Christoph Flucke Boeken

In Friedrichstadt, established in 1621 by Herzog Friedrich III. von Schleswig-Holstein-Gottorf as a tolerance city, Jesuits soon set up a small mission. The city attracted a diverse population, including a Jewish community by 1675, with many residents not belonging to the Lutheran state church. Initially, other religious orders managed the Catholic community, but Jesuits eventually took over, with Dutch priests serving in the early years. After the mission was placed under the Niederrheinische Ordensprovinz, priests from there provided annual reports from about 1659 until the dissolution of the Jesuit order in 1772. These reports, a mix of personal accounts and official documents, detail their religious activities in liturgy and pastoral care for both the local community and larger groups of soldiers nearby. Compiled for the city's 400th anniversary from the Historical Archive in Cologne and the Jesuit General Archive in Rome, these reports offer insights into the multicultural and tolerant nature of Friedrichstadt. While conflicts arose between the Jesuits and the diverse religious landscape, the Jesuits enjoyed greater freedom to influence the Catholic Church, particularly in liturgical practices. Readers gain a unique cultural-historical perspective and valuable information on intriguing regional events and topics.