Oratory of Jesus
Encyclopedia
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
Congregation
Congregation (catholic)
The term "congregation" has three usages specific to the Roman Catholic Church. One concerns the Roman Curia, the other two concern religious institutes.- Roman Curia :...
founded in 1611 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...
by Pierre de Bérulle
Pierre de Bérulle
Pierre de Bérulle was a French cardinal and statesman, one of the most important mystics of the 17th century in France, and founder of the French school of spirituality, who could count among his friends and disciples St. Vincent de Paul and St...
(1575-1629). The French Oratory had a determinant influence on the French school of spirituality
French school of spirituality
The French School of Spirituality was the principal devotional influence within the Catholic Church from the mid 17th Century through the mid 20th Century not only in France but throughout the church in most of the world...
throughout the 17th Century. It must not be confused with the Oratory of St Philip Neri which is a distinct Society.
The aim of the Society is to center spiritual life under the human aspect of Jesus
Jesus
Jesus of Nazareth , commonly referred to as Jesus Christ or simply as Jesus or Christ, is the central figure of Christianity...
, linked to the essence of God. The French Oratory was very important in the matter of spiritual direction, as the Fathers of the congregation were confessors of influent people, as for example Charles de Condren
Charles de Condren
Charles de Condren, a Doctor of the Sorbonne, born in Vaubuin near Soissons on December 15, 1588, died on January 17, 1641, is the one mystic of the French 17th century.- Life :...
with Gaston d'Orléans
Gaston, Duke of Orléans
Gaston of France, , also known as Gaston d'Orléans, was the third son of King Henry IV of France and his wife Marie de Medici. As a son of the king, he was born a Fils de France. He later acquired the title Duke of Orléans, by which he was generally known during his adulthood...
, King Louis XIII's brother, and were protected by the Court, especially Marie de Medici. They also were spiritual directors of numerous Carmelite convents. They challenged the Jesuits in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
and founded elitist schools and colleges, such as college of Juilly
College of Juilly
The College of Juilly The College of Juilly The College of Juilly (French: Collège de Juilly is a Catholic private teaching establishment located on the commune of Juilly, in Seine-et-Marne (France)...
in 1638.
The Society was disbanded in 1792 during the Revolution, and was restored in 1852 under Father Joseph Gratry's rule. The Oratorians were expelled in 1903 to Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
and came back in 1920.
In 2005 they were 58 (55 priests) in 8 houses.
Famous Oratorians
- Charles de CondrenCharles de CondrenCharles de Condren, a Doctor of the Sorbonne, born in Vaubuin near Soissons on December 15, 1588, died on January 17, 1641, is the one mystic of the French 17th century.- Life :...
- Lucien Laberthonnière
- Nicolas 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...
- Jean-Baptiste Massillon
- Louis Antoine de Saint-Just