Jacques de Billy (abbot)
Encyclopedia
Jacques de Billy de Prunay was a French
patristic
scholar, theologian, jurist, linguist, and Benedictine
abbot (1535—December 25, 1581).
Born in Guise
in Picardy
, he began his studies at Paris
, completed a course of philosophy and theology before he was eighteen years of age, and then, at the request of his parents went to Orléans
and later to Poitiers
to study jurisprudence
. But having no inclination for law, he devoted most of his time to literature. The early death of his parents gave him the opportunity he desired of pursuing unhampered his favorite study of letters.
Quietly withdrawing to Lyon
and later to Avignon
, de Billy devoted himself, for a period, entirely to the study of Greek
and Hebrew
. He already held in commendam the Abbey of St.-Léonard of Ferrières in Anjou
, and the Priory of Taussigny
in Touraine
, when his older brother Jean, who had hitherto led a very worldly life, suddenly announced his intention of becoming a Carthusian
, and resigned in favour of Jacques his two abbeys, Notre-Dame des Châtelliers and Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
.
After some hesitation de Billy accepted them, then entered the Order of St. Benedict, and later was made a regular abbot.
Thenceforth he led a very ascetic
life and governed his monasteries with great prudence. He was especially solicitous for the proper observance of monastic discipline and with that object in view renewed, in 1566, the statutes of his predecessor, Abbot Bertrand de Moussy. During the civil wars that devastated France
at this period the monastery of St.-Michel-en-l'Herme was wholly destroyed. The abbot himself was frequently obliged to seek refuge from the ravages of war, and resided, for short periods, at Laon
, Nantes
, Paris
, and in the Priory of Taussigny.
His Anthologia sacra libri quator, quorum primus & secundus a Jacobo Billio...Tertius Prosperi Aquitanici sacra Epigrammata in D. Aurelii Augustini sententias continet.. Quartus varios Hymnos sacras, pietatem spirantes complectitur was first published in Paris
in 1575.
He died at 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...
patristic
Church Fathers
The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, Christian Fathers, or Fathers of the Church were early and influential theologians, eminent Christian teachers and great bishops. Their scholarly works were used as a precedent for centuries to come...
scholar, theologian, jurist, linguist, and 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...
abbot (1535—December 25, 1581).
Born in Guise
Guise
Guise is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-Population:-Sights:The ruins of the medieval castle of Guise, seat of the Dukes of Guise, are located in the commune.-Miscellaneous:...
in Picardy
Picardy
This article is about the historical French province. For other uses, see Picardy .Picardy is a historical province of France, in the north of France...
, he began his studies at 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...
, completed a course of philosophy and theology before he was eighteen years of age, and then, at the request of his parents went to Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
and later to Poitiers
Poitiers
Poitiers is a city on the Clain river in west central France. It is a commune and the capital of the Vienne department and of the Poitou-Charentes region. The centre is picturesque and its streets are interesting for predominant remains of historical architecture, especially from the Romanesque...
to study jurisprudence
Jurisprudence
Jurisprudence is the theory and philosophy of law. Scholars of jurisprudence, or legal theorists , hope to obtain a deeper understanding of the nature of law, of legal reasoning, legal systems and of legal institutions...
. But having no inclination for law, he devoted most of his time to literature. The early death of his parents gave him the opportunity he desired of pursuing unhampered his favorite study of letters.
Quietly withdrawing to Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
and later to Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
, de Billy devoted himself, for a period, entirely to the study of Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
and Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
. He already held in commendam the Abbey of St.-Léonard of Ferrières in Anjou
Anjou
Anjou is a former county , duchy and province centred on the city of Angers in the lower Loire Valley of western France. It corresponds largely to the present-day département of Maine-et-Loire...
, and the Priory of Taussigny
Tauxigny
Tauxigny is a commune in the Indre-et-Loire department in central France....
in Touraine
Touraine
The Touraine is one of the traditional provinces of France. Its capital was Tours. During the political reorganization of French territory in 1790, the Touraine was divided between the departments of Indre-et-Loire, :Loir-et-Cher and Indre.-Geography:...
, when his older brother Jean, who had hitherto led a very worldly life, suddenly announced his intention of becoming a Carthusian
Carthusian
The Carthusian Order, also called the Order of St. Bruno, is a Roman Catholic religious order of enclosed monastics. The order was founded by Saint Bruno of Cologne in 1084 and includes both monks and nuns...
, and resigned in favour of Jacques his two abbeys, Notre-Dame des Châtelliers and Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm
Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm is a commune in the Vendée department in the Pays de la Loire region in western France.One of the most famous landmarks in this area is the Abbey of Saint-Michel-en-l'Herm. The history of the abbey traces back to 682 AD when it was constructed by the benedictine monks from...
.
After some hesitation de Billy accepted them, then entered the Order of St. Benedict, and later was made a regular abbot.
Thenceforth he led a very ascetic
Asceticism
Asceticism describes a lifestyle characterized by abstinence from various sorts of worldly pleasures often with the aim of pursuing religious and spiritual goals...
life and governed his monasteries with great prudence. He was especially solicitous for the proper observance of monastic discipline and with that object in view renewed, in 1566, the statutes of his predecessor, Abbot Bertrand de Moussy. During the civil wars that devastated France
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
at this period the monastery of St.-Michel-en-l'Herme was wholly destroyed. The abbot himself was frequently obliged to seek refuge from the ravages of war, and resided, for short periods, at Laon
Laon
Laon is the capital city of the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France.-History:The hilly district of Laon, which rises a hundred metres above the otherwise flat Picardy plain, has always held strategic importance...
, Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
, 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...
, and in the Priory of Taussigny.
His Anthologia sacra libri quator, quorum primus & secundus a Jacobo Billio...Tertius Prosperi Aquitanici sacra Epigrammata in D. Aurelii Augustini sententias continet.. Quartus varios Hymnos sacras, pietatem spirantes complectitur was first published 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 1575.
He died at 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...
.
Works
- S. Gregorii Nazianzeni magazine omnia latine (Paris, 1569); a second and better edition appeared in 1583.
- Sonnets spirituels : recueillis pour la plus part des anciens théologiens, tant grecs que latins, avec quelques autres petits traictez poëtiques de semblable matière (1567)
- Consolations et instructions (Paris, 1570)
- Récréations spirituelles (Paris, 1573)
- S. Gregorii Nazianzeni opuscula (Paris, 1575)
- Interpretatio Latina xviii priorum capitum S. Irenaei (Paris, 1575).
- Antholigia sacra (Paris, 1576)
- Joannis Damasceni opera (Paris, 1577)
- Locutiones Graecae (Paris, 1578).
- Opuscula aliqua S. Joannis Chrysostomi (Paris, 1581)
- S. Isidori Pelusiotae epis. Libri tres (Paris, 1585)
- S. Epiphanii opera (Paris, 1612).
Sources
- Polybiblio
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/02567b.htmJacques de Billy at the Catholic EncyclopediaCatholic EncyclopediaThe Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
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