French school of spirituality
Encyclopedia
The 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. A development of the Catholic Reformation like the Spanish mystics
and the Society of Jesus
, it focused the devotional
life of the Catholic faithful on a personal experience of the person of Jesus
and the quest for personal holiness
. It was perhaps more concrete than the Iberian example and thus easier to teach, but it shared with the Spanish saints their focus on the Divine
Person. This movement in Catholic spirituality had many important figures over the centuries, the first being its founder, Cardinal Pierre de Berulle
(1575–1629).
went on to found the Sulpician Order to run seminaries and train future priests in France, Canada and the United States, thus spreading the French school's influence to North America where it would dominate for the next three centuries. Olier's particular strain of the French school's thinking at its most pessimistic is captured in this quote:
Another disciple of Berulle's was Jeanne Chezard de Matel
who went on to found the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
in Avignon
, France. The express purpose of these cloistered women was to give adoration to Christ incarnate, making liturgy a matter of worshiping God in awe and mystery and through their presence make "an extension of the admirable Incarnation." John M. Lozano, Jeanne Chezard de Matel and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, trans. Joseph Daries (Chicago: Claret Center for Resources in Spirituality, 1983), p. 72.
so that the person of Christ might become incarnate in the believer. The effect on the Church throughout the era was a heavy devaluing of the this-world
ly in favor of the exultation of the heaven
ly.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
from the mid 17th Century through the mid 20th Century not only in France but throughout the church in most of the world. A development of the Catholic Reformation like the Spanish mystics
Spanish mystics
The Spanish Mystics are major figures in the Catholic Reformation of 16th and 17th century Spain. The goal of this movement was to reform the Church structurally and to renew it spiritually...
and the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, it focused the devotional
Catholic devotions
A Roman Catholic devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to God. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to serve God; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts such as the adoration of God or the veneration of the saints or the Virgin Mary.Roman Catholic...
life of the Catholic faithful on a personal experience of the person of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
and the quest for personal holiness
Sacred
Holiness, or sanctity, is in general the state of being holy or sacred...
. It was perhaps more concrete than the Iberian example and thus easier to teach, but it shared with the Spanish saints their focus on the Divine
Divinity
Divinity and divine are broadly applied but loosely defined terms, used variously within different faiths and belief systems — and even by different individuals within a given faith — to refer to some transcendent or transcendental power or deity, or its attributes or manifestations in...
Person. This movement in Catholic spirituality had many important figures over the centuries, the first being its founder, Cardinal Pierre de Berulle
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...
(1575–1629).
Disciples of Berulle
One of Berulle's disciples, Jean-Jacques OlierJean-Jacques Olier
-Early life:At Lyon, where his father had become administrator of justice, he made a thorough classical course under the Jesuits ; he was encouraged to become a priest by St. Francis de Sales, who predicted his sanctity and great services to the Ccatholic Church. He studied philosophy at the...
went on to found the Sulpician Order to run seminaries and train future priests in France, Canada and the United States, thus spreading the French school's influence to North America where it would dominate for the next three centuries. Olier's particular strain of the French school's thinking at its most pessimistic is captured in this quote:
-
- "It is necessary for the soul to be in fear and distrust of self; it must testify to this distrust by avoiding occasions and encounters in which it may satisfy the heart by love and delight in some creature. It should make its pleasure and joy depend on sacrificing to Jesus all joy and pleasure which it may have apart from himself. And when taking part in those things in which by Providence it is obliged to be occupied, such as eating, drinking, and conversation with creatures, it must be sparing in all, must discard what is superfluous, and must renounce, in the use of them, the joy and pleasure to be found therein, uniting and giving itself to Jesus as often as it feels itself tempted to enjoy something apart from him and not himself." (Olier, Journée chrétienne, Part 1, as cited in David A. Fleming, The Fire and the Cloud: An Anthology of Catholic Spirituality (New York: Paulist Press, 1978), pp. 272-73)
Another disciple of Berulle's was Jeanne Chezard de Matel
Jeanne Chezard de Matel
Jeanne Chezard de Matel was the French woman who founded the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, the rule and constitutions of the order being approved in 1633. The principal objective of the order was youth education....
who went on to found the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament
The Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament is an order of nuns founded in the early part of the seventeenth century by Jeanne Chezard de Matel.- External links :* * *...
in Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, France. The express purpose of these cloistered women was to give adoration to Christ incarnate, making liturgy a matter of worshiping God in awe and mystery and through their presence make "an extension of the admirable Incarnation." John M. Lozano, Jeanne Chezard de Matel and the Sisters of the Incarnate Word, trans. Joseph Daries (Chicago: Claret Center for Resources in Spirituality, 1983), p. 72.
Theological foundation
Berulle's contribution was the absolute focus on Jesus, the incarnate Word of God, both in his sublime divinity and in his complete debasement as God become man. Centered on this person who abased himself willingly to enter the human estate, the devotional end for the faithful was to abandon all ego and vanityVanity
In conventional parlance, vanity is the excessive belief in one's own abilities or attractiveness to others. Prior to the 14th century it did not have such narcissistic undertones, and merely meant futility. The related term vainglory is now often seen as an archaic synonym for vanity, but...
so that the person of Christ might become incarnate in the believer. The effect on the Church throughout the era was a heavy devaluing of the this-world
World
World is a common name for the whole of human civilization, specifically human experience, history, or the human condition in general, worldwide, i.e. anywhere on Earth....
ly in favor of the exultation of the heaven
Heaven
Heaven, the Heavens or Seven Heavens, is a common religious cosmological or metaphysical term for the physical or transcendent place from which heavenly beings originate, are enthroned or inhabit...
ly.
Devotional developments
The devotional axes of the French school were- exaltation of Christ by the faithful and the movement of the will to make oneself Christ's humble servant.
- meditation and imitation of the sentiments found in scripture of Christ and of Mary
- Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament
- Devotion to the Sacred HeartSacred HeartThe Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary through chapletChaplet (prayer)The term Chaplet is used commonly to designate Roman Catholic prayer forms which use prayer beads, but are not necessarily related to the Rosary. Some of these chaplets have a strong Marian connotation, others are more directly related to Jesus or the Saints. Chaplets are considered "personal...
s (particular rosaryRosaryThe rosary or "garland of roses" is a traditional Catholic devotion. The term denotes the prayer beads used to count the series of prayers that make up the rosary...
-type prayers) and litaniesLitanyA litany, in Christian worship and some forms of Jewish worship, is a form of prayer used in services and processions, and consisting of a number of petitions...
.
Religious communities founded in the French school tradition
- Congregation of Holy CrossCongregation of Holy CrossThe Congregation of Holy Cross or Congregatio a Sancta Cruce is a Catholic congregation of priests and brothers founded in 1837 by Blessed Father Basil Anthony-Marie Moreau, CSC, in Le Mans, France....
- Oratory of JesusOratory of JesusThe Society of the Oratory of Jesus , also known as French Oratory, is a catholic Congregation founded in 1611 in Paris by Pierre de Bérulle...
Important figures in the movement
- Cardinal Pierre de BérullePierre de BérullePierre 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...
(1575-1629), founder of the Oratory of JesusOratory of JesusThe Society of the Oratory of Jesus , also known as French Oratory, is a catholic Congregation founded in 1611 in Paris by Pierre de Bérulle...
in 1611 - Jean-Jacques OlierJean-Jacques Olier-Early life:At Lyon, where his father had become administrator of justice, he made a thorough classical course under the Jesuits ; he was encouraged to become a priest by St. Francis de Sales, who predicted his sanctity and great services to the Ccatholic Church. He studied philosophy at the...
(1608-1657), disciple of Cardinal Berulle. Olier founded the Society of St. Sulpice, in 1642, to train and form future priests - Jeanne Chezard de MatelJeanne Chezard de MatelJeanne Chezard de Matel was the French woman who founded the Order of the Incarnate Word and Blessed Sacrament, the rule and constitutions of the order being approved in 1633. The principal objective of the order was youth education....
(1596-1670), foundress of the Sisters of the Incarnate WordJesusJesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
in Avignon, France, in December, 1639. - Jean EudesJean EudesJean Eudes was a French missionary, founder of the Congregation of Jesus and Mary and of the Sisters of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge, and author of the Propers for Mass and Divine Office of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary.-Biography:John Eudes, born at Ri, Orne, was a brother of the...
, founder of the EudistsEudistsThe Congregation of Jesus and Mary , commonly referred to as the Eudists is a Society of Apostolic Life in the Roman Catholic Church.-History:...
. - St. Louis de Montfort.
- Baron de RentyGaston Jean Baptiste de RentyGaston Jean Baptiste de Renty was a French aristocrat and philanthropist...