Senault, Jean Francois

Senault, Jean Francois a French preacher and religious writer, was born at Anvers, near Pontoise, in 1601. After studying at Douai, in 1618 he entered the then young congregation of the Oratory, and being designated to the office of preaching, he prepared himself by an earnest study of the Scriptures, the Church fathers, and the best French authors. For forty years he preached with success at Paris, to the court, and in the provinces. He was made superior of the Seminary of St. Magloire, and in 1662 was elected superior-general of the Oratory, an office which he administered gratuitously and with great prudence till his death, Aug. 3, 1672. He wrote several religious biographies and practical works, for which see Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Générale, s.v.