Joseph-Epiphane Darras
Encyclopedia
Joseph-Epiphane Darras was a Church historian. He completed his classical training and his theological studies in the Petit Seminaire and the Grand Seminaire of Troyes, in the former of which he became a teacher after his ordination to the priesthood, but had to resign apropos of a panegyric on the Bishop of Troyes, Etienne-Antoine de Boulogne (1809–1825), disgraced by Napoleon I
, for his firm attitude on the occasion of the assembly of the French bishops in 1811.
He then became tutor of Prince Eugene de Bauffremont, devoted himself to historical studies, and after the education of his pupil continued to live with the Bauffremont
family. He was a zealous antagonist of Gallicanism
and devoted to the honour and the rights of the Holy See
. He was at Rome during the Vatican Council
as secretary to the meetings of the French bishops. His first literary work was the translation of Pietro Sforza Pallavicino
's Storia del Concilio Tridentino for the Migne
collection. To the same period belongs the Légende de Notre-Dame (Paris, 1848), written under the influence of Montalembert
.
His early theological studies did not include a good foundation in ecclesiastical history; this defect he sought to make good by private studies. His Histoire générale de l'Eglise in four volumes, following the reigns of the popes, appeared in Paris in 1854 (14th ed., 1890). In the following years Darras published a Histoire de St. Dénis l'Aréopagite, premier évêque de Paris (Paris, 1863); a Histoire de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (Paris, 1864), two volumes, and a Notice biographique de Mgr. Jager (Paris, 1868). He collaborated with Collin in the twenty-five volume Grande Vie des Saints (Paris, 1873–75). In the meantime he had prepared the material for his chief work: Histoire de l'Eglise depuis la création, the first twenty-five volumes of which appeared before his death (Paris, 1875–77). They took the narrative up to the twelfth century. After his death, J. Bareille continued the work to the pontificate of Clement VII (volumes XXVI-XXXII, Paris, 1879–84). It was completed by J. Fevre to the pontificate of Leo XIII, inclusive (volumes XXXIII-XLIV, Paris, 1884–1907, with two volumes of Index). For a sharp criticism of it by the Bollandist
Charles de Smedt, S.J., see the latter's "Principes de la critique historique" (Liège, 1885), 137 sqq., 285.
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
, for his firm attitude on the occasion of the assembly of the French bishops in 1811.
He then became tutor of Prince Eugene de Bauffremont, devoted himself to historical studies, and after the education of his pupil continued to live with the Bauffremont
Bauffremont
Bauffremont is a French family which derived its name from a village in the Vosges, outside of Orléans, now spelt Beaufremont. The family traces itself to Liébaud, sire de Bauffremont, in 1090...
family. He was a zealous antagonist of Gallicanism
Gallicanism
Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by the monarchs' authority or the State's authority—over the Catholic Church is comparable to that of the Pope's...
and devoted to the honour and the rights of the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
. He was at Rome during the Vatican Council
Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council took place in 1869 - 1870 and was the 20th of ecumenical councils recognized by Roman Catholicism.The Second Vatican Council took place in the 1962 - 1965 and was the 21st....
as secretary to the meetings of the French bishops. His first literary work was the translation of Pietro Sforza Pallavicino
Pietro Sforza Pallavicino
Pietro Sforza Pallavicino , Italian cardinal and historian, son of the Marquis Alessandro Pallavicino of Parma....
's Storia del Concilio Tridentino for the Migne
Jacques Paul Migne
Jacques Paul Migne was a French priest who published inexpensive and widely-distributed editions of theological works, encyclopedias and the texts of the Church Fathers, with the goal of providing a universal library for the Catholic priesthood.He was born at Saint-Flour, Cantal and studied...
collection. To the same period belongs the Légende de Notre-Dame (Paris, 1848), written under the influence of Montalembert
Montalembert
Montalembert can refer to:* André de Montalembert , French officer* Marc René, marquis de Montalembert , French military engineer and writer* Charles Forbes René de Montalembert , French publicist and historian...
.
His early theological studies did not include a good foundation in ecclesiastical history; this defect he sought to make good by private studies. His Histoire générale de l'Eglise in four volumes, following the reigns of the popes, appeared in Paris in 1854 (14th ed., 1890). In the following years Darras published a Histoire de St. Dénis l'Aréopagite, premier évêque de Paris (Paris, 1863); a Histoire de Notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ (Paris, 1864), two volumes, and a Notice biographique de Mgr. Jager (Paris, 1868). He collaborated with Collin in the twenty-five volume Grande Vie des Saints (Paris, 1873–75). In the meantime he had prepared the material for his chief work: Histoire de l'Eglise depuis la création, the first twenty-five volumes of which appeared before his death (Paris, 1875–77). They took the narrative up to the twelfth century. After his death, J. Bareille continued the work to the pontificate of Clement VII (volumes XXVI-XXXII, Paris, 1879–84). It was completed by J. Fevre to the pontificate of Leo XIII, inclusive (volumes XXXIII-XLIV, Paris, 1884–1907, with two volumes of Index). For a sharp criticism of it by the Bollandist
Bollandist
The Bollandists are an association of scholars, philologists, and historians who since the early seventeenth century have studied hagiography and the cult of the saints in Christianity. Their most important publication has been the Acta Sanctorum...
Charles de Smedt, S.J., see the latter's "Principes de la critique historique" (Liège, 1885), 137 sqq., 285.