Languet De Gergy, Jean Joseph

Languet de Gergy, Jean Joseph, a distinguished French prelate, noted for his opposition to the Jansenists, was born at Dijon August 25, 1677. A compatriot and friend of Bossuet. he was influenced to dedicate himself early to the service of the Church. After having filled various minor positions, he became bishop of Soissons in 1715; later (in 1730) he was promoted to the archbishopric of Sens, where, by his zeal and ultramontane opinions, he brought upon himself several controversies with the Jansenists, and by his extreme course made himself very unpopular. In 1721 the French Academy honored him with membership. He died May 3, 1753. Languet wrote very extensively. A complete list of his works is given by Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, 29:441. The most important of his writings are Memoire pour l'eveque de Soissons contre les religieuses du Vall de Grace et les benedictines de Saint-Corneille de Compiegne (Paris, 1726, fol.): — Opera omnia pro defensione Constitutionis Uniqenitus et adversus ab ea ateppelantes successive edita; in Latinam linguam conversa a variis doctoribus et ab auctore recognita. et emendata (Sens, 1752, 2 volumes, folio). — Hoefer, Nouv. Biog Generale, 29:441 sq.