Assurances of Purgatory - Salzburg brotherhoods and confraternities following the Council-of-Trent - An examination of the dimension and significanceof organizational membership, 1600-1950

The existence of a large scale of "confraternal" organizations in Catholic (and Orthodox) Christianity for centuries has widely escaped the common and scientific memory. Their character composed of religious and secular aspec ts has always confused both jurists and historians. Relevant scientific stu dies so far don't answer to several questions, especially those relating to the services of confraternities that motivated people to join and support them. The article reports results of an extensive study of "Confraternities after the Council of Trent" that is based on an unusual way of inquiry: it evaluated above all serial sources (like accounts, member-lists) of a limi ted region (Salzburg) but within a long period (1600-1950). As a result ele ments of a special model of organization became evident: the proof of their assurance-like "service for the dead" (for burial, in purgatory) permitted a "historical" definition of confraternities or similar associations respe ctively, chosen criteria a distinction between various types of them. Furth ermore the article tries to answer questions about their status in society (e.g. as employees, the dimension and significance of female memberships).