As the population grew, particularly in the cities and towns, and the colony's administration was gradually established, daily life in New France became increasingly regulated. There were also many strict religious interdicts issued by the Church of New France. This new zeal was brought on by the influence of the Catholic Reformation, and was much concerned with the moral discipline of the inhabitants. A remarkable number of rulings, ordinances, statutes and pastoral letters were issued on every aspect of life, particularly areas where the civil and religious authorities perceived a threat to public order and safety. The fact that some of these rulings had to be repeated many times is an indication of how difficult it was for the State to apply them, given the lack of methods of coercion and repression.