Jacques-André Emery
Encyclopedia
Jacques-André Emery was a French Sulpician monk, Superior of the Society of St-Sulpice during the French Revolution
.
, he passed to the Seminary of St. Irenæus at Lyon
and completed his studies at St-Sulpice, Paris, where he became a member of the society of that name and was ordained priest (1758).
He taught in the seminaries of Orléans
and Lyon; at Lyon, he opposed the archbishop, Antoine de Montazet
, of Jansenist sympathies. Partly on the recommendation of the archbishop, he was made superior of the seminary at Angers
(1776), and later became vicar-general of the diocese. In 1782 he was elected Superior-General of the Seminary and Society of St-Sulpice.
Emery reformed seminaries and worked for the training of clergy. After the Revolution
commenced, he was, perhaps, during that period, the coolest head among the churchmen of France, and many came to him for advice. He was, says the historian Sicard
, "the head and the arm" of the party whose counsels were marked by moderation and good sense; "a man who was rarely endowed in breadth of learning, in knowledge of his time, in the clearness of his views, in the calmness and energy of his decisions; the oracle of the clergy, consulted on all sides less by reason of his high position than of his superior wisdom. M. Emery was called by Providence to be the guide throughout the long interregnum of the episcopate during the revolution" (L'Ancien Clergé;, III, 549). And Cardinal de Bausset declares that he was the "real moderator of the clergy during twenty years of the most violent storms".
The decisions of the Archiepiscopal Council at Paris concerning the several oaths demanded of the clergy, inspired by Emery, were accepted by large numbers of priests and violently assailed by others. To their acceptance was due whatever Catholic worship remained in France during the Revolution; to their rejection was due, in large part, the opinion which came to regard the clergy as "the irreconcilable enemies of the republic". Emery did not, like many others, mistake purely political projects for vital questions of religion. He felt free to take the "Oath of Liberty and Equality", but only as concerning the civil and political order; he upheld the lawfulness of declaring submission to the laws of the Republic (30 May 1795), and of promising fidelity to the Constitution (28 December 1799).
He lent his influence to Guiseppe Spina in his efforts to obtain the resignation of the French bishops, according to the will of Pope Pius VII
(15 August 1801). While ready, for the good of religion, to go as far as the rights of the Church permitted, he was stanch in his opposition to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
(1790). Public religious services were suspended during the Revolution, and the seminaries closed; St-Sulpice was taken over by the revolutionists, and Emery was imprisoned and several times narrowly escaped execution.
The closing of the seminaries in France led Father Emery, on the request of Bishop Carroll, to send some Sulpicians to the United States to found the first American seminary at Baltimore (St. Mary's, 18 July 1791). The future religion of the country, he wrote to Father Nagot, the first superior, depended on the formation of an American clergy, which alone would be adequate and fit for the work before it. Despite the discouragements of the first years, he continued the supporter of the institution and welcomed the foundation of the college at Pigeon Hill, and later at Emmitsburg, for young aspirants to the priesthood. At one time, however, Bishop Carroll feared the withdrawal of the Sulpicians, but his arguments and above all the advice of Pius VII convinced Father Emery that the good of religion in America required their presence.
After Napoleon came into supreme control, Father Emery re-established the Seminary of St-Sulpice. His defence of the pope against the emperor caused Napoleon to expel the Sulpicians from the seminary; this, however, did not daunt Emery, who defended the papal rights in the presence of Napoleon (17 March 1811) and gained the emperor's admiration, if not his good will. Sicard described him as "the only one among the clergy from whom Napoleon would take the truth." The death of Father Emery occurred a month later.
in his collection of theological works. They deal chiefly with the politico-religious questions of the day. He is best remembered, perhaps, by his dissertation on the mitigation of the sufferings of the damned. He wrote also on Descartes, Leibniz, and Francis Bacon
, and published from their works extracts in defence of religion.
French Revolution
The 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...
.
Life
After his preliminary studies with the Carmelites of his native town and the Jesuits of MâconMâcon
Mâcon is a small city in central France. It is prefecture of the Saône-et-Loire department, in the region of Bourgogne, and the capital of the Mâconnais district. Mâcon is home to over 35,000 residents, called Mâconnais.-Geography:...
, he passed to the Seminary of St. Irenæus at Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and completed his studies at St-Sulpice, Paris, where he became a member of the society of that name and was ordained priest (1758).
He taught in the seminaries of Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and Lyon; at Lyon, he opposed the archbishop, Antoine de Montazet
Antoine de Montazet
Antoine de Montazet was a French theologian, of Jansenist tendencies, who became bishop of Autun and archbishop of Lyon. He was elected to the Académie française in 1756, but did not produce significant literary works....
, of Jansenist sympathies. Partly on the recommendation of the archbishop, he was made superior of the seminary at Angers
Angers
Angers is the main city in the Maine-et-Loire department in western France about south-west of Paris. Angers is located in the French region known by its pre-revolutionary, provincial name, Anjou, and its inhabitants are called Angevins....
(1776), and later became vicar-general of the diocese. In 1782 he was elected Superior-General of the Seminary and Society of St-Sulpice.
Emery reformed seminaries and worked for the training of clergy. After the Revolution
French Revolution
The 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...
commenced, he was, perhaps, during that period, the coolest head among the churchmen of France, and many came to him for advice. He was, says the historian Sicard
Sicard
-People:* Claude Sicard , a French Jesuit priest and an early modern visitor to Egypt* François-Léon Sicard , a French sculptor* Jean-Athanase Sicard , French neurologist and radiologist...
, "the head and the arm" of the party whose counsels were marked by moderation and good sense; "a man who was rarely endowed in breadth of learning, in knowledge of his time, in the clearness of his views, in the calmness and energy of his decisions; the oracle of the clergy, consulted on all sides less by reason of his high position than of his superior wisdom. M. Emery was called by Providence to be the guide throughout the long interregnum of the episcopate during the revolution" (L'Ancien Clergé;, III, 549). And Cardinal de Bausset declares that he was the "real moderator of the clergy during twenty years of the most violent storms".
The decisions of the Archiepiscopal Council at Paris concerning the several oaths demanded of the clergy, inspired by Emery, were accepted by large numbers of priests and violently assailed by others. To their acceptance was due whatever Catholic worship remained in France during the Revolution; to their rejection was due, in large part, the opinion which came to regard the clergy as "the irreconcilable enemies of the republic". Emery did not, like many others, mistake purely political projects for vital questions of religion. He felt free to take the "Oath of Liberty and Equality", but only as concerning the civil and political order; he upheld the lawfulness of declaring submission to the laws of the Republic (30 May 1795), and of promising fidelity to the Constitution (28 December 1799).
He lent his influence to Guiseppe Spina in his efforts to obtain the resignation of the French bishops, according to the will of Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
(15 August 1801). While ready, for the good of religion, to go as far as the rights of the Church permitted, he was stanch in his opposition to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution, that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government....
(1790). Public religious services were suspended during the Revolution, and the seminaries closed; St-Sulpice was taken over by the revolutionists, and Emery was imprisoned and several times narrowly escaped execution.
The closing of the seminaries in France led Father Emery, on the request of Bishop Carroll, to send some Sulpicians to the United States to found the first American seminary at Baltimore (St. Mary's, 18 July 1791). The future religion of the country, he wrote to Father Nagot, the first superior, depended on the formation of an American clergy, which alone would be adequate and fit for the work before it. Despite the discouragements of the first years, he continued the supporter of the institution and welcomed the foundation of the college at Pigeon Hill, and later at Emmitsburg, for young aspirants to the priesthood. At one time, however, Bishop Carroll feared the withdrawal of the Sulpicians, but his arguments and above all the advice of Pius VII convinced Father Emery that the good of religion in America required their presence.
After Napoleon came into supreme control, Father Emery re-established the Seminary of St-Sulpice. His defence of the pope against the emperor caused Napoleon to expel the Sulpicians from the seminary; this, however, did not daunt Emery, who defended the papal rights in the presence of Napoleon (17 March 1811) and gained the emperor's admiration, if not his good will. Sicard described him as "the only one among the clergy from whom Napoleon would take the truth." The death of Father Emery occurred a month later.
Works
He left many writings which have been published by MigneMigné
Migné is a commune in the Indre department in central France.-References:*...
in his collection of theological works. They deal chiefly with the politico-religious questions of the day. He is best remembered, perhaps, by his dissertation on the mitigation of the sufferings of the damned. He wrote also on Descartes, Leibniz, and Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon
Francis Bacon, 1st Viscount St Albans, KC was an English philosopher, statesman, scientist, lawyer, jurist, author and pioneer of the scientific method. He served both as Attorney General and Lord Chancellor of England...
, and published from their works extracts in defence of religion.