with the exception of Strasbourg only, no Faculties of Theology; and there are only five Free Catholic Universities, controlled and sustained by the French episcopate, and three free Protestant Faculties of Theology. Some of these institutions are very small, as regards staff and numbers of students. This situation explains why publications on Church history represent a relatively small proportion of the French historical production as a whole. But, and this is the second fact to be noted, France, although it is largely dechristianised, still occupies a very important position—rin intellectual matters probably a leading one—within the Catholic world. This remark applies in particular to theological activities and publications, and more precisely to research and studies on Church history. There has been, among the more cultured elements of the French clergy, a sustained interest in this field of studies, ever since men like Duchesne and Batiffol introduced into the Catholic places of learning the principles and methods of modern historical research. It is largely due to their initiative and example that partiality is still shown for the study of early and ancient Church history. Accordingly, French publications on the matter are, with only few exceptions, of Catholic inspiration.