Crise et substitution des ordres réguliers. De l’âge de la discipline à celle de la tutelle sociale (c. 1650–c. 1950/1960). Le cas de l’Italie
Crisis and replacement of regular orders. From the age of discipline to that of social protection (ca. 1655-ca. 1950/1960). The case of Italy

Summary/Abstract: The author of the article first points out that religious orders could not live in absolute poverty, because they had to provide for the formation of their novices, the care of their patients and their elders, and, especially, support the work they intended to do (schools, hospitals, missions etc.). Therefore, they needed considerable financial resources, which came from kings, princes and nobles; other sources of income included begging, nuns’ dowries and alms from the faithful. The French Revolution changed the economic picture, demanding religious men and women to live of their work. Next the author examines the case of Italy after the general suppression of religious institutes of 1866, extended to Rome in 1873. In order to survive, the religious in Italy set up many civil societies, all subject to the laws of the Italian state. They succeeded in replenishing a significant patrimony.

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