Jean-Joseph Languet de Gergy
Encyclopedia
Jean-Joseph Languet de Gergy (ʒɑ̃ ʒɔzef lɑ̃ɡɛ də ʒɛʁʒi; 25 August 1677 – 11 May 1753) was a French ecclesiastic and theologian. He was first bishop of Soissons, then a member of the Académie française
, and finally archbishop of Sens.
of the parlement of Bourgogne
, Languet de Gercy and was a protégé of Jacques Bénigne Bossuet, who introduced him to Louis XIV and had him named as the chaplain to the princess
. At the same time he was the general vicar of the diocese of Autun
, which includes the parish of Paray-le-Monial
where the saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque
is buried. Ordered to investigate the miracles that were said to have occurred at her hand, he wrote a biography of Alacoque in 1729. Furthermore, he was named bishop of Soissons in 1715, and elected member of l'Académie française in 1721. He was also named archbishop of Sens in 1730 and the Conseil d'État (Council of State) in 1747.
Languet de Gergy's work on the life of Alacoque was violently attacked by the Jansenites
opposed to the catholic devotion of the Sacred Heart
. Also defender of the papal bull Unigenitus
, he was meddled in numerous political-religious controversies, and was equally known for both the content of his pamphlets, and their number. He belong to the parti des dévots opposed to the philosophies of the Age of Enlightenment
and fought fiercely against the candidacies of Montesquieu and Voltaire
to l'Académie française.
In addition to his treatises and religious pamphlets, Languet de Gergy was the author of books on the Divine Office
, catechism
, and of pastoral letters.
Académie française
L'Académie française , also called the French Academy, is the pre-eminent French learned body on matters pertaining to the French language. The Académie was officially established in 1635 by Cardinal Richelieu, the chief minister to King Louis XIII. Suppressed in 1793 during the French Revolution,...
, and finally archbishop of Sens.
Biography
Son of the public prosecutorProsecutor
The prosecutor is the chief legal representative of the prosecution in countries with either the common law adversarial system, or the civil law inquisitorial system...
of the parlement of Bourgogne
Bourgogne
Burgundy is one of the 27 regions of France.The name comes from the Burgundians, an ancient Germanic people who settled in the area in early Middle-age. The region of Burgundy is both larger than the old Duchy of Burgundy and smaller than the area ruled by the Dukes of Burgundy, from the modern...
, Languet de Gercy and was a protégé of Jacques Bénigne Bossuet, who introduced him to Louis XIV and had him named as the chaplain to the princess
Marie-Adélaïde of Savoy
Marie Adélaïde of Savoy was born a Princess of Savoy and was the wife of Louis, Duke of Burgundy. She was the eldest daughter of Victor Amadeus II, Duke of Savoy and of Anne Marie d'Orléans. Her betrothal to the Duke of Burgundy in June 1696 was part of the Treaty of Turin, signed on 29 August...
. At the same time he was the general vicar of the diocese of Autun
Diocese of Autun
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Autun, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. The diocese comprises the entire Department of Saone et Loire, in the Region of Bourgogne....
, which includes the parish of Paray-le-Monial
Paray-le-Monial
Paray-le-Monial is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Burgundy in eastern France.-History:Paray existed before the monks who gave it its surname of Le Monial, for when Count Lambert of Chalon, together with his wife Adelaide and his friend Mayeul de Cluny, founded there in...
where the saint Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque
Marguerite Marie Alacoque or Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque was a French Roman Catholic nun and mystic, who promoted devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus in its modern form.-Early life:...
is buried. Ordered to investigate the miracles that were said to have occurred at her hand, he wrote a biography of Alacoque in 1729. Furthermore, he was named bishop of Soissons in 1715, and elected member of l'Académie française in 1721. He was also named archbishop of Sens in 1730 and the Conseil d'État (Council of State) in 1747.
Languet de Gergy's work on the life of Alacoque was violently attacked by the Jansenites
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
opposed to the catholic devotion of the Sacred Heart
Sacred Heart
The Sacred Heart is one of the most famous religious devotions to Jesus' physical heart as the representation of His divine love for Humanity....
. Also defender of the papal bull Unigenitus
Unigenitus
Unigenitus , an apostolic constitution in the form of a papal bull promulgated by Pope Clement XI in 1713, opened the final phase of the Jansenist controversy in France...
, he was meddled in numerous political-religious controversies, and was equally known for both the content of his pamphlets, and their number. He belong to the parti des dévots opposed to the philosophies of the Age of Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
and fought fiercely against the candidacies of Montesquieu and Voltaire
Voltaire
François-Marie Arouet , better known by the pen name Voltaire , was a French Enlightenment writer, historian and philosopher famous for his wit and for his advocacy of civil liberties, including freedom of religion, free trade and separation of church and state...
to l'Académie française.
In addition to his treatises and religious pamphlets, Languet de Gergy was the author of books on the Divine Office
Liturgy of the hours
The Liturgy of the Hours or Divine Office is the official set of daily prayers prescribed by the Catholic Church to be recited at the canonical hours by the clergy, religious orders, and laity. The Liturgy of the Hours consists primarily of psalms supplemented by hymns and readings...
, catechism
Catechism
A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...
, and of pastoral letters.
Publications
- Du Véritable esprit de l'Église dans l'usage de ses cérémonies, ou Réfutation du traité de D. Cl. de Vert intitulé : « Explication simple et historique des cérémonies de l'Église » (1715, Of the True Spirit of the Church in the Usage of its Ceremonies, or Refutation of the Treatise of Claude de Vert, titled "Simple and Historical Explanation of the Ceremonies of the Church)
- Traité de la confiance en la miséricorde de Dieu, augmenté d'un Traité du faux bonheur des gens du monde et du vrai bonheur de la vie chrétienne (1718, Treatise on the Belief and Graciousness in God, an addition to a Treatise of False Happiness of the People of the Word and the True Happiness of the Christian Life). Online Text, in French: http://eucharistiemisericor.free.fr/index.php?page=table_traite_confiance
- La Vie de la vénérable Mère Marguerite-Marie, religieuse de la Visitation Sainte Marie du monastère de Paray-le-Monial en Charolais, morte en odeur de sainteté en 1690 (1729, The Life of the Venerable Mother Marguerite-Marie, nun of the Visitation of Saint Mary of the Monastery of Paray-le-Monial in Charolais, who died in sanctity in 1690)
- Traité sur les moyens de connaître la vérité dans l'Église (1749, Treatise on the Ways to Know the Truth in the Church)
- Recueil d’écrits polémiques (1752, Collection of Polemic Writings)
- Mémoires inédits de Languet de Gergy, archevêque de Sens (1863, Inedited Memories of Languet de Gergy, archbishop of Sens). In La Famille d'Aubigné et l'enfance de Madame de Maintenon by Théophile Lavallée.