Noel Alexandre
Encyclopedia
Noël Alexandre, or Natalis Alexander (19 January 1639, Rouen
, France - August 21, 1724, Paris) was a French theologian
and ecclesiastical historian.
in his hometown. Shortly after his ordination, he was appointed professor (first regent) of philosophy
at the convent
of Saint-Jacques in Paris.
The success of Alexandre's subsequent lectures at the Sorbonne
led to his selection by Jean-Baptiste Colbert
as tutor to his son, Jacques Nicolas Colbert, afterwards archbishop of Rouen
. Alexandre obtained the degree of doctor in divinity
from the Sorbonne in 1675 and for twelve years taught philosophy, theology and ecclesiastical law to the members of the Saint-Jacques community. He played a prominent part in ecclesiastical affairs and preached several times before Louis XIV
, who granted him an annual pension of 800 livre
s. He became provincial of his order in 1706, but was banished to Châtellerault
in 1709 for having subscribed to the Jansenist Cas de conscience (1703), and was deprived of his pension in 1713 on account of his opposition to the bull
Unigenitus
. He died in Paris on August 21, 1724, having lost his sight some time before owing to his strenuous literary activity. His numerous works are still much valued by ecclesiastical students.
Rouen
Rouen , in northern France on the River Seine, is the capital of the Haute-Normandie region and the historic capital city of Normandy. Once one of the largest and most prosperous cities of medieval Europe , it was the seat of the Exchequer of Normandy in the Middle Ages...
, France - August 21, 1724, Paris) was a French theologian
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and ecclesiastical historian.
Biography
In 1654, Alexandre joined the DominicansDominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in his hometown. Shortly after his ordination, he was appointed professor (first regent) of philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
at the convent
Convent
A convent is either a community of priests, religious brothers, religious sisters, or nuns, or the building used by the community, particularly in the Roman Catholic Church and in the Anglican Communion...
of Saint-Jacques in Paris.
The success of Alexandre's subsequent lectures at the Sorbonne
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
led to his selection by Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert
Jean-Baptiste Colbert was a French politician who served as the Minister of Finances of France from 1665 to 1683 under the rule of King Louis XIV. His relentless hard work and thrift made him an esteemed minister. He achieved a reputation for his work of improving the state of French manufacturing...
as tutor to his son, Jacques Nicolas Colbert, afterwards archbishop of Rouen
Archbishop of Rouen
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rouen is an Archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. As one of the fifteen Archbishops of France, the ecclesiastical province of the archdiocese comprises the majority of Normandy....
. Alexandre obtained the degree of doctor in divinity
Doctor of Divinity
Doctor of Divinity is an advanced academic degree in divinity. Historically, it identified one who had been licensed by a university to teach Christian theology or related religious subjects....
from the Sorbonne in 1675 and for twelve years taught philosophy, theology and ecclesiastical law to the members of the Saint-Jacques community. He played a prominent part in ecclesiastical affairs and preached several times before Louis XIV
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, who granted him an annual pension of 800 livre
Livré
Livré-la-Touche is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France. Prior to October 6, 2008, it was known as Livré....
s. He became provincial of his order in 1706, but was banished to Châtellerault
Châtellerault
Châtellerault is a commune in the Vienne department in the Poitou-Charentes region in France.It is located to the north of Poitou, and the residents are called Châtelleraudais.-Geography:...
in 1709 for having subscribed to the Jansenist Cas de conscience (1703), and was deprived of his pension in 1713 on account of his opposition to the bull
Papal bull
A Papal bull is a particular type of letters patent or charter issued by a Pope of the Catholic Church. It is named after the bulla that was appended to the end in order to authenticate it....
Unigenitus
Unigenitus
Unigenitus , an apostolic constitution in the form of a papal bull promulgated by Pope Clement XI in 1713, opened the final phase of the Jansenist controversy in France...
. He died in Paris on August 21, 1724, having lost his sight some time before owing to his strenuous literary activity. His numerous works are still much valued by ecclesiastical students.
Further reading
- Coulon, Rémi, ‘Le P. Noël Alexandre. Contribution à l’histoire théologique et religieuse du XVIIIe siècle’, Revue des Sciences philosophiques et théologiques 6 (1912), pp. 49–80, 279-331.
- Hänggi, Anton, Der Kirchenhistoriker Natalis Alexander (1639–1724) (Fribourg, 1955), the standard account for all biographical questions.
- Mercati, Angelo, ‘Intorno alla ‘Romanità’ di Natale Alexandre, O.P.’, Archivum Fratrum Praedicatorum 16 (1946), pp. 5–82.
- Vecchi, Alberto, Correnti religiose nel Sei-Settecento veneto (Venice and Rome, 1962), pp. 348–351, on Alexandre's influence in Italy.
- Waquet, Françoise, Le modèle français et l’Italie savante. Conscience de soi et perception de l’autre dans la République des Lettres (1660–1750) (Rome, 1989), pp. 84–85, ad indicem.
- Grès-Gayer, Jacques M., Théologie et pouvoir en Sorbonne. La Faculté de Théologie de Paris et la Bulle ‘Unigenitus’ (Paris, 1991), pp. 22–23, 64, 97, 116, 212, 224.
- Quantin, Jean-Louis, Le catholicisme classique et les Pères de l’Église. Un retour aux sources (1669–1713) (Paris, 1999), pp. 77, 82, 91-93, 95-96, 108, 112, 237, 241, 287, 348, 547, 550.
- Gay, Jean-Pascal, ‘Laxisme et rigorisme: théologies ou cultures? Deux controverses au tournant du XVIIe siècle’, Revue des Sciences philosophiques et théologiques 87 (2003), pp. 525–547.
- Grès-Gayer, Jacques M., D’un jansénisme à l’autre. Chroniques de Sorbonne, 1696-1713 (Paris, 2007), pp. 23, 145-146, 162, 173, 236, 241, 253, 259-260, 337-338, 350-351, 359, 463.
- Quantin, Jean-Louis, ‘Entre Rome et Paris, entre histoire et théologie, les Selecta historiae ecclesiasticae capita du P. Noël Alexandre et les ambiguïtés de l’historiographie gallicane’, Mémoire dominicaine 20 (2007), pp. 67–100.