Jean Garnier
Encyclopedia
Jean Garnier was a French Jesuit church historian, patristic scholar, and moral theologian.
(1643–1653), and theology at Bourges
(1653–1681). In 1681, he was sent to Rome on business of his order, fell ill on the way and died at Bologna
.
Garnier was considered one of the most learned Jesuits of his day, was well versed in Christian antiquity, and much consulted in difficult cases of conscience.
.
In 1655, he wrote Regulae fidei catholicae de gratia Dei per Jesum Christum, and published the work at Bourges. In 1673, he edited at Paris all the work of Marius Mercator (d. at Constantinople after 451). The edition contains two parts. The first gives the writings of Mercator against the Pelagians and to these Garnier adds seven dissertations:
"De ortu et incrementis haeresis Pelagianae seu potius Caelestianae".
Cardinal Noris (op. 3, 1176) considered these dissertations of great value, and says that, if he had seen them in time, he would have put aside his own writings on the subject. In the second part, Garnier gives a good historical sketch of Nestorianism
from 428 to 433, then of the writings of Mercator on this heresy, and adds two treatises on the heresy and writings of Nestorius, and on the synods held in the matter between 429 and 433. Much praise is bestowed on Garnier by later learned writers for the great amount of historical knowledge displayed in his dissertations, but he is also severely blamed for his arbitrary arrangement of the writings of Mercator and for his criticism of the original (Tillemont, "Mémoires ecclés.", XV, 142; Cotelier, "Monum. eccl. graec." III, 602).
Garnier edited in 1675 at Paris the Breviarum causae Nestorianorum (composed before 566 by Liberatus, an archdeacon of Carthage), correcting many mistakes and adding notes and a dissertation on the Fifth General Council
. In 1678 he wrote Systema bibliothecae collegii Parisiensis S.J., a work considered very valuable for librarians.
In 1680, he edited the Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum
from an ancient manuscript, and added three essays:
In the second essay he treats the case of Pope Honorius
, whom he considers free of guilt. In 1642, Sirmond had published in four volumes the works of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus (d. 455); Garnier added an "Auctarium", which, however, was not published until 1684. It consists of five essays: (1) "De ejus vita"; (2) "De libris Theodoreti"; (3) "De fide Theodoreti"; (4) "De quinta synodo generali"; (6) "De Theodoreti et orientalium causa." In these he is rather severe on Theodoret and condemns him undeservedly.
Another posthumous work of Garnier's, Tractatus de officiis confessarii erga singula poenitentium genera, was published at Paris in 1689.
Life
He was born at Paris, entered the Society of Jesus at the age of sixteen, and, after a distinguished course of study, taught at first the humanities, then philosophy, at Clermont-FerrandClermont-Ferrand
Clermont-Ferrand is a city and commune of France, in the Auvergne region, with a population of 140,700 . Its metropolitan area had 409,558 inhabitants at the 1999 census. It is the prefecture of the Puy-de-Dôme department...
(1643–1653), and theology at Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
(1653–1681). In 1681, he was sent to Rome on business of his order, fell ill on the way and died at Bologna
Bologna
Bologna is the capital city of Emilia-Romagna, in the Po Valley of Northern Italy. The city lies between the Po River and the Apennine Mountains, more specifically, between the Reno River and the Savena River. Bologna is a lively and cosmopolitan Italian college city, with spectacular history,...
.
Garnier was considered one of the most learned Jesuits of his day, was well versed in Christian antiquity, and much consulted in difficult cases of conscience.
Works
In 1618, he published for the first time the Libellus fidei, sent to the Holy See during the Pelagian controversy by Julian, Bishop of Eclanum in Apulia. Garnier added notes and an historical commentary. The Libellus also found a place in Garnier's later work on Marius MercatorMarius Mercator
Marius Mercator was a Catholic ecclesiastical writer.In 417 or 418 he was in Rome where he wrote two anti-Pelagian treatises, which he submitted to Augustine of Hippo...
.
In 1655, he wrote Regulae fidei catholicae de gratia Dei per Jesum Christum, and published the work at Bourges. In 1673, he edited at Paris all the work of Marius Mercator (d. at Constantinople after 451). The edition contains two parts. The first gives the writings of Mercator against the Pelagians and to these Garnier adds seven dissertations:
- "De primis auctoribus et praecipuis defensoribus haeresis quae a Pelagio nomen accepit"
- "De synodis habitis in causa Pelagianorum"
- "De constitutionibus imperatorum in eadem causa 418-430"
- "De subscriptione in causa Pelagianorum"
- "De libellis fidei scriptis ab auctoribus et praecipuis defensoribus haeresis Pelagianae"
- "De iis quae scripta sunt a defensoribus fidei catholicae adversus haeresim Pelagianorum ante obitum S. Augustini"
"De ortu et incrementis haeresis Pelagianae seu potius Caelestianae".
Cardinal Noris (op. 3, 1176) considered these dissertations of great value, and says that, if he had seen them in time, he would have put aside his own writings on the subject. In the second part, Garnier gives a good historical sketch of Nestorianism
Nestorianism
Nestorianism is a Christological doctrine advanced by Nestorius, Patriarch of Constantinople from 428–431. The doctrine, which was informed by Nestorius's studies under Theodore of Mopsuestia at the School of Antioch, emphasizes the disunion between the human and divine natures of Jesus...
from 428 to 433, then of the writings of Mercator on this heresy, and adds two treatises on the heresy and writings of Nestorius, and on the synods held in the matter between 429 and 433. Much praise is bestowed on Garnier by later learned writers for the great amount of historical knowledge displayed in his dissertations, but he is also severely blamed for his arbitrary arrangement of the writings of Mercator and for his criticism of the original (Tillemont, "Mémoires ecclés.", XV, 142; Cotelier, "Monum. eccl. graec." III, 602).
Garnier edited in 1675 at Paris the Breviarum causae Nestorianorum (composed before 566 by Liberatus, an archdeacon of Carthage), correcting many mistakes and adding notes and a dissertation on the Fifth General Council
Fifth General Council
The Fifth general council may designate, in Catholic history:*The Second Council of Constantinople*Fifth General Council , a council held in 1512 in Rome, at the Pope's Lateran Palace...
. In 1678 he wrote Systema bibliothecae collegii Parisiensis S.J., a work considered very valuable for librarians.
In 1680, he edited the Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum
Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum
Liber Diurnus Romanorum Pontificum is the name given to a miscellaneous collection of ecclesiastical formulae used in the Papal chancery until about the 11th century...
from an ancient manuscript, and added three essays:
- De indiculo scribendae epistolae
- De ordinatione summi pontificis
- De usu pallii.
In the second essay he treats the case of Pope Honorius
Pope Honorius
Pope Honorius could refer to:#Pope Honorius I#*Antipope Honorius II#Pope Honorius II#Pope Honorius III#Pope Honorius IV...
, whom he considers free of guilt. In 1642, Sirmond had published in four volumes the works of Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrus (d. 455); Garnier added an "Auctarium", which, however, was not published until 1684. It consists of five essays: (1) "De ejus vita"; (2) "De libris Theodoreti"; (3) "De fide Theodoreti"; (4) "De quinta synodo generali"; (6) "De Theodoreti et orientalium causa." In these he is rather severe on Theodoret and condemns him undeservedly.
Another posthumous work of Garnier's, Tractatus de officiis confessarii erga singula poenitentium genera, was published at Paris in 1689.