A igreja católica como agente civilizador do Sertão Paulista São José Do Rio Preto (1847-1940)

Abstract

This paper examines the role of the Catholic Church in São José do Rio Preto, São Paulo, in the first half of the twentieth century, understanding it as an important civilizing agent, educational and normative Hinterland Paulista in the period. This search attends to their political, social and cultural relevance, as well as to identify it as a unifying institution of one of the most outstanding groups of intellectuals of the country. It is also discussed, modernizing transformations occurring both at home and in the northwest region of São Paulo, noting the intersections between the local and national level and to the educational role played by the Church of those times. As consensus in contemporary historiography, the presence of the Catholic Church in Brazilian lands intertwined with. Its own national history. Regarding specifically to the 1920s, 1930s and 1940s in the Paulista s country side, this institution played an important civilizing role from an intentional move to convince the other on an exceptional situation, marked by the strengthening contradiction of capitalism, secularization and Christian dogmas. The sources used were the book Tombo of Mother Church of Rio Preto, the minutes book of the Apostleship of Prayer, Confraternity of the Rosary and the Centro Dom Vital from Rio Preto pretense and the press. Traces showed that the civilizing role played by the Church.