Menard, Jean

Menard, Jean a French ecclesiastic and writer, was born at Nantes Sept. 23,1650. He studied law at Paris, and met with great success at Nimes as a pleader. But, influenced by conscientious scruples, he entered the Seminary of Saint-

Magloire in 1675 as a student of theology, and, after receiving orders at Paris, returned to his native place to devote himself to the furtherance of true Christianity. Believing that an ascetic life of the very strictest sort is required of all devout Christians, he determined to give himself entirely to works of charity and kindred offices. He refused the canonship to Sainte- Chapelle, and also the bishopric of Saint-Pol de Leon, preferring the humble position of warden of the seminary at Niimes, where he labored with great satisfaction for more than thirty years. He died at Nimes April 15, 1717. Menard is the author of a Catchisme (Nimes, 1695, 8vo); which has been approved by many prelates. His memory for some time was the object of a kind of worship, and his tomb, it is said, was a place of miracles and wonderful cures.