TRANSYLVANIAN REFLECTIONS ON THE FRENCH CLERICAL WORLD OF THE XIXth CENTURY
TRANSYLVANIAN REFLECTIONS ON THE FRENCH CLERICAL WORLD OF THE XIXth CENTURY

Summary/Abstract: In the 19th century, the Transylvanian press was inspired by the European journals in order to offer to the inhabitants of this region a wide range of historical and spiritual models of evolution. Despite being in its beginnings, the journalistic activity was nevertheless enthusiastic and responsible. All the models followed by the Transylvanian editors were taken from the European frame of the epoch, where the enthusiasm of the press was obvious and its role in the society was beyond debate. George Bariţiu, the founder of the Romanian press in Transylvania, was often accused by his contemporary critics and interpreters of giving proof of francophobia (gallophobia). However, he published many articles in the newspapers he had founded, where he developed subjects from the French society of the time, inspired by the French journals he used to read. Beside the articles imbued with the political reality of the Hexagon, and the demographic, social or economic aspects, Bariţiu also spoke about the relationship of the human being with the Church and about the implication of the French state and government in the ecclesiastic life. His aim was noble and didactic, his demarche was consequent and strict. George Bariţiu offered to the inhabitants of Transylvania the model of France whose historical destiny was to announce the Revolution of 1848. Our study aims at the identification of the articles published in Gazeta de Transilvania in the middle of the 19th century which present aspects of the relationship between the State and the Church of the French society, in the purpose of literally offering to the Romanians living in Transylvania true models for their cultural evolution.

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