Michel Le Nobletz
Encyclopedia
Dom Michel Le Nobletz (1577-1652) was a vigorous Counter-Reformation
missionary active in the west of Brittany
, who was responsible for a revival of popular Catholic culture. He developed new methods of teaching, and invented distinctive painted placards - known as taolennoù – which became widely used in the area. However, his extremely severe views and denunciations of alleged vice led to accusations that he was a fanatic; he was nicknamed "the mad priest". The Church declared Nobletz "venerable" in 1897. The Bishop of Leon initiated his beatification in 1701, but it is still pending.
in 1596. He then studied at the College of Jesuits at Agen, learning theology, ancient languages (Latin, Greek) and mathematics. It was during a pilgrimage to Toulouse he had decided his vocation, before coming to deepen his theology at the Jesuit college of Madelaine de Bordeaux. He returned to his native parish in 1606, where he devised a systematic method of meditation which includes a description of the ten pitfalls threatening the priestly life, placed on a chart.
Desiring to improve his knowledge, he went to study Hebrew at the Sorbonne
. He was received into the priesthood in Paris. Back in Leon, motivated by his religious ideals, he refused a scholarly career that offered him a comfortable job, for a life of poverty devoted to the Gospel. To the dismay of his parents, he retired to Plouguerneau
in a kind of cell erected in the rocks of the beach of Treménac'h. He spent one year there in poverty and asceticism.
had initiated early in the 15th century in Brittany. After a period with the Dominicans in Morlaix, he was forced to leave following a major scandal caused by his vandalizing a portrait-sculpture of a young woman placed over her grave. He believed that the image would encourage worship like the statue of a saint. He went on a preaching tour with Fr. Quintin. Together they travelled around Trégor
and Leon
from 1608 to 1611.
Nobletz travelled to the islands of Ouessant, Mullein, Batz (where he brandished a human skull taken from the ossuary), before returning to Conquet. His sister Margaret joined him there. Here in 1614 he developed the use of painted placards. These were created by Marguerite Alain Lestobec. The draw on the tradition of emblem book
s to use symbols to teach both religious and secular knowledge. To communicate with his audience of sailors and farmers Nobletz wrote words to be sung to popular tunes, even traditionally bawdy ones. The Bishop of Leon, who did not speak Breton, banned these songs where the tune seemed vulgar, until he was told the meaning of words.
Nobletz also drew on help from pious women, starting with her sisters Anne and Marguerite Nobletz. For his reliance on women he was harshly criticized. Among them, there was Mademoiselle de Quisidic, the widows Douarnenez Claude Bellec, Dammath Rolland and Anne Keraudren, and the conquetoises Jeanne Le Gall and Francoise Troadec. He did not neglect to enlist the assistance of men, such as the cartographer Alain Lestobec and the fishermen Senan Fanch Su, Heny Pobeur, Bernard Poullaouec and Guillaume Coulloch.
Nobletz was authorized by the bishop of Quimper
to evangelise in Cornouaille
. He did so in Quimper, Le Faou
, Concarneau
and the surrounding area. The local people there engaged in superstitious practices which, according to him, constituted a return to paganism. Father Verjus, his biographer, relates that success crowned his efforts. After his mission in the Ile de Sein
, he remained in Douarnenez from 1617 to 1639. There he perfected the use of the allegorical taolennoù paintings, and he wrote a number of Breton songs that complemented his teaching. According to Theodore Hersart de La Villemarqué
, "In the islands, as most people were busy fishing, the holy bard followed them to where he found them gathered in large numbers, and mounting the highest point of of their boats, he charmed their work by his songs".
Driven from Douarnenez where he had become odious to the people because of his extravagant austerity, he returned to Conquet in 1639. He remained there until his death, disabled by Parkinson's disease
and suffering from speech difficulties. At Conquet he encountered the Jesuit Father Julien Maunoir, whom he had known in Quimper decade earlier, and who would become his successor.
After seven months of paralysis and a month of agony, Nobletz died on May 5th 1652 at Conquet. He was buried in the church of Lochrist. In 1856 his remains were transferred to the building which became the parish church of Conquet.
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
missionary active in the west of Brittany
Brittany
Brittany is a cultural and administrative region in the north-west of France. Previously a kingdom and then a duchy, Brittany was united to the Kingdom of France in 1532 as a province. Brittany has also been referred to as Less, Lesser or Little Britain...
, who was responsible for a revival of popular Catholic culture. He developed new methods of teaching, and invented distinctive painted placards - known as taolennoù – which became widely used in the area. However, his extremely severe views and denunciations of alleged vice led to accusations that he was a fanatic; he was nicknamed "the mad priest". The Church declared Nobletz "venerable" in 1897. The Bishop of Leon initiated his beatification in 1701, but it is still pending.
Life
Nobletz was born in the manor of Kerodern Plouguerneau (Leon) on 29 September 1577 into a noble family. His father was a royal notary.Early career
His father sent him to join his four brothers at the University of BordeauxUniversity of Bordeaux
University of Bordeaux is an association of higher education institutions in and around Bordeaux, France. Its current incarnation was established 21 March 2007. The group is the largest system of higher education schools in southwestern France. It is part of the Academy of Bordeaux.There are seven...
in 1596. He then studied at the College of Jesuits at Agen, learning theology, ancient languages (Latin, Greek) and mathematics. It was during a pilgrimage to Toulouse he had decided his vocation, before coming to deepen his theology at the Jesuit college of Madelaine de Bordeaux. He returned to his native parish in 1606, where he devised a systematic method of meditation which includes a description of the ten pitfalls threatening the priestly life, placed on a chart.
Desiring to improve his knowledge, he went to study Hebrew at 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...
. He was received into the priesthood in Paris. Back in Leon, motivated by his religious ideals, he refused a scholarly career that offered him a comfortable job, for a life of poverty devoted to the Gospel. To the dismay of his parents, he retired to Plouguerneau
Plouguerneau
Plouguerneau is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-International relations:It is twinned with a number of villages in South East Cornwall, England, including:* St Germans* Tideford-Population:...
in a kind of cell erected in the rocks of the beach of Treménac'h. He spent one year there in poverty and asceticism.
Missions
In 1608 he began his first mission, to the island of Ouessant, returning to the work that St. Vincent FerrerVincent Ferrer
Saint Vincent Ferrer was a Valencian Dominican missionary and logician.-Early life:Vincent was the fourth child of the Anglo-Scottish nobleman William Stewart Ferrer and his Spanish wife, Constantia Miguel. Legends surround his birth...
had initiated early in the 15th century in Brittany. After a period with the Dominicans in Morlaix, he was forced to leave following a major scandal caused by his vandalizing a portrait-sculpture of a young woman placed over her grave. He believed that the image would encourage worship like the statue of a saint. He went on a preaching tour with Fr. Quintin. Together they travelled around Trégor
Trégor
Trégor is one of the nine provinces of Brittany, in its northwestern area. It comprises the western part of the department of Côtes-d'Armor and a small part of the northeast of Finistère, as far as the river Morlaix...
and Leon
Leon
-Europe:* Kingdom of León, an independent state in the Iberian Peninsula from 910 to 1230 and again from 1296 to 1301* Viscounty of Léon, a feudal state in France during the 11th to 13th centuries* Léon, Landes, a commune in France* Isla de León, a Spanish island...
from 1608 to 1611.
Nobletz travelled to the islands of Ouessant, Mullein, Batz (where he brandished a human skull taken from the ossuary), before returning to Conquet. His sister Margaret joined him there. Here in 1614 he developed the use of painted placards. These were created by Marguerite Alain Lestobec. The draw on the tradition of emblem book
Emblem book
Emblem books are a category of mainly didactic illustrated book printed in Europe during the 16th and 17th centuries, typically containing a number of emblematic images with explanatory text....
s to use symbols to teach both religious and secular knowledge. To communicate with his audience of sailors and farmers Nobletz wrote words to be sung to popular tunes, even traditionally bawdy ones. The Bishop of Leon, who did not speak Breton, banned these songs where the tune seemed vulgar, until he was told the meaning of words.
Nobletz also drew on help from pious women, starting with her sisters Anne and Marguerite Nobletz. For his reliance on women he was harshly criticized. Among them, there was Mademoiselle de Quisidic, the widows Douarnenez Claude Bellec, Dammath Rolland and Anne Keraudren, and the conquetoises Jeanne Le Gall and Francoise Troadec. He did not neglect to enlist the assistance of men, such as the cartographer Alain Lestobec and the fishermen Senan Fanch Su, Heny Pobeur, Bernard Poullaouec and Guillaume Coulloch.
Nobletz was authorized by the bishop of Quimper
Quimper
Quimper is a commune and capital of the Finistère department of Brittany in northwestern France.-Administration:Quimper is the prefecture of the Finistère department.-Geography:...
to evangelise in Cornouaille
Cornouaille
Cornouaille is a historic region in Brittany, in northwest France. The name is identical to the French name for the Duchy of Cornwall, since the area was settled by migrant princes from Cornwall...
. He did so in Quimper, Le Faou
Le Faou
Le Faou is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Le Faou are called Faouistes.-Events:...
, Concarneau
Concarneau
Concarneau is a commune in the Finistère department of Brittany in north-western France.The town has two distinct areas: the modern town on the mainland and the medieval Ville Close, a walled town on a long island in the centre of the harbour. Historically, the old town was a centre of shipbuilding...
and the surrounding area. The local people there engaged in superstitious practices which, according to him, constituted a return to paganism. Father Verjus, his biographer, relates that success crowned his efforts. After his mission in the Ile de Sein
Île de Sein
The Île de Sein is a French island in the Atlantic Ocean, off Finistère, 8 kilometres from the Pointe du Raz , from which it is separated by the Raz de Sein. Its Breton name is Enez Sun...
, he remained in Douarnenez from 1617 to 1639. There he perfected the use of the allegorical taolennoù paintings, and he wrote a number of Breton songs that complemented his teaching. According to Theodore Hersart de La Villemarqué
Theodore Claude Henri, Vicomte Hersart de la Villemarque
Théodore Claude Henri, vicomte Hersart de la Villemarqué was a French philologist and man of letters.-Biography:La Villemarqué was born in Quimperlé, Finistère on 6 July 1815. He was descended from an old Breton family, which counted among its members a Hersart who had followed Saint Louis to the...
, "In the islands, as most people were busy fishing, the holy bard followed them to where he found them gathered in large numbers, and mounting the highest point of of their boats, he charmed their work by his songs".
Disputes
Nobletz's puritanical zeal, however, made him many enemies. His attacks on local business leaders and on other priests for alleged wordliness and moral failings led to complaints to the bishops that he was a fanatic. Nicknamed by his contemporaries «ar beleg foll», "the mad priest", he was subject to accusations of bigotry, caused his excesses and his domineering character. He was even accused of emptying churches, as parishioners walked out when he began his sermons.Driven from Douarnenez where he had become odious to the people because of his extravagant austerity, he returned to Conquet in 1639. He remained there until his death, disabled by Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
and suffering from speech difficulties. At Conquet he encountered the Jesuit Father Julien Maunoir, whom he had known in Quimper decade earlier, and who would become his successor.
After seven months of paralysis and a month of agony, Nobletz died on May 5th 1652 at Conquet. He was buried in the church of Lochrist. In 1856 his remains were transferred to the building which became the parish church of Conquet.