Pain fragments. Practising Catholicism in the 19th and 20th centuries

This book offers a nuanced exploration of Catholic perceptions and experiences of pain in the modern era (primarily the 19th and 20th centuries), moving beyond the well-trodden ground of vicarious and redemptive suffering. Adopting a praxeological approach, it analyses diverse practices—writing, remembering, conserving—revealing how Catholics understood, addressed, and sometimes silenced pain. Providing a historical overview from the Middle Ages to the modern era, the book highlights continuities and changes in Catholic pain conceptions, including Christ’s suffering and evolving interpretations of asceticism and martyrdom. The core analysis examines the interplay between religious frameworks and modern medicine in the 19th and 20th centuries, exploring devotions, “victim souls,” and responses to crises like WWI. Crucially, it also investigates Catholic efforts to alleviate suffering through charity and healthcare, acknowledging the complex relationship with anesthesia. By focusing on Catholic actions regarding pain the book illuminates the intersubjective dimensions of pain within Catholic culture, considering evolving views on gender, health, and medical authority. Drawing on non-canonical sources, the essays offer insightful glimpses into lived experiences and interpretations of pain, demonstrating the value of a praxeological lens for understanding pain’s enduring significance in Catholic thought and practice.