The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identities

Books like Rose-Marie Peake’s The Power of Religious Societies in Shaping Early Modern Society and Identity show how even writings with a practical lens, such as those aimed at creating the unique identity of the Daughters of Charity by Louise de Marillac and Vincent de Paul, have unrecognized importance in the way they developed their theology intentionally to shape the character both of the Daughters as an active order of women and, through the Daughters, to influence society as well. In the case of writings from the Daughters of Charity, the portrayal of Marillac provides a model to teach not only through words, but also through example. Key to Peake’s argument is the concept of “moral management,” that is, the way an organization lives out a value system and transmits that value system to others. As part of the “Crossing Boundaries” series, Peake employs this interdisciplinary concept for the first time in studies of the seventeenth century. [...] This book would appeal to anyone interested in the voices of women in the Catholic tradition, but particularly to those with an interest in early modern women or early modern French theology and spirituality. -- Elissa Cutter, Georgian Court University. The Catholic Historical Review 2025.