Devotional Revolution
Paul Cullen, frequently identified by historians as a central figure in the Devotional Revolution | |
| Date | c. 1850–1875 |
|---|---|
| Location | Ireland |
| Type | Religious transformation |
| Cause | Great Famine, Catholic Emancipation, institutional reform |
| Outcome | Dramatic increase in Mass attendance and Catholic institutional expansion |
The Devotional Revolution refers to the transformation of Irish Catholic religious practice in the mid-nineteenth century, particularly between 1850 and 1875 in the aftermath of the Great Famine and the repeal of Penal Laws in Ireland.
The term was coined by historian Emmet Larkin in an influential 1972 article, which argued that Ireland underwent a fundamental shift from informal "folk Catholicism" to rigorous institutional practice under the leadership of Cardinal Paul Cullen.