Nicolas-Hugues Ménard
Encyclopedia
Nicolas-Hugues Ménard (Paris 1585-21 January 1644) was a French Benedictine
scholar.
His father was private secretary to Catherine de' Medici
, his mother was a native of Blois
. After a liberal education Ménard entered the Order of St. Benedict, 3 February 1607, at St. Denis, and made his religious profession 10 September 1612.
Next year he joined the reform movement of St. Vannes in Verdun which some years later developed into the Congregation of St. Maur; and he became one of its main helps. After some time he was called to Paris, where he soon became a favourite preacher and frequently occupied the principal pulpits. For sixteen years he taught rhetoric at the College of Cluny. By word and deed he sought to induce his fellow religious to unite an exemplary life with love for study especially of Church history and patrology.
On account of failing health he was placed by his superiors in the abbey of St. Germain des Prés, where he lived in great seclusion. In his small circle of intimate friends the Jesuit Sirmond stood foremost.
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
scholar.
His father was private secretary to Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
, his mother was a native of Blois
Blois
Blois is the capital of Loir-et-Cher department in central France, situated on the banks of the lower river Loire between Orléans and Tours.-History:...
. After a liberal education Ménard entered the Order of St. Benedict, 3 February 1607, at St. Denis, and made his religious profession 10 September 1612.
Next year he joined the reform movement of St. Vannes in Verdun which some years later developed into the Congregation of St. Maur; and he became one of its main helps. After some time he was called to Paris, where he soon became a favourite preacher and frequently occupied the principal pulpits. For sixteen years he taught rhetoric at the College of Cluny. By word and deed he sought to induce his fellow religious to unite an exemplary life with love for study especially of Church history and patrology.
On account of failing health he was placed by his superiors in the abbey of St. Germain des Prés, where he lived in great seclusion. In his small circle of intimate friends the Jesuit Sirmond stood foremost.
Works
- Martyrologium Sanctorum ordinis St. Benedicti, to which he added several biographies and explanatory notes which greatly enhance the value of the work (Paris, 1629)
- Concordia regularum, auctore St. Benedicto Anianae abbate, from a manuscript found in the Abbey of FleuryFleury AbbeyFleury Abbey in Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, Loiret, France, founded about 640, is one of the most celebrated Benedictine monasteries of Western Europe, which posseses the relics of St. Benedict of Nursia. Its site on the banks of the Loire has always made it easily accessible from Orléans, a center of...
, which is supplemented by a life of St. Benedict of Aniane (Paris, 1638) - St. Gregorii I Papae Liber Sacramentorum, from a manuscript Missal of St. Eligius (Paris, 1642). This also appears in the edition of the works of St. Gregory of the year 1705. The commentary on the book is highly praised by MuratoriMuratoriMuratori is an Italian surname, and may refer to:* Ludovico Antonio Muratori - Italian historian .* Domenico Maria Muratori - Late Renaissance painter.* Saverio Muratori - Italian architect and urban theorist...
(Dissert. de rebus liturgicis, ch. 6), who states that Tomassi and Mabillon would have preferred the text of PameliusPameliusJacobus Pamelius was a Flemish theologian.He was born at Bruges and educated at the Cistercian Abbey of Boneffe in the Province of Namur. He studied philosophy at Louvain, and on 27 March 1553, he was promoted magister artium...
but the Maurists, when publishing the notes of Ménard had also to use his text - De unico Dionysio Areopagita Athenarum et Parisiorum episcopo, a defence of the identity of the Areopagite and first Bishop of Paris, written (at first anonymously) against Jean Launoy, in defence of Millet (Paris, 1643)
- S. Barnabae Apostoli (ut fertur) Epistola Catholica, ab antiquis olim ecclesiae patribus sub ejusdem nomine laudata et usurpata (Paris, 1640). The Greek text had been found by Sirmond at Rome, and Ménard discovered a Latin translation at the Abbey of CorbieCorbie AbbeyCorbie Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery in Corbie, Picardy, France, dedicated to Saint Peter.-Foundation:It was founded in about 659/661 under Merovingian royal patronage by Balthild, widow of Clovis II, and her son Clotaire III...
.