Teaching Faith with the Lantern: Audio-Visual Lantern Performances by the Clergy in France and Belgium Around 1900

Abstract

This contribution first discusses the age-old practice of the multi-sensory address of churchgoers in the Catholic tradition. Visual representations played a particularly important but not uncontroversial role. The introduction of the projected image by the Catholic clergy in Belgium and France was advocated with explicit reference to this tradition. The optical lantern was used for religious lectures as well as for illustrated sermons. Several examples of audio-visual performances combining the projected image with music and chants are discussed as a particular practice that also allowed the active participation of the audience or congregation.