François Lamy
Encyclopedia
François Lamy was a French Benedictine
ascetical and apologetic writer, of the Congregation of St-Maur.
in the Department of Eure-et-Loir
. While fighting a duel
, he was saved from a fatal sword-thrust by a book of the Rule of St. Benedict which he carried in his pocket. Seeing the finger of God in this, he took the Benedictine habit at the monastery of St-Remi at Reims
in 1658. Shortly after his elevation to the priesthood he was appointed subprior of St-Faron at Meaux
, but a year later resigned this position.
During 1672-5 he taught philosophy at the monasteries of Mont St-Quentin and St-Médard in Soissons
. He was the first of the Maurists to teach the Cartesian
system of philosophy.
In 1676 he came to St-Germain-des-Prés near Paris where he taught theology until 1679. The general chapter of 1687 appointed him prior of Rebais
in the Diocese of Meaux
, but he was ordered by the king to resign his office in 1689. The remainder of his life he spent in literary pursuits at the Abbey of St-Denis near Paris, where he died.
. Of his twenty printed works the following are the most important:
In the last two treatises the author defends the Maurist edition of the works of Augustine of Hippo
against the Jansenists and the Jesuits.
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...
ascetical and apologetic writer, of the Congregation of St-Maur.
Life
Lamy was born at MontireauMontireau
Montireau is a commune in the Eure-et-Loir department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
in the Department of Eure-et-Loir
Eure-et-Loir
Eure-et-Loir is a French department, named after the Eure and Loir rivers.-History:Eure-et-Loir is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790 pursuant to the Act of December 22, 1789...
. While fighting a duel
Duel
A duel is an arranged engagement in combat between two individuals, with matched weapons in accordance with agreed-upon rules.Duels in this form were chiefly practised in Early Modern Europe, with precedents in the medieval code of chivalry, and continued into the modern period especially among...
, he was saved from a fatal sword-thrust by a book of the Rule of St. Benedict which he carried in his pocket. Seeing the finger of God in this, he took the Benedictine habit at the monastery of St-Remi at Reims
Reims
Reims , a city in the Champagne-Ardenne region of France, lies east-northeast of Paris. Founded by the Gauls, it became a major city during the period of the Roman Empire....
in 1658. Shortly after his elevation to the priesthood he was appointed subprior of St-Faron at Meaux
Meaux
Meaux is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located east-northeast from the center of Paris. Meaux is a sub-prefecture of the department and the seat of an arondissement...
, but a year later resigned this position.
During 1672-5 he taught philosophy at the monasteries of Mont St-Quentin and St-Médard in Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
. He was the first of the Maurists to teach the Cartesian
Cartesianism
Cartesian means of or relating to the French philosopher and mathematician René Descartes—from his name—Rene Des-Cartes. It may refer to:*Cartesian anxiety*Cartesian circle*Cartesian dualism...
system of philosophy.
In 1676 he came to St-Germain-des-Prés near Paris where he taught theology until 1679. The general chapter of 1687 appointed him prior of Rebais
Rebais
Rebais is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
in the Diocese of Meaux
Diocese of Meaux
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Meaux, is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. The diocese comprises the entire department of Seine-et-Marne...
, but he was ordered by the king to resign his office in 1689. The remainder of his life he spent in literary pursuits at the Abbey of St-Denis near Paris, where he died.
Works
He was one of the most famous writers of his times and was an intimate friend of BossuetJacques-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....
. Of his twenty printed works the following are the most important:
- "Vérité évidente de la Religion chrétienne" (Paris, 1694)
- "Le Nouvel Athéisme Renversé, ou réfutation du système de Spinoza" (Paris, 1696; 2nd ed., Brussels, 1711)
- "Sentiments de piété sur la profession religieuse" (Paris, 1697)
- "De la Connaissance de soi-même" (6 vols., ibid., 1694-8; 2nd ed., 1700), which raised a controversy between the author and MalebrancheNicolas MalebrancheNicolas Malebranche ; was a French Oratorian and rationalist philosopher. In his works, he sought to synthesize the thought of St. Augustine and Descartes, in order to demonstrate the active role of God in every aspect of the world...
concerning the disinterested love of God - "L'incrédule amené à la Religion par la Raison" (ibid., 1710)
- "De la Connaissance et de l'Amour de Dieu" (ibid., 1712)
- "Lettre d'un théologien à un de ses amis" (ibid., 1699)
- "Plainte de l'apologiste des Bénédictins à MM. les prélats de France" (ibid., 1699).
In the last two treatises the author defends the Maurist edition of the works of Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo
Augustine of Hippo , also known as Augustine, St. Augustine, St. Austin, St. Augoustinos, Blessed Augustine, or St. Augustine the Blessed, was Bishop of Hippo Regius . He was a Latin-speaking philosopher and theologian who lived in the Roman Africa Province...
against the Jansenists and the Jesuits.