Prayer in the trenches. Prayer books for doldiers on the Hungarian fronts in the First World War

The study analyses prayer books for Catholic soldiers published in Hungary during the First World War. We know of close to twenty such books that appeared in numerous editions. Prayer sheets and hand-copied prayer texts with magical functions (prayers against bullets) have also been found. Drawing on these and contemporary press materials it reconstructs religious life on the fronts and in particular the practice and function of prayer. The study also examines veneration of the Sacred Heart that played a big part in wartime pastoral activity, seeking an answer to the question of how that cult was able to become a source of spiritual strength for soldiers. In addition it looks at the opinion of the church on war and the Christian soldier as reflected in the books and prayers