Constant Fouard
Encyclopedia
Constant Fouard was a French ecclesiastical writer.
, philosophy at Issy (1855-1857), and made his theological studies at Saint-Sulpice, Paris (1857-61). Along his professors at Paris were Abbé John Logan
, who remained throughout life the inspirer and mentor of his studies and Abbe Le Hir, who initiated him and his fellow disciple Fulcran Vigouroux
into Biblical science, to which they devoted their lives.
He was ordained priest in 1861 and entered the "Solitude", the novitiate
of the Sulpicians
, but left on account of illness after several months without joining the society. He taught for some time at Bois-Guillaume, then pursued the study of classics at the Collège Sainte-Barbe
, Paris, obtained the degree of Licentiate in Letters, 1867, and resumed; the teaching of classics at Bois-Guillaume, taking the class of rhetoric, 1867-1876. His piety drawing him to sacred sciences, he was appointed by the State (1876) to the chair of Holy Scripture in the faculty of theology at Rouen; he continued however to reside at Bois-Guillaume and to share in the duty of governing the student-body.
Honours came to him: he was made doctor of theology
(1877), canon of the cathedral of Rouen (1884) and member of the Biblical Commission (1903). He travelled in Palestine, Syria, Greece, and Italy.
His teaching ceased when the Faculty of Theology was forcibly closed down c. 1884.
The dates witness, incidentally, to the extremely painstaking character of his labours. All these books form part of one grand work, Les Origines de l'Eglise, which Fouard wrote as an answer to the presentation of the same subject by Ernest Renan
, who like himself had seen a pupil of le Hir.
Each successive book of the Abbé Fouard immediately gained a wide popularity and was translated into nearly all the language of Europe. His works are not remarkable in originality of view or acuteness of critical insight, but present a picture of early Christianity.
Life
His early life was a preparation for the work on which his fame rests. He studied the classics at Bois-GuillaumeBois-Guillaume
Bois-Guillaume is a commune in the Seine-Maritime department in the Haute-Normandie region in northern France.-Geography:The town is a wealthy, residential hilltop suburb of Rouen, semi-rural, semi-suburban with a little farming and some light industry...
, philosophy at Issy (1855-1857), and made his theological studies at Saint-Sulpice, Paris (1857-61). Along his professors at Paris were Abbé John Logan
John Logan
-Politicians and judges:* John Alexander Logan , Australian judge* John Logan , Australian judge of the Federal Court of Australia* John William Logan , civil engineering contractor and British Member of Parliament...
, who remained throughout life the inspirer and mentor of his studies and Abbe Le Hir, who initiated him and his fellow disciple Fulcran Vigouroux
Fulcran Vigouroux
Fulcran Grégoire Vigouroux , was a French Catholic priest and scholar, biblical theologian, apologist, and the first secretary of the Pontificial Commission . Vigouroux defended the historicity of the Bible....
into Biblical science, to which they devoted their lives.
He was ordained priest in 1861 and entered the "Solitude", the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of the Sulpicians
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
, but left on account of illness after several months without joining the society. He taught for some time at Bois-Guillaume, then pursued the study of classics at the Collège Sainte-Barbe
Collège Sainte-Barbe
The Collège Sainte-Barbe is a former school in the 5th arrondissement of Paris, France.The Collège Sainte-Barbe was founded in 1460 on Montagne Sainte-Geneviève by Pierre Antoine Victor de Lanneau, teacher of religious studies...
, Paris, obtained the degree of Licentiate in Letters, 1867, and resumed; the teaching of classics at Bois-Guillaume, taking the class of rhetoric, 1867-1876. His piety drawing him to sacred sciences, he was appointed by the State (1876) to the chair of Holy Scripture in the faculty of theology at Rouen; he continued however to reside at Bois-Guillaume and to share in the duty of governing the student-body.
Honours came to him: he was made doctor of theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
(1877), canon of the cathedral of Rouen (1884) and member of the Biblical Commission (1903). He travelled in Palestine, Syria, Greece, and Italy.
His teaching ceased when the Faculty of Theology was forcibly closed down c. 1884.
Works
His writings include:- La Vie de N-S Jésus-Christ (1880);
- Saint Pierre et les premières années du Christianisme (1886);
- Saint Paul, ses Missions" (1892);
- Saint Paul, ses dernières annees (1897);
- Saint Jean et la fin de age apostolique (posthumous, 1904).
The dates witness, incidentally, to the extremely painstaking character of his labours. All these books form part of one grand work, Les Origines de l'Eglise, which Fouard wrote as an answer to the presentation of the same subject by Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan
Ernest Renan was a French expert of Middle East ancient languages and civilizations, philosopher and writer, devoted to his native province of Brittany...
, who like himself had seen a pupil of le Hir.
Each successive book of the Abbé Fouard immediately gained a wide popularity and was translated into nearly all the language of Europe. His works are not remarkable in originality of view or acuteness of critical insight, but present a picture of early Christianity.
External links
- Works by or about Constant Fouard at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
(scanned books original editions color illustrated)