The catechesis of the Church in Moravia in the period of the Austro-Hungarian monarchy

The article deals with the history of the catechesis of the Roman Catholic Church in Moravia in the historical context of the Church and of the political, social and cultural transformations of the Czech nation in the period of the Austro-Hungarian Monarchy. The catechesis was aimed at children and young people and realized in the school environment. In the school system the catechesis delivered in the traditional style, coming from the Enlightenment, persisted, according to which religion was looked upon and taught as an aggregate of doctrine which can be learned by heart (such as multiplication tables) and a set of duties towards God and the Church. This concept led to a perception that took deep roots: with the end of the compulsory school attendance the obligatory participation in the divine services and the sacramental life in general ended up as well.