Maran(Us), Prudentius
Maran(Us), Prudentius, a noted French theologian, was born, according to Winer (Theol. Literatur, p. 654), at Sezanne, whilst Le Cerf (Biblioth. historique tde la Cong. de St. Maur, p. 293) and Zedler (Universal-lexikon) consider him to have been born at Troyes, in Champagne, October 14, 1683. In 1703 he entered the Congregation of St. Maur, taking the vows at the Abbey of St. Faron, at Meaux. He subsequently resided at the Convent of St. Germain des Pros, Paris. He died April 2,1762. He published the works of Cyril of Jerusalem in Greek and Latin (Paris, 1720; Venice, 1763). Though the best edition of Cyril's works, it was attacked by the author of the Memoires de Trevoux. Maranus defended himself in his Dissertation sur les semi-Ariens (Paris, 1722). He also completed the edition of the works of Cyprian commenced by St. Baluze (Paris, 1726; Venice, 1728), and published the works of Justin Martyr in Greek and Latin, with a valuable introduction (Paris, 1742; Venice, 1747). He published also a work of his own on the divinity of Christ, under the title Divinitas Domuin oi nosti Jesu Ciristi manifesta in scripturis et traditione (Paris, 1746). This work is divided into four parts. The first treats of the proofs contained in the Old and the New Testaments; the second, of the unanimity, on this point, of the Roman Catholic Church and of the different sects; the third, of the continuous controversies with the Jews, heathen, and heretics; and the fourth, of the unanimous testimony of the fathers. It contains, besides, arguments to prove the divinity of the Holy Ghost. Maranus took also an active part in the controversies arising from the bull '"Unigenitus Dei filius," siding with the party called appellants; and, although he had written nothing on the subject, he had in consequence to endure great annoyances from the acceptants, who were the strongest. — Herzog, Real-Encyklopadie, 9:9. SEE JANSENISTS. (J.N.P.)