Luke Joseph Hooke
Encyclopedia
Luke Joseph Hooke was a controversial academic theologian and the son of Nathaniel Hooke
the historian.
Owing to the Penal Laws which forbade the education of Catholics in Ireland, he was sent when young to Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet
, Paris, where he remained till he received the licentiate. He then entered the Sorbonne
and graduated in 1736. In 1742 he was appointed to a chair of theology, and soon reportedly earned a high reputation for learning. On 18 November 1751, he presided at the defence of the thesis of Jean-Martin de Prades
, which aroused violent protestations. Hooke confessed that he had not read the thesis, withdrew his signature, and demanded the condemnation of the propositions. De Prades was suspended by the faculty which publicly censured the syndic
, the grand-maître, and Hooke, the three signatories. Cardinal de Tencin
, visitor of the Sorbonne, in virtue of a lettre de cachet
and of his own authority, deprived Hooke of his chair, 3 May 1752, and forced him to leave the Sorbonne.
In 1754 de Prades was pardoned by Benedict XIV, whereupon Hooke appealed to the cardinal and the papal secretary, but obtained only the recall of the lettre de cachet. Louis XV, however, granted him a pension. In 1762 he again presented himself for a chair and was appointed, in preference to a candidate of the Archbishop De Beaumont
, who refused his sanction and withdrew his students from Hooke's lectures. In consequence Hooke addressed to him a letter (1763), pleading for more lenient treatment in view of the pardon granted to de Prades, and making a profession of faith on the points impugned in the thesis. The Sorbonne upheld him and appointed him one of the censors who condemned Rousseau's Emile: or, On Education
.
But as the archbishop was firm, Hooke resigned his theological professorship and accepted the chair of Hebrew. Some years later he was made curator of the Mazarin library
. He held this position till 1791, when the French Directory
dismissed him for refusing to take the oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
. He then withdrew to Saint-Cloud where he died.
Nathaniel Hooke
Nathaniel Hooke was an English historian.-Life:He was the eldest son of John Hooke, serjeant-at-law, and nephew of Nathaniel Hooke the Jacobite politician. He is thought by John Kirk to have studied with Alexander Pope at Twyford School, and to have formed a lifelong friendship there.He was...
the historian.
Owing to the Penal Laws which forbade the education of Catholics in Ireland, he was sent when young to Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet
Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet
Saint-Nicolas-du-Chardonnet is a Roman Catholic church in the centre of Paris, France located in the 5th arrondissement. In 1977 it was occupied by traditionalist Society of St...
, Paris, where he remained till he received the licentiate. He then entered the Sorbonne
Sorbonne
The Sorbonne is an edifice of the Latin Quarter, in Paris, France, which has been the historical house of the former University of Paris...
and graduated in 1736. In 1742 he was appointed to a chair of theology, and soon reportedly earned a high reputation for learning. On 18 November 1751, he presided at the defence of the thesis of Jean-Martin de Prades
Jean-Martin de Prades
Jean-Martin de Prades was a French Catholic theologian. He became famous through a thesis he presented that was considered irreligious.-Life:...
, which aroused violent protestations. Hooke confessed that he had not read the thesis, withdrew his signature, and demanded the condemnation of the propositions. De Prades was suspended by the faculty which publicly censured the syndic
Syndic
Syndic , a term applied in certain countries to an officer of government with varying powers, and secondly to a representative or delegate of a university, institution or other corporation, entrusted with special functions or powers.The meaning which underlies both applications is that of...
, the grand-maître, and Hooke, the three signatories. Cardinal de Tencin
Pierre Guérin de Tencin
Pierre-Paul Guérin de Tencin , French ecclesiastic, was archbishop of Embrun and Lyon, and a cardinal. His sister Claudine was a spur to his career....
, visitor of the Sorbonne, in virtue of a lettre de cachet
Lettre de cachet
Lettres de cachet were letters signed by the king of France, countersigned by one of his ministers, and closed with the royal seal, or cachet...
and of his own authority, deprived Hooke of his chair, 3 May 1752, and forced him to leave the Sorbonne.
In 1754 de Prades was pardoned by Benedict XIV, whereupon Hooke appealed to the cardinal and the papal secretary, but obtained only the recall of the lettre de cachet. Louis XV, however, granted him a pension. In 1762 he again presented himself for a chair and was appointed, in preference to a candidate of the Archbishop De Beaumont
Christophe de Beaumont
Christophe de Beaumont , French ecclesiastic and archbishop of Paris, was a cadet of the Les Adrets and Saint-Quentin branch of the illustrious Dauphin family of Beaumont....
, who refused his sanction and withdrew his students from Hooke's lectures. In consequence Hooke addressed to him a letter (1763), pleading for more lenient treatment in view of the pardon granted to de Prades, and making a profession of faith on the points impugned in the thesis. The Sorbonne upheld him and appointed him one of the censors who condemned Rousseau's Emile: or, On Education
Emile: Or, On Education
Émile, or On Education is a treatise on the nature of education and on the nature of man written by Jean-Jacques Rousseau, who considered it to be the “best and most important of all my writings”. Due to a section of the book entitled “Profession of Faith of the Savoyard Vicar,” Émile was be...
.
But as the archbishop was firm, Hooke resigned his theological professorship and accepted the chair of Hebrew. Some years later he was made curator of the Mazarin library
Bibliothèque Mazarine
The Bibliothèque Mazarine is the oldest public library in France.- History :The Bibliothèque Mazarine was initially the personal library of cardinal Mazarin , who was a great bibliophile...
. He held this position till 1791, when the French Directory
French Directory
The Directory was a body of five Directors that held executive power in France following the Convention and preceding the Consulate...
dismissed him for refusing to take the oath of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy
Civil Constitution of the Clergy
The Civil Constitution of the Clergy was a law passed on 12 July 1790 during the French Revolution, that subordinated the Roman Catholic Church in France to the French government....
. He then withdrew to Saint-Cloud where he died.
Published works
- Religionis naturalis et revelatæ principia (Paris, 1752), his principal work, which was edited for the third time and annotated by his friend Dom Brewer, O.S.B. (Paris, 1774), a treatise which is regarded by some as the foundation of the modern practice of Christian apologeticsChristian apologeticsChristian apologetics is a field of Christian theology that aims to present a rational basis for the Christian faith, defend the faith against objections, and expose the perceived flaws of other world views...
. - Lettre à Mgr. l'Archevêque de Paris (Paris, 1763);
- Discours et réflexions critiques sur l'histoire et le gouvernement de l'ancienne Rome (Paris, 1770–84), a translation of his father's history of Rome;
- Mémoires du Maréchal de Berwick (Paris, 1778), which he edited with notes;
- Principes sur la nature et l'essence du pouvoir de l'église (Paris, 1791).
- His Religionis principia is contained in Jacques Paul MigneJacques Paul MigneJacques 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...
's Cursus Theologiæ.
External links
- http://www.archive.org/stream/irishecclesiast01unkngoog#page/n44/mode/2up