Liturgical Vestments for Cathedrals During the French Concordat Period (1801-1905) A Political Strategy

After the Concordat of 1801, the French Church has a new status: the Cult Administration has been founded and becomes a powerful mean for controlling and financing religious art projects as well as a strong political implement for each political regime during the 19th century. We propose to study the impact of this policy on the orders and financing of pontifical vestments for bishops when they celebrate the Mass in their cathedral. Pontifical vestments are at the center of the Mass celebration as a symbol of the agreement existing between the State and the Church. This financing policy has been done by all the political regimes in the French 19th century through the Cult Administration and also through the prince personal liste civile , especially during the Monarchie de Juillet and the Second Empire. We propose to demonstrate how and why the pontifical vestments for cathedrals became an efficient and strategic politic mean