Jean Hessels
Encyclopedia
Jean Hessels was a Belgian theologian at the University of Louvain. He was a defender of Baianism
.
house near Louvain, when he was appointed professor of theology at the university. Like Michael Baius
, who was his senior colleague, Hessels preferred drawing his theology from the Church Fathers
, especially from Augustine of Hippo
, rather than from the Schoolmen.
In 1559 he accompanied the elder Cornelius Jansenius (later Bishop of Ghent) and Baius to the Council of Trent
and took an active part. He prepared the decree "De invocatione et reliquiis sanctorum et sacris imaginibus".
Even at Trent the Scholastic party found fault with his departure from the beaten tracks of learning; after his return the attacks continued. Hessels, however, used his energy against the Protestants. He was an opponent of Georgius Cassander.
(impugned by Baius), and he is a protagonist of papal infallibility
in his "De perpetuitate Cathedræ Petri et ejus indefectibilitate", which is an appendix to his polemical work "Confutatio novitiae fidei quam specialem vocant, adv. Johannem Monhemium" (Louvain, 1565).
His other polemical works are:
He also wrote commentaries:
His chief dogmatic work is a Catechism, first published in 1571, by Henry Gravius, who removed from it all traces of Baianism.
Baianism
Baianism is a term applied to the theology of Catholic theologian Michael Baius . It claims thorough Augustinianism over the scholasticism which held sway over most Catholic theologians at the time...
.
Life
He had been teaching for eight years in Parc, the PremonstratensianPremonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
house near Louvain, when he was appointed professor of theology at the university. Like Michael Baius
Michael Baius
Michael Baius was a Belgian theologian. He came up with the school of thought Baianism.He was born at Meslin L'Eveque near Ath in Hainaut as Michel De Bay. Educated at the Catholic University of Leuven, he studied philosophy and theology with distinguished success, and was rewarded by a series of...
, who was his senior colleague, Hessels preferred drawing his theology from the Church Fathers
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
, especially from Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
, rather than from the Schoolmen.
In 1559 he accompanied the elder Cornelius Jansenius (later Bishop of Ghent) and Baius to the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
and took an active part. He prepared the decree "De invocatione et reliquiis sanctorum et sacris imaginibus".
Even at Trent the Scholastic party found fault with his departure from the beaten tracks of learning; after his return the attacks continued. Hessels, however, used his energy against the Protestants. He was an opponent of Georgius Cassander.
Works
He upheld the doctrine of the Immaculate ConceptionImmaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
(impugned by Baius), and he is a protagonist of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
in his "De perpetuitate Cathedræ Petri et ejus indefectibilitate", which is an appendix to his polemical work "Confutatio novitiae fidei quam specialem vocant, adv. Johannem Monhemium" (Louvain, 1565).
His other polemical works are:
- "De invocatione sanctorum . . . censura" (1568);
- "Probatio corporalis præsentiæ corporis et sanguinis dominici in Eucharistia (Cologne, 1563);
- "Confutatio confessionis hæreticæ, teutonice emissæ, qua ostenditur Christum esse sacrificium propitiatorium" (Louvain, 1565);
- "Oratio de officio pii viri exsurgente et vigente hæresi" (Louvain, 1565);
- "Declaratio quod sumptio Eucharistiæ sub unica panis specie neque Christi præcepto aut institutioni adversetur" (Louvain).
He also wrote commentaries:
- "De Passione Domini" (Louvain, 1568);
- "de I Tim. et I Petri" (Louvain, 1568);
- "Com. de Evang. Matthæi" (Louvain, 1572); "Com. de Epp. Johannis" (Douai, 1601).
His chief dogmatic work is a Catechism, first published in 1571, by Henry Gravius, who removed from it all traces of Baianism.