Billuart Charles Rens

Billuart Charles Rens a French theologian and preacher, was born at Reein, Ardennes, Jan. 8, 1685. He completed his studies at Charleville, was appointed professor at the College of Douay, entered the Dominican order, and became, in 1728, provincial of his order. He died Jan. 20, 1757. His principal works are, De Mente Ecclesice Catholicce circa Accidentia Euceharistice'Dissertatio Unica, adver'sus Ant. Lengrand (Liege, 1715): — Le Thomisme Venge de sa Pritendue Condemnation par la Constitution Unigenitus (Brussels, 1720): — Lettre aux Docteurs de la Facult de Thologie d o y,ec deDouy, ave des Reflexions, etc. (1723): — Examenn Critique des Reflexions sur le Bref de N. S. P. le Pape Benoit XIII (1724). Of his writings one has especially become well known, the Summa S. Thomoe Hodiernis Academiarum f Moribus Accommodata, sive Cursus Theologiac juxta Mentem D. Thomoe (Liege, 1746-51, 29 vols. 8vo). This manual, which has often been printed in Italy, France, and Germany, and of which the author published an abridged edition in 1754, in 6 vols., has contributed not a little to develop in the Catholic schools the ideas and especially the spirit of the Doctor Angelicus, who was the favorite and theological ideal of Billuart. See Lichtenberger, Encyclopedie des Sciences Religieuses, s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v. (B. P.)