St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre

Why today is there such hostility and fear of Christianity and Protestantism in France? A look back in history helps us understand--

On August 24, 1572, a systematic massacre of Huguenots (French Calvinists) was initiated in the city of Paris then grew throughout the country, reaching beyond city limits into all of France. Occurring within the context of the French Wars of Religion, the massacre marked the most pointed conflict throughout the time. The French Wars of Religion had religious, political, and intranational roots as their cause, for at the time church and state knew nothing of separation. The massacre as well reflected similar moorings--unwanted Protestants in the King's court, an unpopular political marriage, disapproving Pope and Catholics, and imperial opulence in the face of high economic need. Let us as well mention that the ethos of Paris at the time was significantly anti-Protestant and most Catholics wanted Huguenots out of power and Paris, even out of France.

To begin, a French princess Marguerite de Valois married Protestant prince Henry of Navarre in a mother's attempt to keep peace between factions. Rather than keeping peace, however, it stirred Catholics against having a Protestant in the king's court. After the wedding, Admiral Coligny remained in town to meet with the king and advisors along with other powerful Huguenots. Swearing protection to Coligny after an assassination attempt, King Charles IX instead was persuaded by his mother to instigate a mass killing of all Huguenots, as Parisian Catholics feared they would retaliate on Coligny's behalf. While details are blurry and lost, what we do know is that a list of influential Huguenots were to be killed at the King's command. Coligny as well was among the first murdered, and what began as an order of the king soon became a popular movement among the people--slaughter the Protestants. For several days it continued in Paris and for months in France. History records that most reports sent to the Pope were falsified, claiming that King and Queen-Mother's lives were in danger by the Huguenots. Supposedly, the massacres were carried out to protect them. Later reports would reveal the truth.

Various interpretations and reactions to St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre have been proposed over time from a wide variety of perspectives. However one wants and needs to historically consider this event (and for Catholic, French, and Protestant history, it is VERY significant!), the sad reality is that France has never recovered spiritually speaking. The misappropriation of the Christian faith in its Catholic and Protestant forms for political power and influence along with the violence such allegiances instigated have left the French suspicious of Christianity. Their desire for a secular state and staunch separation of church and state (as compared to England, for example) speaks to a sad and long history of recognizing something inherently wrong with using religion to bloody ends.

Further Information

Histoires des Protestants de France, Charles Bost
La Reine Margot (Queen Margot), film by Patrice Chereau (not suitable for children)