Církev, jazyk, národ: Odpovědi farářů pražské arcidiecéze ohledně jazyka na jejich farnostech v průzkumu z roku 1675

The question of the language of the parish during Early Modern times is a canonic problem, not only in Bohemia. The Prague chapter initiated an inquiry about the language used in the parishes in 1675 during the vacancy of the archiepiscopal see. This inquiry is a result of the modernization of administration. The details of the answers are perhaps more interesting than the global results. Although there are a number of gaps, the answers allow us to draw a more precise map of the language situation in the archdiocese, to identify not only the Germanisation movement after the Thirty Years War, but also the healthy condition of the Czech language, more perennial than it is sometimes written. I think that this is one of the reasons for the serenity of the clergymen when they write: the linguistic question is a practical issue, not a problematic one. In the mixed parishes, solutions were found based on local possibilities. Here and everywhere, language is a technical issue, and not a fundamental issue of patriotism. For clergymen who knew theology, love for their homeland was a moral obligation, not to the benefit of a linguistic community, but of a political community assimilated to a land. This is perhaps an important argument for the peaceful tone, perhaps illusory, but in any case interesting, for our answers of 1675.