THE SAINT BARTHOLOMEW DAY’S MASSACRE

While not at all known by most Americans, in France Saint Bartholomew’s Day is notorious as the date of a horrendous massacre of Protestants by Catholics, a bloody act of religious intolerance and hatred that stood out even in an age of outrageous interdenominational warfare. This morning I would like to evoke for you the principal events of this massacre and then consider some of the positive consequences of this most negative act.

Peter Conroy is Professor Emeritus at the University of Illinois-Chicago where he taught French language and literature for 34 years and served two terms as department chairman. He has written four books of literary criticism, translated another about French history, published over forty articles in professional journals, and presented many papers at scholarly conferences in the US and Europe. He is a Friend of UUFDC and resides with his wife, Beverly Ann, in Fish Creek during the summer. Since his retirement he has taken up golf as well as writing essays and short stories.

Music: Gerri Friedberg, piano and Dottie Gerrits, violin
Service Leader: Bob Lindahl