Fulcran Vigouroux
Encyclopedia
Fulcran Grégoire Vigouroux (February 13, 1837 – February 21, 1915), was a French Catholic priest and scholar, biblical theologian, apologist
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...

, and the first secretary of the Pontificial Commission (1903–1912). Vigouroux defended the historicity
Historicity
Historicity may mean:*the quality of being part of recorded history, as opposed to prehistory*the quality of being part of history as opposed to being a historical myth or legend, for example:** Historicity of the Iliad**Historicity...

 of the Bible.

Life and work

Vigouroux was born at Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....

. He finished his education in October 1853. He was ordained
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...

 on December 21, 1861. After ordination he became a member of the Society of Saint-Sulpice
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...

. Between 1862 and 1864 Vigouroux taught as a professor of philosophy, first at the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...

 of Autun
Autun
Autun is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in Burgundy in eastern France. It was founded during the early Roman Empire as Augustodunum. Autun marks the easternmost extent of the Umayyad campaign in Europe.-Early history:...

 and then, from October,1864 to 1868, at the seminary of Issy. In 1890 he replaced Abbot
Abbot
The word abbot, meaning father, is a title given to the head of a monastery in various traditions, including Christianity. The office may also be given as an honorary title to a clergyman who is not actually the head of a monastery...

 Paul Martin at the Institut Catholique de Paris
Institut Catholique de Paris
The Institut Catholique de Paris, or the Catholic University of Paris, is a private university located in Paris, France. The institute was founded in 1875, under the name Université Catholique de Paris, by Maurice Le Sage d'Hauteroche d'Hulst....

 as an instructor on the Bible, particularly the Old Testament
Old Testament
The Old Testament, of which Christians hold different views, is a Christian term for the religious writings of ancient Israel held sacred and inspired by Christians which overlaps with the 24-book canon of the Masoretic Text of Judaism...

. Vigouroux engaged in defending the historicity of the Bible. Chiefly concerned with apologetical questions, Vigouroux tended to be conservative in exegesis
Exegesis
Exegesis is a critical explanation or interpretation of a text, especially a religious text. Traditionally the term was used primarily for exegesis of the Bible; however, in contemporary usage it has broadened to mean a critical explanation of any text, and the term "Biblical exegesis" is used...

.

In 1903 Vigouroux was called to Rome to become the first secretary of the newly formed Pontifical Biblical Commission
Pontifical Biblical Commission
The Pontifical Biblical Commission is an organism established within the Roman Curia to ensure the proper interpretation and defense of Sacred Scripture.-The Commission 1901-1971:...

. Vigouroux engaged in foundational work of Pontificio Istituto Biblico
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...

. He died in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...

.

He is the author of a Manuel Biblique (1880). His work La Bible et les découvertes modernes en Égypte et en Assyrie passed through six editions between 1877 and 1896. According to this work, modern archaeological discoveries in Egypt and Assyria supported the reliability of the Bible. Vigouroux also edited the apologetically oriented Dictionnaire de la Bible (Dictionary of the Bible), in five volumes (1891–1912). His works have apologetical character. Vigouroux was one of the polemicists of Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan was a French expert of Middle East ancient languages and civilizations, philosopher and writer, devoted to his native province of Brittany...

.

Vigouroux was considered one of the major Catholic apologists in his time. According to his opponents and polemicists he "was as dull in his style as in his misdeeds".

Works

  • De l'exégèse rationaliste en Allemagne. In: Études religieuses XXV (1870/71), 188–221.691–734
  • La Bible et la critique, réponse aux ″Souvenirs d'enfance et de jeunesse″ de M. Renan, Paris : Berche et Tralin, 1883
  • La Bible et les découvertes modernes en Égypte et en Assyrie, Paris : Berche et Tralin, 1877
  • Manuel biblique, ou Cours d'Écriture sainte à l'usage des séminaires. Ancien Testament, Paris : A. Roger et F. Chernoviz, 1878
  • La Bible et les découvertes modernes en Palestine, en Égypte, et en Assyrie, Paris : Berche et Tralin, 1879 (Plusieurs éditions augmentées par la suite)
  • Dictionnaire de la Bible, contenant tous les noms de personnes, de lieux, de plantes, d'animaux mentionnés dans les Saintes Écritures, les questions théologiques, archéologiques, scientifiques, critiques, relatives à l'Ancien et au Nouveau Testament, Paris : Letouzey et Ané, 1895–1912 (avec de nombreux collaborateurs) Sur Gallica 2
  • Les Livres saints et la critique rationaliste, histoire et réfutation des objections des incrédules contre les saintes Écritures, Paris : A. Roger et F. Chernoviz, 1890–1891 (Plusieurs éditions ensuite)
  • La Bible et les découvertes modernes. 6th ed. 4 vols- Paris, 1896.

Further reading

  • A. Houtin, La question biblique chez les catholiques de France au XIXe siècle, 1906;
  • Lachenmann, Vigouroux. In: RGG1 V Sp. 1675f.;

External links

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