Lacombe, Pere

Lacombe, Pere, a celebrated Roman Catholic monastic, a native of Savoy, flourished in the second half of the 17th century, first as the spiritual adviser and confessor of Madame Guyon, and afterwards as a zealous follower of the eminent French female Mystic. In 1687, when the Quietism of Molinos, which Lacombe ardently espoused, was condemned, pere Lacombe was imprisoned, and he died in prison in 1699. During his imprisonment he became very much depressed in mind. and finally lost his reason. This gave rise to the statement made in our vol. 3:p. 1039, that" he died in a madhouse." His relation with Madame Guyon had been very intimate, and this was quite natural when we consider that the former confessor became an ardent follower of Madame, and no doubt the scandal to which their associations had given rise, as well as the imprisonment, made Lacombe a great sufferer in his last days. He wrote Analyse de l'oraison mentale, which in 1688 was forbidden. SEE GUYON. (J. H. W.)