François Vavasseur
Encyclopedia
François Vavasseur was a French Jesuit humanist and controversialist.
He entered the Society of Jesus, 25 October 1621, taught humanities and rhetoric for seven years, then positive theology and Scripture at Bourges, and later at Paris. His first work was a paraphrase
of the Book of Job
in Latin hexameter
s (1637), resumed and accompanied by a commentary in 1679.
He published also Theurgicon (1644), on the miracles of Christ, "Elegiarum liber" (1656), "De ludicra dictione" (1656); took an active part in the Jansenistic controversy ("Cornelius Jansenius Iprensis suspectus", Paris, 1650), and defended himself against the charge of having written pamphlets concerning the Calaghan affair (De libello supposititio dissertatio, 1653). In this last writing he defined accurately the style of the Port Royal
writers before the Provinciales:, monotonous and burdened with complicated periods. He wrote a sharp and learned criticism of the "Epigrammatum delectus" of Port-Royal (1659), "De epigrammate liber et epigrammatum libri tres" (1669), showing knowledge of Catullus
, Martial
, and the Greek anthology
.
He was sensitive on this subject and took issue with his confere René Rapin
, who had practically declared that no modern had written a good epigram
(Remarques sur les nouvelles réflexions du R.P. Rapin Jésuite, touchant la poétique, 1675). Guillaume de Lamoignon
, Rapin's protector, had Vavasseur's pamphlet suppressed. "Pere Vavasseur was a learned man, one of those critical and severe minds which find something to bite even in good works, and which let nothing pass" (Sainte Beuve, "Port-Royal", III, 528).
His other works include sermons, a commentary on Osee, and a dissertation on the beauty of Christ. All his writings were collected by the theologian Jean Leclerc
(Amsterdam, 1709). His Latin writings had appeared previously in Paris (1683).
He entered the Society of Jesus, 25 October 1621, taught humanities and rhetoric for seven years, then positive theology and Scripture at Bourges, and later at Paris. His first work was a paraphrase
Paraphrase
Paraphrase is restatement of a text or passages, using other words. The term "paraphrase" derives via the Latin "paraphrasis" from the Greek , meaning "additional manner of expression". The act of paraphrasing is also called "paraphrasis."...
of the Book of Job
Book of Job
The Book of Job , commonly referred to simply as Job, is one of the books of the Hebrew Bible. It relates the story of Job, his trials at the hands of Satan, his discussions with friends on the origins and nature of his suffering, his challenge to God, and finally a response from God. The book is a...
in Latin hexameter
Hexameter
Hexameter is a metrical line of verse consisting of six feet. It was the standard epic metre in classical Greek and Latin literature, such as in the Iliad and Aeneid. Its use in other genres of composition include Horace's satires, and Ovid's Metamorphoses. According to Greek mythology, hexameter...
s (1637), resumed and accompanied by a commentary in 1679.
He published also Theurgicon (1644), on the miracles of Christ, "Elegiarum liber" (1656), "De ludicra dictione" (1656); took an active part in the Jansenistic controversy ("Cornelius Jansenius Iprensis suspectus", Paris, 1650), and defended himself against the charge of having written pamphlets concerning the Calaghan affair (De libello supposititio dissertatio, 1653). In this last writing he defined accurately the style of the Port Royal
Port Royal
Port Royal was a city located at the end of the Palisadoes at the mouth of the Kingston Harbour, in southeastern Jamaica. Founded in 1518, it was the centre of shipping commerce in the Caribbean Sea during the latter half of the 17th century...
writers before the Provinciales:, monotonous and burdened with complicated periods. He wrote a sharp and learned criticism of the "Epigrammatum delectus" of Port-Royal (1659), "De epigrammate liber et epigrammatum libri tres" (1669), showing knowledge of Catullus
Catullus
Gaius Valerius Catullus was a Latin poet of the Republican period. His surviving works are still read widely, and continue to influence poetry and other forms of art.-Biography:...
, Martial
Martial
Marcus Valerius Martialis , was a Latin poet from Hispania best known for his twelve books of Epigrams, published in Rome between AD 86 and 103, during the reigns of the emperors Domitian, Nerva and Trajan...
, and the Greek anthology
Greek Anthology
The Greek Anthology is a collection of poems, mostly epigrams, that span the classical and Byzantine periods of Greek literature...
.
He was sensitive on this subject and took issue with his confere René Rapin
René Rapin
René Rapin was a French Jesuit and writer.He was born at Tours and entered the Society of Jesus in 1639. He taught rhetoric, and wrote extensively both in verse and prose.-Works:...
, who had practically declared that no modern had written a good epigram
Epigram
An epigram is a brief, interesting, usually memorable and sometimes surprising statement. Derived from the epigramma "inscription" from ἐπιγράφειν epigraphein "to write on inscribe", this literary device has been employed for over two millennia....
(Remarques sur les nouvelles réflexions du R.P. Rapin Jésuite, touchant la poétique, 1675). Guillaume de Lamoignon
Guillaume de Lamoignon
Guillaume de Lamoignon was a French jurist. He is known for work which he did towards preparing the codification of French laws.He became in 1644 master of requests in the Parlement. He took an active part in the Fronde of the Parlement against Mazarin.He became first president of the Parlement in...
, Rapin's protector, had Vavasseur's pamphlet suppressed. "Pere Vavasseur was a learned man, one of those critical and severe minds which find something to bite even in good works, and which let nothing pass" (Sainte Beuve, "Port-Royal", III, 528).
His other works include sermons, a commentary on Osee, and a dissertation on the beauty of Christ. All his writings were collected by the theologian Jean Leclerc
Jean Leclerc (theologian)
Jean Le Clerc, also Johannes Clericus was a Swiss theologian and biblical scholar. He was famous for promoting exegesis, or critical interpretation of the Bible, and was a radical of his age...
(Amsterdam, 1709). His Latin writings had appeared previously in Paris (1683).