Diefendorf uses the Mass (the Eucharist) to explain Catholic and state unity. She discusses multiple scholars’ writings about the Eucharist. She then states their arguments, and defends them with evidence to support her claims about the importance of Mass to the Catholic population. The Mass meant

However, I would like to critique Diefendorf's arguments of a “Most Catholic Capital.” For the most part I would agree with Diefendorf, but there are a few ideas that Diefendorf left out or did not support well that can put a few holes in her argument. One idea is the issue of heresy. Diefendorf does not discuss whether or not heretics existed in Paris in the 1500’s. Heretics contradict the idea of a united church and state, because they did not support the Catholic faith. Were there heretics in Paris? And if so, did the heretics go through the motions of a Catholic because they feared persecution, and thus giving the illusion of a unified state? There are a number of questions that can be raised upon this issue. If heresy existed in Paris, one could say that it was not a unified state. However, one could also say that the persecution of heretics was a way for the church and state to come together, as one entity, to get rid of nonbelievers.

Another issue that may present a problem is the church working hand in hand with the monarchy. I find it very hard to believe that there was not a power struggle between the two, since they both were able to exert a lot of power onto people. I feel that the constant processions in honor of the king were a form of “butt kissing,” and to establish who was in control. The constant wars in the name of God were probably how the monarchy established its dominance over the church. It showed who had the real power and the term “in the name of God” was also a form of “butt kissing.” So, overall, I would agree with Diefendorf that the church and the state was unified with the Parisians, however I do not believe that the relations betwe

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