Abstract
This article analyses a previously unexplored case of nocturnal masses invoking spirits, and possibly even the devil, held at several locations within the Prague conurbation and its surrounding areas between 1784 and 1785, with the aim of finding treasure. This makes an important contribution to the revision of previous literature, which traditionally places the end of major witchcraft trials in the Czech lands in 1755. This is an extraordinary case, as nearly a dozen Catholic clergy members participated in the rituals. The instigators were a Viennese lieutenant in the Austrian army and a widow from Malá Strana, the owner of the Mydlářka vineyard, whose estate also served as the venue for several ceremonies. This study documents the persistence of Baroque folk piety, which included belief in magic, wandering souls in purgatory, and the practice of exorcisms. First, it looks back at the late witchcraft trials and provides a detailed account of the events of the 1785 case, including the verdict against the offenders. The second part of the study contextualizes the case – it examines the connections with secret societies, alchemy, and other sciences, as well as the tense economic situation at the time. The article adheres to the methodology of cultural history and cultural anthropology and seeks a detailed insight into the intellectual world of a “small actor” in history. The case is primarily set within the framework of Josephinian church reforms, which fundamentally transformed the status of the clergy and the religious life of the entire society. The author draws attention to the complex career situation of the auxiliary clergy, which could lead to a certain “resourcefulness” and their participation in similar ritual experiments. The attitude of the priests in this case can be seen, among other things, as a specific form of resistance against the curtailment of surplice fees and the growing state supervision of education and the everyday life of the clergy.