Spanish Religious Life a Century Ago

In 1915, Spain was still a deeply Catholic country, where religion shaped nearly every aspect of society. The Catholic Church wasn’t just a spiritual institution—it played a central role in education, social services, and politics. Priests, nuns, and monks were respected figures in nearly every town, and the rhythm of daily life often revolved around the Church calendar: feast days, saints’ festivals, processions, and Sunday Mass.

Religious identity was not a private matter; it was woven into public and family life. Children were baptized within days of birth, marriages were performed in the Church, and death was marked by Catholic rituals. Spain in the early 20th century was experiencing tensions between liberalism and conservatism. The Catholic Church often aligned itself with conservative and monarchist forces, which sought to preserve Spain’s traditional Catholic identity.

August 31, 2025 | 3:05 am