Bethune Dorval Anne Leonore De

Bethune d'Orval Anne Leonore De a French ascetic writer, was born in Paris in 1657. She was educated at the abbey of Royal Dieu, then of Compiegne, where she acquired a taste for monastic life, which she entered upon at the age of sixteen years. The abbess of Notre Dame du Vol de Gis, who perceived the merit of Leonore d'Orval, designated her to Louis XIV for her successor. At the age of twenty-nine, she was nominated for the position, and entered upon it at the commencement of the year 1687. Her virtue and talent made her a model for the society; She died Nov. 28, 1733. She left some works, as Reflexions sur l'Evanqgile: Idee de' la Perfection Chretienne et Religieuse (Paris,. Nully, 1718): — Reglement de l'Abbaye de Gis, avec des Reflexions: — Vie de Madame de Clermont-Monglat. All these works are published anonymously. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.