Clotilde de Vaux
Encyclopedia
Clotilde de Vaux, was born Clotilde-Marie de Ficquelmont on April 3, 1815 in Paris
, France and died on April 5, 1846 in Paris
, France. She gave philosopher Auguste Comte
the inspiration for the « Religion of Humanity
».
, sister of French military officer and mathematician
Maximilien-Marie de Ficquelmont, follower of Positivism
, Clotilde de Vaux was educated at the prestigious Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur
. In 1835, according to traditions of nobility, she had a marriage of convenience with a nobleman, Amédée de Vaux, tax perceptor of Méru
. But Vaux turned out to be nothing but a rogue. After incurring enormous gambling debts, he eventually left his wife and fled to Belgium
.
According to the Code Civil of the time, women were unable to remarry without previously being divorced and, since no divorce had been issued, Clotilde was forbidden to do so. Consequently, she returned to Paris
, first living at her brother's home before moving to her own place in Marais
' rue Payenne (certainly at n°7). One of her uncles, Minister-president
of the Austrian Empire
, granted her a housing allowance.
Clotilde decided to follow in her mother's steps - Countess Henriette de Ficquelmont used to hold a salon
and wrote several Naturalist-inspired
novels -
by embarking on a writer
's career and writing short stories
for literary magazines
.
In October 1844, when visiting her brother, Clotilde met one of his Polytechnique's
Professors, philosopher Auguste Comte
. The first known letter from Comte to Clotilde dated from April 30, 1845 and from that day on it is very clear that he is in love with her. A love Clotilde, fervent Catholic, firmly rejected. Nonetheless she agreed to follow up with their correspondence and Comte's passionate love
kept growing until Clotilde suddenly died of tuberculosis
a year later.
Comte, recognizing her as his muse
, was highly impressed by her moral superiority which him the key to understand the religious dimension of the human condition. But if Clotilde was a fervent Catholic
, Comte only considered Catholicism to be a step towards the positive stage. Nonetheless, Clotilde's faith persuaded him to create a religion for positivist societies in order to fulfil the cohesive function once held by traditional worship.
In mourning
after Clotilde's death, Comte dedicated himself to reorganise his previous philosophical system into a new positivist secular religion: the Positivist Church or Religion of Humanity
.
Comte's secular religion is no vague effusion of humanistic piety, but a complete system of belief and ritual, with a calendar reform
called the 'positivist calendar
' (with Sainte Clotilde's day each 6 April and a Day of Holy Women), liturgy and sacraments, priesthood and pontiff, all organized around the public veneration of Humanity, the Nouveau Grand-Être Suprême (New Supreme Great Being) made after Clotilde de Vaux.
Comte's "Religion of Humanity
" was rather unsuccessful in France but has been very influential in Latin America
, especially in Brazil
(see above) and has inspired the rise of the "Church of Humanity
" in England and its variant in New York City
, both being extremely small today.
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France and died on April 5, 1846 in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, France. She gave philosopher Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
the inspiration for the « Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity was a secular religion created by Auguste Comte, the founder of positivist philosophy. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Humanity in France and Brazil.-Origins:...
».
Biography
Elder daughter of a branch of the family of ancient nobilityHouse of Ficquelmont
Nine-century-old high nobility Lorrainerinct family ranking among the prominent of the Holy Roman Empire, Lorraine, Austria and Hungary, France, Russia and Belgium.-Origins:...
, sister of French military officer and mathematician
Mathematician
A mathematician is a person whose primary area of study is the field of mathematics. Mathematicians are concerned with quantity, structure, space, and change....
Maximilien-Marie de Ficquelmont, follower of Positivism
Positivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
, Clotilde de Vaux was educated at the prestigious Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur
Maison d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur
The maisons d'éducation de la Légion d'honneur were the French secondary schools set up by Napoleon and originally meant for the education of girls whose father, grandfather or great-grandfather had been awarded the Légion d'honneur...
. In 1835, according to traditions of nobility, she had a marriage of convenience with a nobleman, Amédée de Vaux, tax perceptor of Méru
Méru
Méru is a town in northern France. It is designated municipally as a commune within the département of Oise. With a population of 13.000, Méru is the largest town of the Canton of Méru whose administrative centre Méru is. Further Méru located in the Arrondissement of Beauvais.-Partnership:Méru has...
. But Vaux turned out to be nothing but a rogue. After incurring enormous gambling debts, he eventually left his wife and fled to Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
.
According to the Code Civil of the time, women were unable to remarry without previously being divorced and, since no divorce had been issued, Clotilde was forbidden to do so. Consequently, she returned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, first living at her brother's home before moving to her own place in Marais
Le Marais
Le Marais is a historic district in Paris, France. Long the aristocratic district of Paris, it hosts many outstanding buildings of historic and architectural importance...
' rue Payenne (certainly at n°7). One of her uncles, Minister-president
Minister-President
A minister-president is the head of government in a number of European countries or subnational governments, in which a parliamentary or semi-presidential system of government prevails, who presides over the council of ministers...
of the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, granted her a housing allowance.
Clotilde decided to follow in her mother's steps - Countess Henriette de Ficquelmont used to hold a salon
Salon (gathering)
A salon is a gathering of people under the roof of an inspiring host, held partly to amuse one another and partly to refine taste and increase their knowledge of the participants through conversation. These gatherings often consciously followed Horace's definition of the aims of poetry, "either to...
and wrote several Naturalist-inspired
Naturalism (literature)
Naturalism was a literary movement taking place from the 1880s to 1940s that used detailed realism to suggest that social conditions, heredity, and environment had inescapable force in shaping human character...
novels -
by embarking on a writer
Writer
A writer is a person who produces literature, such as novels, short stories, plays, screenplays, poetry, or other literary art. Skilled writers are able to use language to portray ideas and images....
's career and writing short stories
Short story
A short story is a work of fiction that is usually written in prose, often in narrative format. This format tends to be more pointed than longer works of fiction, such as novellas and novels. Short story definitions based on length differ somewhat, even among professional writers, in part because...
for literary magazines
Revue
A revue is a type of multi-act popular theatrical entertainment that combines music, dance and sketches. The revue has its roots in 19th century American popular entertainment and melodrama but grew into a substantial cultural presence of its own during its golden years from 1916 to 1932...
.
In October 1844, when visiting her brother, Clotilde met one of his Polytechnique's
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
Professors, philosopher Auguste Comte
Auguste Comte
Isidore Auguste Marie François Xavier Comte , better known as Auguste Comte , was a French philosopher, a founder of the discipline of sociology and of the doctrine of positivism...
. The first known letter from Comte to Clotilde dated from April 30, 1845 and from that day on it is very clear that he is in love with her. A love Clotilde, fervent Catholic, firmly rejected. Nonetheless she agreed to follow up with their correspondence and Comte's passionate love
Passion (emotion)
Passion is a term applied to a very strong feeling about a person or thing. Passion is an intense emotion compelling feeling, enthusiasm, or desire for something....
kept growing until Clotilde suddenly died of tuberculosis
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis, MTB, or TB is a common, and in many cases lethal, infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body...
a year later.
Comte, recognizing her as his muse
Muse
The Muses in Greek mythology, poetry, and literature, are the goddesses who inspire the creation of literature and the arts. They were considered the source of the knowledge, related orally for centuries in the ancient culture, that was contained in poetic lyrics and myths...
, was highly impressed by her moral superiority which him the key to understand the religious dimension of the human condition. But if Clotilde was a fervent Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, Comte only considered Catholicism to be a step towards the positive stage. Nonetheless, Clotilde's faith persuaded him to create a religion for positivist societies in order to fulfil the cohesive function once held by traditional worship.
Birth of the Religion of Humanity
Mourning
Mourning is, in the simplest sense, synonymous with grief over the death of someone. The word is also used to describe a cultural complex of behaviours in which the bereaved participate or are expected to participate...
after Clotilde's death, Comte dedicated himself to reorganise his previous philosophical system into a new positivist secular religion: the Positivist Church or Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity was a secular religion created by Auguste Comte, the founder of positivist philosophy. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Humanity in France and Brazil.-Origins:...
.
Comte's secular religion is no vague effusion of humanistic piety, but a complete system of belief and ritual, with a calendar reform
Calendar reform
A calendar reform is any significant revision of a calendar system. The term sometimes is used instead for a proposal to switch to a different calendar.Most calendars have several rules which could be altered by reform:...
called the 'positivist calendar
Positivist calendar
The positivist calendar was a calendar reform proposal by Auguste Comte in 1849. After revising the earlier work of Marco Mastrofini, Comte's proposed calendar was a solar calendar which had 13 months of 28 days, and an additional festival day commemorating the dead, totalling 365 days.This extra...
' (with Sainte Clotilde's day each 6 April and a Day of Holy Women), liturgy and sacraments, priesthood and pontiff, all organized around the public veneration of Humanity, the Nouveau Grand-Être Suprême (New Supreme Great Being) made after Clotilde de Vaux.
- In Système de politique positive (1851–1854), Auguste Comte expressed his idea of a « religion of Humanity », whose pillars are:
- altruism, leading to generosity and selfless dedication to others.
- order : Comte thought that after the French RevolutionFrench RevolutionThe French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
, society needed restoration of order. - progress : the consequences of industrial and technical breakthroughs for human societies.
- In Catéchisme positiviste (1851), Comte defined the Church of Humanity's sacraments :
- the Introduction (nomination and sponsoring)
- the Admission (end of education)
- the Destination (choice of a career)
- the Marriage,
- the Retirement (age 63),
- the Séparation, social extreme unction,
- the Incorporation, 3 years after death.
Comte's "Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity
Religion of Humanity was a secular religion created by Auguste Comte, the founder of positivist philosophy. Adherents of this religion have built chapels of Humanity in France and Brazil.-Origins:...
" was rather unsuccessful in France but has been very influential in Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
, especially in Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
(see above) and has inspired the rise of the "Church of Humanity
Church of Humanity
Church of Humanity was a positivist church influenced by Auguste Comte's "religion of humanity." Comte's "religion of humanity" in France, although small, inspired the rise of the "Church of Humanity" in England. It also had a branch or variant in New York City. Richard Congreve of the London...
" in England and its variant in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, both being extremely small today.
Clotilde de Vaux's writings
- Pensées d'une fleur, poems
- Lucie, series of short stories published in Le National
- Willelmine, short story
- Citations :
- « There is no higher pleasure than the one of dedication. »
- « Mankind, more than other species, needs to tie down to duties to ensure true feelings. »
- (On Society) « Its institutions deserve respect as the toil of times... »
- « It's unworthy of noble hearts to spread the confusion they feel. »