Lamormain, Guillaume Germeau De

Lamormain, Guillaume Germeau de a noted Belgian Roman Catholic theologian of the Order of the Jesuits, was born in the duchy of Luxemburg about 1570; entered the Jesuitical order in 1590, and then became professor of theology and philosophy at the University of Gratz. In 1624 he was appointed confessor of the emperor of Austria, Ferdinand II, and over this thoroughly monkish ruler Lamormain is said to have exercised perfect sway. He and John Weingürtner, another Jesuit confessor, Vehse (see below) tells us, "constantly kept near him, and never let him (Ferdinand) out of their sight;" and it is due to this Jesuitic influence, no doubt, that Ferdinand became such a fanatical adherent of the Church of Rome, and a most cruel persecutor of Protestantism. SEE AUSTRIA. Of Lamormain himself, it is said that he was so devoted to the Romish cause that he made upwards of 100,000 converts to the Church of Rome. He died February 22, 1648. He wrote a life of Ferdinand II, which abounds in flattering terms to the emperor, who had been a pliant tool in the hands of the crafty Jesuit. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 29:245; Paquot, Memoires pour servir a l'histoire litteraire des Pays-Bas, 5:98-100; Vehse, Memoirs of the Court, Aristocracy, and Diplomacy of Austria (transl. by F. Demmler, Lond. 1856, 2 volumes, sm. 8vo), 1:287 sq., 319. (J.H.W.)