Bourzeis, Amable De

Bourzeis, Amable De, a French theologian and scholar, was born at Volvic, near Riora, April 6, 1606. He was at first a page, but went to Rome and studied theology.

Returning to France, he was made abbot of St. Martin of Cores, and one of the first members of the French Academy. Having taken holy orders, he distinguished himself especially in controversy, and had the glory of converting over to his side several of the ministers; among them the prince- palatine Edward and the count of Schomberg, then marshal of France. Colbert placed the abbot de Bourzeis at the head of the Academy of Inscriptions, and also made him director of an assembly of theologians which held its meetings in the Royal Library. Bourzeis at first inclined towards the Jansenists, but in 1661 signed the formulary which was approved by Alexander VII. He died Aug. 2, 1672. He wrote several works, as Sermons sur Divers Sujets (1672). Among his works of controversy we find, Excellence de v'Eglise Catholique, et Raisons qui nous obligent a ne nous en separer jamais (Paris, 1648): Saint Augustin victorieux de Calvin et de Molina, etc. (ibid. 1652). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.