The Catholicism of Alessandro Manzoni

Abstract

This paper investigates the main reasons behind the famous conversion of Alessandro Manzoni, a writer who, born Catholic, became a Jansenist and then went back to Catholicism. His new post-conversion Catholicism was expressed in all his main works and especially in the novel which made him famous: I promessi Sposi (The Betrothed). Through the voice of the writer himself, this paper analyzes the main points of his Catholicism, which where grace, charity, forgiveness and providence, and how he thought that Catholicism was the most perfect and most comprehensive of all religions, a sure sign that it came directly from God’s will.