Antoine Augustin Calmet
Encyclopedia
Antoine Augustin Calmet French
Benedictine
, was born at Ménil-la-Horgne
in Lorraine
.
He was educated at the Benedictine priory of Breuil in Commercy
, and in 1688 joined the same order in the abbey
of St-Mansuy at Toul
, where he was admitted to profession 23 October of the following year. After his ordination, 17 March 1696, he was appointed to teach philosophy
and theology
at Moyenmoutier Abbey. Here with the help of his brethren he began to gather the material for his commentary of the Bible
, which he completed at Munster
in Alsace
where he was sent in 1704 as sub-prior and professor of exegesis.
The first volume appeared in Paris
in 1707 with the title Commentaire littéral sur tous les livres de l'Ancien et du Nouveau Testament; the last of the twenty-three quarto volumes, owing to various delays, was published only in 1716. To satisfy the demand for the work a second edition in twenty-six volumes quarto was issued 1714-1720, and a third, enlarged, edition in nine volumes folio 1724-1726. A Latin translation by J. D. Mansi was published at Lucca
, 1730-1738, in nine folio volumes, with new editions at Augsburg
(1756, eight volumes folio) and Würzburg
(1789, nineteen volumes quarto); another Latin translation by F. Vecelli appeared at Venice
and Frankfurt
(1730, six volumes folio). This shows how much the commentary was esteemed. But while it was received with high praise, even by Protestants, critics were not wanting, among whom may be mentioned the Oratorian Richard Simon
. It cannot be denied that in spite of its merits and great erudition it is in some respects open to criticism. Difficult passages are often passed over lightly, and too frequently different explanations of a text are set down without a hint to the reader as to which is the right or preferable one.
The work inaugurated a new method of Biblical exegesis. Its author departed from the custom of giving an allegorical (mystical) and tropological (moral) interpretation besides the literal. The most valuable part of the commentary were the introductory prefaces to the several books and 114 learned dissertations on special topics. These he published separately with nineteen new ones in three volumes, under the title Dissertations qui peuvent servir de prolégomènes à l'Écriture Sainte (Paris, 1720). The collection met with such success that two editions were printed at Amsterdam
in 1722, the title being changed to Trésors d'antiquités sacrées et profanes. It was translated into English (Oxford
, 1726), Latin (by Mansi, Lucca, 1729), Dutch (Rotterdam
, 1728), German (Bremen, 1738,1744, and 1747) and Italian.
In the meanwhile he had prepared two other works closely connected with Biblical exegesis: (1) Histoire de l'Ancien et du Nouveau Testament et des Juifs (Paris, 1718), which went through several editions, and was translated into English (London, 1740), German (Augsburg, 1759) and Latin (ib., 1788); (2) Dictionnaire historique, critique, chronologique, géographique et littéral de la Bible (Paris, 1720, two vols. folio), a supplement (also folio) was added in 1728. An improved and enlarged edition in four folio volumes was published in 1730, which has several times been reprinted, the last time in Migne, Encyclopédie théologique, I-IV. It, too, was translated into Latin and the principal European languages. The English translation by D'Oyley and John Colson
(1732), revised and with additions by Taylor (1795), went through many editions in a larger and compendious form.
In his later years Calmet published some further Biblical dissertations in the Bible de Vence (1742). Among his other published works may be mentioned: (1) Histoire universelle sacrée et profane, (Universal History, Sacred and Profane) depuis le commencement du monde jusqu'à nos jours (Strasbourg
, 1735, quarto), in which he follows the ideas enunciated in Bossuet
's Discours sur l'histoire universelle; (2) Histoire ecclésiastique et civile de la Lorraine (Ecclesiastical and Civil History of Lorraine) (Nancy, 1728), of great value for the history of that province; (3) Bibliothèque lorraine (A Catalogue of the Writers of Lorraine) (Nancy, 1751), containing his autobiography (pp. 209-217); (4) Commentaire littéral historique et moral sur la règle de Saint Benoît (A Literal, Moral, and Historical Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict
) (Paris, 1734).
Calmet was a pious religious as well as a learned man, and one of the most distinguished members of the Congregation of St. Vanne
. In recognition of these qualities he was elected prior of Lay-Saint-Christophe
in 1715, abbot of St-Léopold at Nancy in 1718, and of Senones Abbey
in 1729; he was also twice entrusted with the office of president or superior general of the congregation. Pope Benedict XIII
wished to confer episcopal dignity upon him, but his humility could not be brought to accept the honour.
His treatise written in 1746 ambiguously considered the possibility of the existence of vampire
s although not stating it explicitly.
He died at Senones Abbey, near Saint-Dié, on 25 October 1757.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
, was born at Ménil-la-Horgne
Ménil-la-Horgne
Ménil-la-Horgne is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meuse department...
in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
.
He was educated at the Benedictine priory of Breuil in Commercy
Commercy
Commercy is a commune in the Meuse department in Lorraine in north-eastern France.It is the home of the madeleines referred to by Marcel Proust in A la Recherche du Temps Perdu.-History:...
, and in 1688 joined the same order in the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of St-Mansuy at Toul
Toul
Toul is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Toul is located between Commercy and Nancy, and situated between the Moselle River and the Canal de la Marne au Rhin....
, where he was admitted to profession 23 October of the following year. After his ordination, 17 March 1696, he was appointed to teach philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Moyenmoutier Abbey. Here with the help of his brethren he began to gather the material for his commentary of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, which he completed at Munster
Munster, Haut-Rhin
Munster is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is located in a valley of the Vosges mountains about 15 kilometres west of Colmar on the D417 road to the Col de la Schlucht and Épinal....
in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
where he was sent in 1704 as sub-prior and professor of exegesis.
The first volume appeared in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
in 1707 with the title Commentaire littéral sur tous les livres de l'Ancien et du Nouveau Testament; the last of the twenty-three quarto volumes, owing to various delays, was published only in 1716. To satisfy the demand for the work a second edition in twenty-six volumes quarto was issued 1714-1720, and a third, enlarged, edition in nine volumes folio 1724-1726. A Latin translation by J. D. Mansi was published at Lucca
Lucca
Lucca is a city and comune in Tuscany, central Italy, situated on the river Serchio in a fertile plainnear the Tyrrhenian Sea. It is the capital city of the Province of Lucca...
, 1730-1738, in nine folio volumes, with new editions at Augsburg
Augsburg
Augsburg is a city in the south-west of Bavaria, Germany. It is a university town and home of the Regierungsbezirk Schwaben and the Bezirk Schwaben. Augsburg is an urban district and home to the institutions of the Landkreis Augsburg. It is, as of 2008, the third-largest city in Bavaria with a...
(1756, eight volumes folio) and Würzburg
Würzburg
Würzburg is a city in the region of Franconia which lies in the northern tip of Bavaria, Germany. Located at the Main River, it is the capital of the Regierungsbezirk Lower Franconia. The regional dialect is Franconian....
(1789, nineteen volumes quarto); another Latin translation by F. Vecelli appeared at Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
and Frankfurt
Frankfurt
Frankfurt am Main , commonly known simply as Frankfurt, is the largest city in the German state of Hesse and the fifth-largest city in Germany, with a 2010 population of 688,249. The urban area had an estimated population of 2,300,000 in 2010...
(1730, six volumes folio). This shows how much the commentary was esteemed. But while it was received with high praise, even by Protestants, critics were not wanting, among whom may be mentioned the Oratorian Richard Simon
Richard Simon
Richard Simon was a French Oratorian, influential advanced biblical critic, orientalist, and controversialist.-Early years:...
. It cannot be denied that in spite of its merits and great erudition it is in some respects open to criticism. Difficult passages are often passed over lightly, and too frequently different explanations of a text are set down without a hint to the reader as to which is the right or preferable one.
The work inaugurated a new method of Biblical exegesis. Its author departed from the custom of giving an allegorical (mystical) and tropological (moral) interpretation besides the literal. The most valuable part of the commentary were the introductory prefaces to the several books and 114 learned dissertations on special topics. These he published separately with nineteen new ones in three volumes, under the title Dissertations qui peuvent servir de prolégomènes à l'Écriture Sainte (Paris, 1720). The collection met with such success that two editions were printed at Amsterdam
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the largest city and the capital of the Netherlands. The current position of Amsterdam as capital city of the Kingdom of the Netherlands is governed by the constitution of August 24, 1815 and its successors. Amsterdam has a population of 783,364 within city limits, an urban population...
in 1722, the title being changed to Trésors d'antiquités sacrées et profanes. It was translated into English (Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
, 1726), Latin (by Mansi, Lucca, 1729), Dutch (Rotterdam
Rotterdam
Rotterdam is the second-largest city in the Netherlands and one of the largest ports in the world. Starting as a dam on the Rotte river, Rotterdam has grown into a major international commercial centre...
, 1728), German (Bremen, 1738,1744, and 1747) and Italian.
In the meanwhile he had prepared two other works closely connected with Biblical exegesis: (1) Histoire de l'Ancien et du Nouveau Testament et des Juifs (Paris, 1718), which went through several editions, and was translated into English (London, 1740), German (Augsburg, 1759) and Latin (ib., 1788); (2) Dictionnaire historique, critique, chronologique, géographique et littéral de la Bible (Paris, 1720, two vols. folio), a supplement (also folio) was added in 1728. An improved and enlarged edition in four folio volumes was published in 1730, which has several times been reprinted, the last time in Migne, Encyclopédie théologique, I-IV. It, too, was translated into Latin and the principal European languages. The English translation by D'Oyley and John Colson
John Colson
Johnathan "John" Colson was an English clergyman and mathematician, Lucasian Professor of Mathematics at Cambridge University.John Colson was educated at Lichfield School before becoming an undergraduate at Christ Church, Oxford, though he did not take a degree there...
(1732), revised and with additions by Taylor (1795), went through many editions in a larger and compendious form.
In his later years Calmet published some further Biblical dissertations in the Bible de Vence (1742). Among his other published works may be mentioned: (1) Histoire universelle sacrée et profane, (Universal History, Sacred and Profane) depuis le commencement du monde jusqu'à nos jours (Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
, 1735, quarto), in which he follows the ideas enunciated in Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
's Discours sur l'histoire universelle; (2) Histoire ecclésiastique et civile de la Lorraine (Ecclesiastical and Civil History of Lorraine) (Nancy, 1728), of great value for the history of that province; (3) Bibliothèque lorraine (A Catalogue of the Writers of Lorraine) (Nancy, 1751), containing his autobiography (pp. 209-217); (4) Commentaire littéral historique et moral sur la règle de Saint Benoît (A Literal, Moral, and Historical Commentary on the Rule of Saint Benedict
Benedict of Nursia
Saint Benedict of Nursia is a Christian saint, honored by the Roman Catholic Church as the patron saint of Europe and students.Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. There is no...
) (Paris, 1734).
Calmet was a pious religious as well as a learned man, and one of the most distinguished members of the Congregation of St. Vanne
Congregation of St. Vanne
The Congregation of St. Vanne or Congregation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe , sometimes also known as the Vannists was a Benedictine reform movement centred on Lorraine. It was formally established in 1604 on the initiative of Dom Didier de La Cour, prior of the Abbey of St...
. In recognition of these qualities he was elected prior of Lay-Saint-Christophe
Lay-Saint-Christophe
Lay-Saint-Christophe is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France....
in 1715, abbot of St-Léopold at Nancy in 1718, and of Senones Abbey
Senones Abbey
Senones Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located in the valley of the Rabodeau, in the present village of Senones in Lorraine, France.-History:...
in 1729; he was also twice entrusted with the office of president or superior general of the congregation. Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Benedict XIII
-Footnotes:...
wished to confer episcopal dignity upon him, but his humility could not be brought to accept the honour.
His treatise written in 1746 ambiguously considered the possibility of the existence of vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
s although not stating it explicitly.
He died at Senones Abbey, near Saint-Dié, on 25 October 1757.
Works
- Dictionarium, Historicum, Criticum, Chronologicum, Geographicum, Biblicum, Latinis Litteris traditum a J. Dom. Mansi the Latin translation of Calmet's 1720 dictionary translated by Giovanni Domenico MansiGiovanni Domenico MansiGian Domenico Mansi was an Italian theologian, scholar and historian, known for his massive works on the Church councils....
.