THE DANGERS OF REVOLUTIONARY FURY: DISCOURSES FROM THE CATHOLIC CHURCH ON THE ROLE OF WOMEN IN THE SHAPING OF MORALITY IN TARAPACA PROVINCE, NORTHERN CHILE, 1880-1910

The Apostolic Vicariate of Tarapaca had always focused its concern on women. The conversion of the faithful was seen as a task to be undertaken from childhood onwards, and precisely by those who were closest to the children. Thus, engaging women as participants in religious confraternities, such as those of Saint Filomena or the Sacred Heart, or in the tending of the extremely impoverished chapels and churches scattered about the pampa, became the goal of every good priest. This paper presents the discourse used by the clergy in the Parish Churches of Huara, Negreiros and Dolores relating to the participation of women in moral formation, as well as the epistolary dialogue kept with the authorities of the Apostolic Vicariate between 1893 and 1910, in order to uncover the initial stages of catholic activity in the area.