Honoré Tournély
Encyclopedia
Honoré Tournély was a French Catholic theologian. He was a Gallican opponent of Jansenism
.
, Provence
, to poor and obscure parents. An uncle, a priest at Paris, invited him there and gave him a good education. On completing his philosophical and theological studies, he became a doctor of the Sorbonne
in 1686, and two years later was sent by the king to the University of Douai
to teach theology. Here, he distinguished himself by his lectures and by his opposition of the Jansenists. He was even accused of forgeries in order to compromise them, but the proofs of this accusation have never been forthcoming.
Four years later he was recalled to Paris, appointed professor of theology at the Sorbonne, made a canon of the Sainte-Chapelle, and given the Abbey of Plainpied (Diocese of Bourges). He taught with unvarying success for twenty-four years, and at Douai showed himself the determined opponent of the Jansenists. In return they published pamphlets and multiplied attacks to discredit him and his teaching, especially after the publication of the Constitution Unigenitus
, in which Pope Clement XI
condemned (1713) their errors as manifested in the 'Reflections morales of Quesnel
.
Tournély was actively engaged in furthering the acceptance of this Constitution by the assembly of the French clergy
, of which he was a consultor, and by the faculty of theology of which he was an influential member. When, after the death of Louis XIV
(1715) and after the connivance of Cardinal Noailles, the Jansenists became masters of the faculty of theology, they expunged from its registers the Bull "Unigenitus" and expelled from its meetings Tournély and a score of his friends among the doctors (January 1716). It was only at the earnest intervention of the regent, the Duke of Orléans, that they were reinstated five years later (February 1721). Tournély died at Paris.
The work passed through several editions, among others those of Paris (16 vols., in 8 vo, 1731–46), Cologne (10 vols., in fol., 1752–65). Several of these treatises were abridged for use in seminaries, still appear in Tournély's name, but they were in reality the work of Montagne
, Robinet
, and Collet
.
Tournély's own work is still so important in extent and value that he may be regarded as one of the most notable theologians of his age. The learned Lafiteau
, Bishop of Sisteron, even then declared him "one of the greatest men who has ever been in the Sorbonne", and his works were highly esteemed by Alphonsus Liguori
. His chief characteristics are clearness of explanation, elegance of style, learning and orthodoxy.
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
.
Life
He was born in AntibesAntibes
Antibes is a resort town in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.It lies on the Mediterranean in the Côte d'Azur, located between Cannes and Nice. The town of Juan-les-Pins is within the commune of Antibes...
, Provence
Provence
Provence ; Provençal: Provença in classical norm or Prouvènço in Mistralian norm) is a region of south eastern France on the Mediterranean adjacent to Italy. It is part of the administrative région of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur...
, to poor and obscure parents. An uncle, a priest at Paris, invited him there and gave him a good education. On completing his philosophical and theological studies, he became a doctor of the Sorbonne
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...
in 1686, and two years later was sent by the king to the University of Douai
University of Douai
The University of Douai is a former university in Douai, France. With a Middle Ages heritage of scholar activities in Douai, the university was established in 1559 and lectures started in 1562. It closed from 1795 to 1808...
to teach theology. Here, he distinguished himself by his lectures and by his opposition of the Jansenists. He was even accused of forgeries in order to compromise them, but the proofs of this accusation have never been forthcoming.
Four years later he was recalled to Paris, appointed professor of theology at the Sorbonne, made a canon of the Sainte-Chapelle, and given the Abbey of Plainpied (Diocese of Bourges). He taught with unvarying success for twenty-four years, and at Douai showed himself the determined opponent of the Jansenists. In return they published pamphlets and multiplied attacks to discredit him and his teaching, especially after the publication of the Constitution Unigenitus
Unigenitus
Unigenitus , an apostolic constitution in the form of a papal bull promulgated by Pope Clement XI in 1713, opened the final phase of the Jansenist controversy in France...
, in which Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI , born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death in 1721.-Early life:...
condemned (1713) their errors as manifested in the 'Reflections morales of Quesnel
Pasquier Quesnel
Pasquier Quesnel was a French Jansenist theologian.He was born in Paris, and, after graduating from the Sorbonne with distinction in 1653, he joined the French Oratory in 1657...
.
Tournély was actively engaged in furthering the acceptance of this Constitution by the assembly of the French clergy
Assembly of the French clergy
The Assembly of the French Clergy was in its origins a representative meeting of the Catholic clergy of France, held every five years, for the purpose of apportioning the financial burdens laid upon the clergy of the French Catholic Church by the kings of France...
, of which he was a consultor, and by the faculty of theology of which he was an influential member. When, after the death of Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
(1715) and after the connivance of Cardinal Noailles, the Jansenists became masters of the faculty of theology, they expunged from its registers the Bull "Unigenitus" and expelled from its meetings Tournély and a score of his friends among the doctors (January 1716). It was only at the earnest intervention of the regent, the Duke of Orléans, that they were reinstated five years later (February 1721). Tournély died at Paris.
Works
Tournély had so far published nothing, at least in his own name, but he is regarded as the author or inspirer of several anonymous works against the Jansenists which appeared at that time. On his retirement he immediately began to revise his lectures and, at the request of Cardinal de Fleury and others, to publish them in 1725. With the common title "Præ Theologicæ", he issued in Latin the following treatises in octavo:- "On God and His Attributes" (1725);
- "On grace" (1726);
- "On the Trinity" (1726);
- "On the Church" (1726);
- "On the Sacraments in general" (1727);
- "On the Incarnation" (1727);
- "On the Sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation" (1727);
- "On Penance and Extreme Unction" (1728);
- "On the Eucharist" (1729);
- "On Holy Orders" (1729);
- "On Marriage" (1730).
The work passed through several editions, among others those of Paris (16 vols., in 8 vo, 1731–46), Cologne (10 vols., in fol., 1752–65). Several of these treatises were abridged for use in seminaries, still appear in Tournély's name, but they were in reality the work of Montagne
Montagne
Montagne is a comune in Trentino in the northern Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 30 km west of Trento...
, Robinet
Robinet
Robinet may refer to:*Chaffinch, a small bird of the finch family*European Robin, usually referred to simply as a "robin"*Robinet , another name for the French wine grape Jacquère...
, and Collet
Collet
A collet is a holding device—specifically, a subtype of chuck—that forms a collar around the object to be held and exerts a strong clamping force on the object when it is tightened, usually via a tapered outer collar. It may be used to hold a workpiece or a tool.A collet is a sleeve with a ...
.
Tournély's own work is still so important in extent and value that he may be regarded as one of the most notable theologians of his age. The learned Lafiteau
Lafiteau
Lafiteau, also called Carrefour Lafiteau, is a small industrial port town, about nine miles north of the capital, Port-au-Prince, in the commune of Cabaret in the Republic of Haiti. It lies to the south of Titanyen. Many supply ships entered this port in the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake...
, Bishop of Sisteron, even then declared him "one of the greatest men who has ever been in the Sorbonne", and his works were highly esteemed by Alphonsus Liguori
Alphonsus Liguori
Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori was an Italian Catholic bishop, spiritual writer, scholastic philosopher and theologian, and founder of the Redemptorists, an influential religious congregation...
. His chief characteristics are clearness of explanation, elegance of style, learning and orthodoxy.