Etienne Bauny
Encyclopedia
Etienne Bauny was a French Jesuit theologian.
. He had the confidence of the most distinguished prelates of his age, especially of Cardinal François de La Rochefoucauld
, who chose him as his spiritual director, and of René de Rieux, Bishop of Léon, who entrusted to him the settlement of the most delicate affairs of his episcopate.
Bauny's knowledge of moral theology was profound, but he was in many points too lenient. His indulgence excited the indignation of the Jansenists, and it was to him that Blaise Pascal
, Arnauld and others turned, when they accused the Society of Jesus of teaching lax morality. He is criticised severely in Pascal's Provincial Letters.
He was a man of extraordinary severity towards himself, a skilful guide of souls, full of charity towards sinners, prudent in the management of affairs. He died in the odour of sanctity
, almost in the very exercise of his apostolic ministry, at the advanced age of eighty-five.
The second and third of these works are on the Index.
Life
He was admitted into the Society of Jesus, 20 July 1593, and after teaching humanities and rhetoric he was promoted to the chair of moral theology which he occupied for sixteen years. He was for a time superior of the Jesuit residence at PontoisePontoise
Pontoise is a commune in the northwestern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris, in the "new town" of Cergy-Pontoise.-Administration:...
. He had the confidence of the most distinguished prelates of his age, especially of Cardinal François de La Rochefoucauld
François de La Rochefoucauld (Cardinal)
François de La Rochefoucauld was a French Cardinal and an "important figure in the French Counter Reformation church".-Life:...
, who chose him as his spiritual director, and of René de Rieux, Bishop of Léon, who entrusted to him the settlement of the most delicate affairs of his episcopate.
Bauny's knowledge of moral theology was profound, but he was in many points too lenient. His indulgence excited the indignation of the Jansenists, and it was to him that Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal
Blaise Pascal , was a French mathematician, physicist, inventor, writer and Catholic philosopher. He was a child prodigy who was educated by his father, a tax collector in Rouen...
, Arnauld and others turned, when they accused the Society of Jesus of teaching lax morality. He is criticised severely in Pascal's Provincial Letters.
He was a man of extraordinary severity towards himself, a skilful guide of souls, full of charity towards sinners, prudent in the management of affairs. He died in the odour of sanctity
Odour of Sanctity
The odour of sanctity or odor of sanctity, according to the Catholic Church, is commonly understood to mean a specific scent that emanates from the bodies of saints, especially from the wounds of stigmata.-Meanings:...
, almost in the very exercise of his apostolic ministry, at the advanced age of eighty-five.
Works
His published works are:- "Constitutiones Synodales dioecesis Leonensis, a Renato de Rieux Episcopo Leonensi promulgatae Paulipoli in Leoniâ" (Paris, 1630)
- "Pratique du droit canonique au gouvernement de l'Eglise, correction des moeurs, et distribution des bénéfices, le tout au style et usage de France" (Paris, 1634)
- "De Sacramentis ac Personis Sacris, earumque dignitate, obligationibus ac jure, juxta sacrarum litterarum testimonia, SS. Patrum sententias Canonum ac Conciliorum sanctiones, cum summariis, indice duplice, uno tractatuum et quaestionum, rerum altero. Theologiae moralis pars prima" (Paris, 1640) in fol.
- "Tractatus de censuris ecclesiasticis" (Paris, 1642), in fol.
- "Nova beneficiorum praxisæ" (Paris, 1649).
The second and third of these works are on the Index.