Surin, Jean Joseph

Surin, Jean Joseph a French ascetic writer, was born at Bordeaux in 1600, entered the Order of the Jesuits at fifteen years of age, and soon distinguished himself. by his profound piety and knowledge of human nature. In 1634 he was sent to take charge of the Ursuline convent in London, and began a series of exorcisms against the evil spirits supposed to prevail there, but eventually became himself the victim of the demoniacal possession, and was required to return to Bordeaux. In 1637 he again went to London, and remained there, with partial seasons of lucidity, for many years, but was at length removed from place to place in hopes of relief. He recovered his sanity in 1658, and died at Bordeaux, April 21, 1665, leaving several works on practical religion, which are enumerated in Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé, s.v.