Provincial Letters

Provincial Letters (1892) was written by Frenchman Blaise Pascal. As the title indicates, this is a compendium of letters defending Antoine Arnauld, who was being tried for his controversial religious ideas. The letters are critical of the Jesuits for their lukewarm morality. The letters call individuals to consider their relationship with God. Interestingly, these letters led to a"reformation" within the Catholic Church, with the Pope agreeing with many of Pascal's calls for change and criticisms of the current status quo in the church. The letters were instrumental in allowing Arnauld's ideas to continue to be heard. Pascal's personal religious journey is also evident in these 18 letters. Pascal lived from 1623 to 1662.

Wailand Groenendyk
CCEL Staff Writer