Jacques Crétineau-Joly
Encyclopedia
Jacques Crétineau-Joly was a French
Catholic journalist and historian.
, Vendée
. At first he studied theology at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, but, feeling that he had no vocation, he left after a stay of three years, during which he received the tonsure
. He was now in his twentieth year; he quickly obtained the professorship of philosophy at the college in his native town, but soon resigned the position on account of ill-health, and went in 1823 to Rome, as companion and private secretary to the French ambassador, the Duke of Laval-Montmorency.
In 1826 in Rome he published Chants romains, which contained verses of an irreligious character. After his return home in 1828 he issued a number of volumes of poems and dramas, as Les trappistes (Angoulême
, 1828), Inspirations poetiques (Angoulême, 1833), and other poems. He accomplished much more as a polemical journalist in the struggle against the liberalism, which, after the revolution of July, directed the State during the reign of the Duke of Orleans as Louis-Philippe. Being a Vendean he was an enthusiastic adherent of the hereditary royal house, and zealously defended its rights in several Legitimist newspapers of which he was editor. In 1837 he went to reside in Paris in order to devote himself to historical research concerning the history of Vendee, but in 1839 he also took on the editing of L'Europe monarchique, a newspaper devoted to the interests of the Bourbons. Before this he had published two writings on Vendee: Episodes des guerres de la Vendee (1834) and Histoire des generaux et chefs vendeens (1838). He now combined the two, making use of a large number of sources until then unknown, and issued his most important work: Histoire de la Vendee militaire (Paris, 1840–41), 4 vols; the fifth edition appeared in 1865. The work brought him repute on account of the animated descriptions, the clear arrangement of the great mass of material, and his painstaking care in the use of authorities. It is suggested, though, that he was less than scrupulous as to how he obtained his materials.
His reputation outside of France was gained largely by his religious-political writings. The most important of these is his history of the Society of Jesus
: Histoire religieuse, politique et littéraire de la Compagnie de Jesus, issued in Paris, 1844–46, in 6 vols.; German translation, 1845, 3d ed., 1851. The work was written under the auspices of the Society and was drawn from authentic and unpublished sources, and is very sympathetic to the Society. A companion volume was his much discussed work: Clément XIV et les Jésuites (Paris, 1847, 3d ed., 1848). To this Augustin Theiner
wrote a rejoinder on behalf of Pope Pius IX
, and Ravignon one on behalf of the Society, whereupon Crétineau-Joly, after making careful research and in agreement with the pope, published L'église romaine en face de la Révolution (1859, 2 vols.; 2d ed., 1863), a work which shows his unwavering fidelity to the Catholic Church. His other writings generally were mostly topical and therefore of less general interest. He died in Vincennes
near Paris.
French people
The French are a nation that share a common French culture and speak the French language as a mother tongue. Historically, the French population are descended from peoples of Celtic, Latin and Germanic origin, and are today a mixture of several ethnic groups...
Catholic journalist and historian.
Biography
He was born at Fontenay-le-ComteFontenay-le-Comte
Fontenay-le-Comte is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:The Vendée River flows though the town. The town has an area of .-History:...
, Vendée
Vendée
The Vendée is a department in the Pays-de-la-Loire region in west central France, on the Atlantic Ocean. The name Vendée is taken from the Vendée river which runs through the south-eastern part of the department.-History:...
. At first he studied theology at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice, Paris, but, feeling that he had no vocation, he left after a stay of three years, during which he received the tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
. He was now in his twentieth year; he quickly obtained the professorship of philosophy at the college in his native town, but soon resigned the position on account of ill-health, and went in 1823 to Rome, as companion and private secretary to the French ambassador, the Duke of Laval-Montmorency.
In 1826 in Rome he published Chants romains, which contained verses of an irreligious character. After his return home in 1828 he issued a number of volumes of poems and dramas, as Les trappistes (Angoulême
Angoulême
-Main sights:In place of its ancient fortifications, Angoulême is encircled by boulevards above the old city walls, known as the Remparts, from which fine views may be obtained in all directions. Within the town the streets are often narrow. Apart from the cathedral and the hôtel de ville, the...
, 1828), Inspirations poetiques (Angoulême, 1833), and other poems. He accomplished much more as a polemical journalist in the struggle against the liberalism, which, after the revolution of July, directed the State during the reign of the Duke of Orleans as Louis-Philippe. Being a Vendean he was an enthusiastic adherent of the hereditary royal house, and zealously defended its rights in several Legitimist newspapers of which he was editor. In 1837 he went to reside in Paris in order to devote himself to historical research concerning the history of Vendee, but in 1839 he also took on the editing of L'Europe monarchique, a newspaper devoted to the interests of the Bourbons. Before this he had published two writings on Vendee: Episodes des guerres de la Vendee (1834) and Histoire des generaux et chefs vendeens (1838). He now combined the two, making use of a large number of sources until then unknown, and issued his most important work: Histoire de la Vendee militaire (Paris, 1840–41), 4 vols; the fifth edition appeared in 1865. The work brought him repute on account of the animated descriptions, the clear arrangement of the great mass of material, and his painstaking care in the use of authorities. It is suggested, though, that he was less than scrupulous as to how he obtained his materials.
His reputation outside of France was gained largely by his religious-political writings. The most important of these is his history of the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
: Histoire religieuse, politique et littéraire de la Compagnie de Jesus, issued in Paris, 1844–46, in 6 vols.; German translation, 1845, 3d ed., 1851. The work was written under the auspices of the Society and was drawn from authentic and unpublished sources, and is very sympathetic to the Society. A companion volume was his much discussed work: Clément XIV et les Jésuites (Paris, 1847, 3d ed., 1848). To this Augustin Theiner
Augustin Theiner
Augustin Theiner was a German theologian and historian.He was the son of a shoemaker. As a boy he was a pupil at the gymnasium of St. Mathias at Breslau, and studied theology in the same city. Together with his brother Anthony he wrote, Einfuhrung der erzwungenen Ehelosigkeit bei den Geistlichen...
wrote a rejoinder on behalf of Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
, and Ravignon one on behalf of the Society, whereupon Crétineau-Joly, after making careful research and in agreement with the pope, published L'église romaine en face de la Révolution (1859, 2 vols.; 2d ed., 1863), a work which shows his unwavering fidelity to the Catholic Church. His other writings generally were mostly topical and therefore of less general interest. He died in Vincennes
Vincennes
Vincennes is a commune in the Val-de-Marne department in the eastern suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the centre of Paris. It is one of the most densely populated municipalities in Europe.-History:...
near Paris.
Main works
- Histoire, religieuse, politique et littéraire de la Compagnie de Jésus, (6 vol.), Paris-Lyon, 1845.
- Clément XIV et les Jésuites, Paris-Bruxelles, 1847.
- Lettre au Père A. Theinier, Bruxelles-Paris, 1853.
- L'Église romaine en face de la Révolution, 2 vol., 1859 Google books