Blosius (Orde Blois), Francois Louis

Blosius (Orde Blois), Francois Louis a Flemish theologian, was born at the chateau of Doustienne, in the country of Liege, in 1506. He belonged to the illustrious family of Blois of Chatillon; was educated with prince Charles, later the emperor Charles V, and, at the age of fourteen years, assumed the habit of the Benedictine monks at the monastery of Liessies in Hainault. At the age of twenty-four years he succeeded abbot Giles Gipius, whose coadjutor he had been. Instead of accepting the archbishopric of Cambrai which Charles V offered him, he concentrated all his efforts in the reform of his monastery. He did not neglect the study of sacred literature. He died Jan. 7, 1563 or 1566. He wrote Speculum Religiosorum, published first under the title of Lacrymon, because the author there lamented the lukewarmness of the religious. This work was translated into French by Monbroux of Nause, a Jesuit, who entitled it Le Directeur des Ames Religieuses (Paris, 1726), and contained a sketch of the life of Blosius; another translation of this work was made by M. de Lancenais, under the title, Guide Spirituel, ou Miroir des Ames Religieuses (ibid. 1820). Blosius also wrote Entretiens Spirituels (Valenciennes, 1741): — Pasculce Admodum Pice (Toulouse, 1817). The works of Blosius have been collected and published. together, by Frojus, his pupil (Cologne, 1571; Paris, 1606; Antwerp, 1633). This last edition is due to the monks of Liessies. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.