Bossuet, Jacques Benigne

Bossuet, Jacques Benigne a French theologian and prelate, nephew of the illustrious bishop of Meauxof the same name, was born in 1664. He is best knowln by his participation in the condemnation of the book which Fenelon, archbishop of Cambrai, published under the title, Explication des Maximes des Saints. Just as this work was published, Bossuet and Philippeaux, his tutor, were about to leave Rome to return to France, but Bossuet received orders from the bishop of Meaux to remain and condemn the book. The correspondence which the nephew had on this subject with his uncle would fill not less than three quarto volumes. In this affair Bossuet showed so much violence that he injured his cause to some extent. On his return to France, he was appointed abbot of St. Lucien of Beauvais, and in 1716 bishop of Troyes. Besides the works of his uncle, of which he was the publisher, he published, Mandement Relatif a l'Office de Saint Gregoisre VII (1729): — Missale Sanctcs Ecclesice Trecensis (1736). The innovations contained in the last-mentioned work excited universal complaint and provoked the censure of the archbishop of Sens, who condemned him by a mandate, April 20, 1737. This caused a dispute, which the bishop of Troyes finally terminated by some concessions. Bossuet died at Paris, July 12, 1743. See Hoefer;. Nouv. Biog. Gen., s.v.