Célestin Joseph Félix
Encyclopedia
Célestin Joseph Félix was a French Jesuit, known as a preacher.
, where he completed his secondary studies. In 1833 he was named professor of rhetoric, received minor orders
and the diaconate, and in 1837 entered the Society of Jesus.
He began his noviceship at Drongen
in Belgium, continued it at Saint-Acheul
, and ended it at Brugelettes, where he studied philosophy and the sciences. Having completed his theological studies at Louvain, he was ordained in 1842 and returned to Brugelettes to teach rhetoric and philosophy. His earliest Lenten discourses, preached at Ath
, and especially one on true patriotism, soon won him a reputation for eloquence.
Called to Amiens
in 1850, he introduced the teaching of rhetoric at the College de la Providence and preaching during Advent
and Lent
at the cathedral. His oratorical qualities becoming more and more evident, he was called to Paris. He first preached at St. Thomas d'Aquin in 1851, and in 1852 preached Lenten sermons at Saint-Germain-des-Pres, and those of Advent at Saint-Sulpice. It was then that Mgr. Sibour named him to succeed the Dominican, Father Lacordaire, and the Jesuit, Father de Ravignan in the pulpit of Notre-Dame (1853 to 1870).
The conferences of the first three years have not been published in full. In 1856 Père Félix began the subject which he made the major work of his life: Progrès par le Christianisme. This formed the matter of a series of Lenten conferences, published in fifteen voIumes. Progress in all its forms, whether of the individual or of the family, in science, art, morals, or government, is herein treated with doctrinal exactness and breadth of view. The practical conclusions of these conferences Père Félix summed up every year in his preaching of the Easter retreat, which had been inaugurated by Père de Ravignan.
While he was in Paris, and especially during his stay at Nancy(1867-1883), and at Lille (1883-1891), he spoke in nearly all the great cathedrals of France and Belgium. In 1881 he went to Copenhagen
to conduct the Advent exercises, and there he held a celebrated conference on authority.
Félix founded the Society of St. Michael for the distribution of good books and employed the leisure of his last years in the composition of several works and in the revision of his "Retraites a Notre-Dame", which he published in six volumes.
A list of his works is given by Sommervogel.
Life
He began his studies under the Brothers of Christian Doctrine, going later to the preparatory seminary at CambraiCambrai
Cambrai is a commune in the Nord department in northern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.Cambrai is the seat of an archdiocese whose jurisdiction was immense during the Middle Ages. The territory of the Bishopric of Cambrai, roughly coinciding with the shire of Brabant, included...
, where he completed his secondary studies. In 1833 he was named professor of rhetoric, received minor orders
Minor orders
The minor orders are the lowest ranks in the Christian clergy. The most recognized minor orders are porter, lector, exorcist, and acolyte. In the Latin rite Catholic Church, the minor orders were in most cases replaced by "instituted" ministries of lector and acolyte, though communities that use...
and the diaconate, and in 1837 entered the Society of Jesus.
He began his noviceship at Drongen
Drongen
Drongen is a submunicipality of the city of Ghent .Drongen is divided into three parishes: Drongen, Luchteren and Baarle....
in Belgium, continued it at Saint-Acheul
Saint-Acheul
Saint-Acheul is a commune in the Somme department in Picardie in northern France. It is not to be confused with Saint-Acheul, a suburb of Amiens after which the Acheulean archaeological culture of the Lower Paleolithic is named.-Geography:...
, and ended it at Brugelettes, where he studied philosophy and the sciences. Having completed his theological studies at Louvain, he was ordained in 1842 and returned to Brugelettes to teach rhetoric and philosophy. His earliest Lenten discourses, preached at Ath
Ath
Ath is a Belgian municipality located in the Walloon province of Hainaut. The Ath municipality includes the old communes of Lanquesaint, Irchonwelz, Ormeignies, Bouvignies, Ostiches, Rebaix, Maffle, Arbre, Houtaing, Ligne, Mainvault, Moulbaix, Villers-Notre-Dame, Villers-Saint-Amand, Ghislenghien...
, and especially one on true patriotism, soon won him a reputation for eloquence.
Called to Amiens
Amiens
Amiens is a city and commune in northern France, north of Paris and south-west of Lille. It is the capital of the Somme department in Picardy...
in 1850, he introduced the teaching of rhetoric at the College de la Providence and preaching during Advent
Advent
Advent is a season observed in many Western Christian churches, a time of expectant waiting and preparation for the celebration of the Nativity of Jesus at Christmas. It is the beginning of the Western liturgical year and commences on Advent Sunday, called Levavi...
and Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
at the cathedral. His oratorical qualities becoming more and more evident, he was called to Paris. He first preached at St. Thomas d'Aquin in 1851, and in 1852 preached Lenten sermons at Saint-Germain-des-Pres, and those of Advent at Saint-Sulpice. It was then that Mgr. Sibour named him to succeed the Dominican, Father Lacordaire, and the Jesuit, Father de Ravignan in the pulpit of Notre-Dame (1853 to 1870).
The conferences of the first three years have not been published in full. In 1856 Père Félix began the subject which he made the major work of his life: Progrès par le Christianisme. This formed the matter of a series of Lenten conferences, published in fifteen voIumes. Progress in all its forms, whether of the individual or of the family, in science, art, morals, or government, is herein treated with doctrinal exactness and breadth of view. The practical conclusions of these conferences Père Félix summed up every year in his preaching of the Easter retreat, which had been inaugurated by Père de Ravignan.
While he was in Paris, and especially during his stay at Nancy(1867-1883), and at Lille (1883-1891), he spoke in nearly all the great cathedrals of France and Belgium. In 1881 he went to Copenhagen
Copenhagen
Copenhagen is the capital and largest city of Denmark, with an urban population of 1,199,224 and a metropolitan population of 1,930,260 . With the completion of the transnational Øresund Bridge in 2000, Copenhagen has become the centre of the increasingly integrating Øresund Region...
to conduct the Advent exercises, and there he held a celebrated conference on authority.
Félix founded the Society of St. Michael for the distribution of good books and employed the leisure of his last years in the composition of several works and in the revision of his "Retraites a Notre-Dame", which he published in six volumes.
A list of his works is given by Sommervogel.