Marie Dominique Bouix
Encyclopedia
Marie Dominique Bouix was a French Jesuit canon lawyer.
His life was a long battle with Gallicanism
. He has been called the restorer of canon law
in France.
Father Roothan, General of the Jesuits, created him Doctor of Theology in 1851, in virtue of a power delegated by the Holy See to Jesuit generals; and Bouix's work, "Du Concile Provincial", published in 1850 was dedicated to members of the order with whom he had previously been associated in scholastic work. The first two years of his life as a secular priest were spend in a curacy at the church of Saint Vincent de Paul, in Paris. Here he interested himself especially in the soldiers garrisoned at the capital, and founded in their behalf the society of Saint Maurice, which later spread throughout France.
In 1847 he was named to a chaplaincy, and became editor of the Voix de la Verité, to which he had already been a frequent contributor. He now became a prominent figure in the political and ecclesiastical life of Paris and was a member of the educational commission with Montalembert
and Pierre-Louis Parisis. General Cavaignac, who aspired to the presidency of the republic, thought it wise to endeavour to enlist the sympathies of Bouix.
It was at this time, in 1848, that his first book appeared, combating an organization known as the Oeuvre de la Miséricorde. In 1849 he gave up everything for a time to minister to the victims of the cholera
, which was then epidemic in Paris.
Monsignor Fornari, the papal nuncio at Paris, desiring to further the restoration of provincial councils, held a conference with Bouix and the Bollandist
Van Hecke, at which it was decided that the best means of influencing public opinion aright would be the preparation of a book explaining the law of the Church on provincial councils. Bouix was charged with this work, and first published in the Univers four articles, preparing the public for the complete treatise, Du Concile Provincial, which appeared in 1850. A fifth article in the Univers, simply reaffirming the canon law on synods and combating therefore, in the judgment of some, the tendencies of Gallicanism, was followed immediately by the loss of his chaplaincy.
This event determined him to devote his life to dispelling the prejudices and errors which he believed had largely infected the clergy of France in regard to matters of law and discipline. To equip himself for this work he turned his steps towards Rome, where, with no other means of support than the stipend of his daily Mass, he passed the next four years (1851-55) in study and in the preparation of the several works on canonical topics. In 1854, the degree of Doctor of Both Laws was conferred upon him by order of Pope Pius IX
. Returning to Paris in 1855, he continued his studies, and added to the series of treatises which established his fame as a canonist.
He founded at Arras
, in 1860, the Revue des sciences ecclésiastiques, of which he was for one year the editor. In 1864, just as his anti-Gallican opinions were about to subject him to new rigours at the hands of Monseigneur Darboy, Bouix was named Vicar-General of the Diocese of Versailles. The next year, when the royal exequatur
came up for discussion in the French Senate
, and Archbishop Darboy advocated there the Gallican view, Bouix answered with a publication which contested the correctness of the archbishop's contentions.
He continued to write until 1870. Then, when really too weak to undertake a long journey, he went to the First Vatican Council
as theologian of the Bishop of Montauban. Back in France he endeavoured to complete a work on the church, which he had already planned. It was while engaged on this work that death overtook him at Montech, in a religious house of which his sister was superior.
Besides many articles, contributed to newspapers and reviews, especially to the Revue des sciences ecclésiastiques, he wrote:
Several of his works were honoured with pontifical letters of commendation, and most of his canonical treatises went through several editions.
His life was a long battle with Gallicanism
Gallicanism
Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by the monarchs' authority or the State's authority—over the Catholic Church is comparable to that of the Pope's...
. He has been called the restorer of canon law
Canon law
Canon law is the body of laws & regulations made or adopted by ecclesiastical authority, for the government of the Christian organization and its members. It is the internal ecclesiastical law governing the Catholic Church , the Eastern and Oriental Orthodox churches, and the Anglican Communion of...
in France.
Life
In 1825, on the completion of his college course in an institution of his native town, he entered the Society of Jesus at Avignon, with his brother Marcel, and later taught the classics and occupied chairs of philosophy and theology in houses of the order. In 1842, when he was on the eve of his solemn profession, the precarious condition of his health rendered a continuance of the religious life impossible, and he obtained permission to retire from the society. This necessary withdrawal was a great disappointment to Bouix, who to the end of his life maintained the most cordial relations with his former brethren in religion, and received from them many evidences of a reciprocal regard.Father Roothan, General of the Jesuits, created him Doctor of Theology in 1851, in virtue of a power delegated by the Holy See to Jesuit generals; and Bouix's work, "Du Concile Provincial", published in 1850 was dedicated to members of the order with whom he had previously been associated in scholastic work. The first two years of his life as a secular priest were spend in a curacy at the church of Saint Vincent de Paul, in Paris. Here he interested himself especially in the soldiers garrisoned at the capital, and founded in their behalf the society of Saint Maurice, which later spread throughout France.
In 1847 he was named to a chaplaincy, and became editor of the Voix de la Verité, to which he had already been a frequent contributor. He now became a prominent figure in the political and ecclesiastical life of Paris and was a member of the educational commission with Montalembert
Montalembert
Montalembert can refer to:* André de Montalembert , French officer* Marc René, marquis de Montalembert , French military engineer and writer* Charles Forbes René de Montalembert , French publicist and historian...
and Pierre-Louis Parisis. General Cavaignac, who aspired to the presidency of the republic, thought it wise to endeavour to enlist the sympathies of Bouix.
It was at this time, in 1848, that his first book appeared, combating an organization known as the Oeuvre de la Miséricorde. In 1849 he gave up everything for a time to minister to the victims of the cholera
Cholera
Cholera is an infection of the small intestine that is caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae. The main symptoms are profuse watery diarrhea and vomiting. Transmission occurs primarily by drinking or eating water or food that has been contaminated by the diarrhea of an infected person or the feces...
, which was then epidemic in Paris.
Monsignor Fornari, the papal nuncio at Paris, desiring to further the restoration of provincial councils, held a conference with Bouix and the Bollandist
Bollandist
The Bollandists are an association of scholars, philologists, and historians who since the early seventeenth century have studied hagiography and the cult of the saints in Christianity. Their most important publication has been the Acta Sanctorum...
Van Hecke, at which it was decided that the best means of influencing public opinion aright would be the preparation of a book explaining the law of the Church on provincial councils. Bouix was charged with this work, and first published in the Univers four articles, preparing the public for the complete treatise, Du Concile Provincial, which appeared in 1850. A fifth article in the Univers, simply reaffirming the canon law on synods and combating therefore, in the judgment of some, the tendencies of Gallicanism, was followed immediately by the loss of his chaplaincy.
This event determined him to devote his life to dispelling the prejudices and errors which he believed had largely infected the clergy of France in regard to matters of law and discipline. To equip himself for this work he turned his steps towards Rome, where, with no other means of support than the stipend of his daily Mass, he passed the next four years (1851-55) in study and in the preparation of the several works on canonical topics. In 1854, the degree of Doctor of Both Laws was conferred upon him by order of Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
. Returning to Paris in 1855, he continued his studies, and added to the series of treatises which established his fame as a canonist.
He founded at Arras
Arras
Arras is the capital of the Pas-de-Calais department in northern France. The historic centre of the Artois region, its local speech is characterized as a Picard dialect...
, in 1860, the Revue des sciences ecclésiastiques, of which he was for one year the editor. In 1864, just as his anti-Gallican opinions were about to subject him to new rigours at the hands of Monseigneur Darboy, Bouix was named Vicar-General of the Diocese of Versailles. The next year, when the royal exequatur
Exequatur
An exequatur is a legal document issued by a sovereign authority allowing a right to be enforced in the authority's domain of competence. The word is a form of the Latin verb exequi, and means let it be executed in Latin.-International relations:...
came up for discussion in the French Senate
French Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the Parliament of France, presided over by a president.The Senate enjoys less prominence than the lower house, the directly elected National Assembly; debates in the Senate tend to be less tense and generally enjoy less media coverage.-History:France's first...
, and Archbishop Darboy advocated there the Gallican view, Bouix answered with a publication which contested the correctness of the archbishop's contentions.
He continued to write until 1870. Then, when really too weak to undertake a long journey, he went to the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
as theologian of the Bishop of Montauban. Back in France he endeavoured to complete a work on the church, which he had already planned. It was while engaged on this work that death overtook him at Montech, in a religious house of which his sister was superior.
Works
He falls short of being a great canonist; he is too often compiler rather than a genuine author, and he too frequently betrays a lack of juridical sense, which comes more from practice than from theory, and the ability to pronounce justly on the lawfulness and unlawfulness of existing practices.Besides many articles, contributed to newspapers and reviews, especially to the Revue des sciences ecclésiastiques, he wrote:
- "Du concile provincial" (published also in Latin translation, De Concilio Provinciali);
- "Tractatus de Principiis Juris Canonici";
- "Tractatus de Capitulis";
- "Tractatus de Jure Liturgico";
- "Tractatus de Judiciis Ecclesiasticis", 2 vols;
- "Tractatus de Parocho";
- "Tractatus de Jure Regularium", 2 vols. (An abridged translation appeared in German);
- "Tractatus de Episcopo", 2 vols;
- "Tractatus de Curiâ Romanâ";
- "Tractatus de Papa", 3 vols.;
- "La verité sur l'assemblée de 1682";
- "Le prétendu droit d'exequatur";
- "La vérite sur la faculté de théologie de Paris, de 1663 à 1682";
- "L'Oeuvre de la miséricorde";
- "Méditations pour tous les jours de l'année", 4 vols.;
- "Le solitaire des rochers";
- "Histoire des vingt-six martyrs de Japon," 2 vols.
Several of his works were honoured with pontifical letters of commendation, and most of his canonical treatises went through several editions.