Charles de Condren
Encyclopedia
Charles de Condren, a Doctor of the Sorbonne
, born in Vaubuin near Soissons
on December 15, 1588, died on January 17, 1641, is the one mystic of the French 17th century.
, had become a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. Charles makes a decisive spiritual experience at the age of eleven and half years. He follows his studies in the secondary school of Harcourt from 1603 till 1605, but because of his illness he goes back to his family for the several months. He continued his studying in the Sorbonne, he was ordered as priest in 1614, became a doctor in Sorbonne next year. He abandoned then its law of primogeniture and family inheritance, then enters street in 1617 in the Oratory founded by Pierre de Bérulle
Saint-honoré
in Paris, having hesitated to make Capuchin friar. In the next year he participated in the foundation of a new home of the Oratory in Nevers
and in 1619 goes to Langres
for the opening of a seminary, according to the dispositions of the Council of Trent
which had expressed obligation. He goes back in Paris in 1620 to open a new Oratory in Poitiers
and in 1624, that of Saint-Magloire which acts as seminary.
Afterwards he returned Saint-honoré in the Oratory of the street in 1625 and becomes two years later the confessor of the Gaston de France
, (Mister), brother of the king Louis XIII
. Condren acquires the reconciliation of the king and his brother April 18, 1630 in Troyes
. Condren is also, important responsibility, confessor of very Bérulle.
In 1629, after the death of the cardinal of Berule, he became general of the Oratory, as the second superior of the Oratory. Condren was elected very quickly to avoid an intervention of the Cardinal Richelieu.
The Oratory has already 71 houses in 1631, but the P. de Condren is discouraged and he was near to resign in 1634. In 1638 he created the College of Juilly
, when he rests Pierre de Bérulle in the chapel next to the cardinal.
His first biography was published in 1643 by his adherent, a member of the French Oratory
, Denis Amelote
(reviewed in 1657).
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
, born in Vaubuin near Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
on December 15, 1588, died on January 17, 1641, is the one mystic of the French 17th century.
Life
Charles de Condren was born in a family of gentry, his father, governor of the royal castle of Piles near MeauxMeaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
, had become a convert from Protestantism to Catholicism. Charles makes a decisive spiritual experience at the age of eleven and half years. He follows his studies in the secondary school of Harcourt from 1603 till 1605, but because of his illness he goes back to his family for the several months. He continued his studying in the Sorbonne, he was ordered as priest in 1614, became a doctor in Sorbonne next year. He abandoned then its law of primogeniture and family inheritance, then enters street in 1617 in the Oratory founded by Pierre de Bérulle
Pierre de Bérulle
Pierre de Bérulle was a French cardinal and statesman, one of the most important mystics of the 17th century in France, and founder of the French school of spirituality, who could count among his friends and disciples St. Vincent de Paul and St...
Saint-honoré
Rue Saint-Honoré
The rue Saint-Honoré is an ancient street in the 1st arrondissement of Paris, France.It is named after the collegial Saint-Honoré church situated in ancient times within the cloisters of Saint-Honoré....
in Paris, having hesitated to make Capuchin friar. In the next year he participated in the foundation of a new home of the Oratory in Nevers
Nevers
Nevers is a commune in – and the administrative capital of – the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne region in central France...
and in 1619 goes to Langres
Langres
Langres is a commune in north-eastern France. It is a subprefecture of the Haute-Marne département in the Champagne-Ardenne region.-History:As the capital of the Romanized Gallic tribe the Lingones, it was called Andematunnum, then Lingones, and now Langres.The town is built on a limestone...
for the opening of a seminary, according to the dispositions of the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
which had expressed obligation. He goes back in Paris in 1620 to open a new Oratory in Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
and in 1624, that of Saint-Magloire which acts as seminary.
Afterwards he returned Saint-honoré in the Oratory of the street in 1625 and becomes two years later the confessor of the Gaston de France
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, (Mister), brother of the king Louis XIII
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
. Condren acquires the reconciliation of the king and his brother April 18, 1630 in Troyes
Troyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
. Condren is also, important responsibility, confessor of very Bérulle.
In 1629, after the death of the cardinal of Berule, he became general of the Oratory, as the second superior of the Oratory. Condren was elected very quickly to avoid an intervention of the Cardinal Richelieu.
The Oratory has already 71 houses in 1631, but the P. de Condren is discouraged and he was near to resign in 1634. In 1638 he created the College of Juilly
College of Juilly
The College of Juilly The College of Juilly The College of Juilly (French: Collège de Juilly is a Catholic private teaching establishment located on the commune of Juilly, in Seine-et-Marne (France)...
, when he rests Pierre de Bérulle in the chapel next to the cardinal.
His first biography was published in 1643 by his adherent, a member of the French Oratory
Oratory of Jesus
The Society of the Oratory of Jesus , also known as French Oratory, is a catholic Congregation founded in 1611 in Paris by Pierre de Bérulle...
, Denis Amelote
Denis Amelote
Denis Amelot, Amelote, or Amelotte , was a French Biblical writer and scholar who is notable for his French translation of the New Testament . In his translation quoted Greek minuscule manuscripts: 42, 43, 44, and 149 .-Biography:Amelote was born in Saintes...
(reviewed in 1657).
See also
- French school of spiritualityFrench school of spiritualityThe French School of Spirituality was the principal devotional influence within the Catholic Church from the mid 17th Century through the mid 20th Century not only in France but throughout the church in most of the world...
- Nicolas MalebrancheNicolas MalebrancheNicolas Malebranche ; was a French Oratorian and rationalist philosopher. In his works, he sought to synthesize the thought of St. Augustine and Descartes, in order to demonstrate the active role of God in every aspect of the world...
- List of Christian theologians
Furthe reading
- P. Auvray et A. Jouffrey, Lettres du Père Charles de Condren, Paris, Cerf, 1943
- R. Deville, L'école française de spiritualité, Paris, Desclée de Brouwer, 1987
External links
- Charles de Condren (2005)
- French Congregation of the Oratory at the Catholic Encyclopedia
- vénérable père CHARLES DE CONDREN théologien, docteur de Sorbonne second général de l'Oratoire (1588-1641) – LA VOIE MYSTIQUE