Bossuet, Jacques-Benigne

Bossuet was from a noble family. His grandfather, Jacques Bossuet, participated in civil wars on the side of the Catholic League . At the age of eight toned. He graduated from the Jesuit College in Dijon. In 1642 he went to Paris, where he was introduced to the circle of visitors to the Marquise Rambouillet salon; his improvisation attracted the attention of Vuatura .

He studied philosophy and theology at Navarre College. He was influenced by St. Vincent de Paul , who became for him a model of life in Christ . In 1652 he received a doctorate in theology; ordained. Until 1659 , he stayed mainly in his diocese - in the city of Metz , conducted preaching activities. Then he moved to Paris , where in 1662 he preached in the Louvre and attracted the attention of Louis XIV . In 1669 he was appointed Bishop of Kondomsky , but in reality did not begin to lead the diocese, since in 1670 the king entrusted him with the education of the Dauphin (see Louis the Great Dauphin ). In this position, Bossuet led the publication of the “cleaned” classics library Ad usum Delphini . On June 8, 1671 , Bossuet was elected a member of the French Academy .

In 1680 , the Dauphin married the Princess of Bavaria; a year later, Bossuet was appointed Bishop of Mo, devoting the rest of his life to defending the Catholic religion. In 1682 , Bossuet, as one of the spiritual leaders of France, delivered an opening speech at a clergy assembly assembled by the king to assert the rights of the Gallican Church in its conflict with Rome .

In life, Bossuet was distinguished by simplicity and sincerity, a devoted attitude to friends, generosity and generosity, as well as exceptional hard work and perseverance. It is no coincidence that fellow college students gave him the nickname bos suetus aratro , "a bull accustomed to a plow."

He maintained correspondence with Leibniz , was friends with Labruyere .

Sermons

One of his contemporaries called Bossuet "the last of the Church Fathers ." Bossuet wrote a series of biblical interpretations in the form of homilies : on the Revelation of John the Theologian (1689), on the Psalter and Song of Songs (1690), on the Proverbs , Book of Ecclesiastes , the Wisdom of the Son of Sirachov (1693) and on Isaiah 's prophecies about Christ (1704).

Bossuet raised the sermon to a new, unprecedented level. In his presentation, the preacher was to possess deep knowledge, primarily regarding the patristic tradition ( Tertullian , Cyprian , Clement of Alexandria , Gregory the Theologian , Augustine , John Chrysostom ).

Bossuet diversified the sermons in style and tonality (from purely didactic to poetic), depending on the audience to which he addressed. At the same time, he proceeded from the Augustine principle: using rhetorical devices is not forbidden, but only taking into account the main purpose of the sermon. Severity and clarity lead Bossuet, their high pathetics make them related to the creations of French classicism ( Cornell , Racine ). Of greatest interest are the Sermon on Providence ( 1662 ) and the Sermon on the Divinity of Religion 1665 ).

Theological and historical works

Particularly popular among the writings of Bossuet was the book "The exposition of the teachings of the Catholic Church" ( L'Exposition de la doctrine de l'Église catholique , 1671 ), which contributed to the conversion of Turenne . In his historiosophical writings, Bossuet reinterpreted the idea of providence . In the treatise Discourse on Universal History ( Discours sur l'histoire universelle , 1681 ), he examined historical events from the point of view of God's providential acts; traced the path by which Providence led humanity to Jesus Christ and His Church.

Bossuet criticized the rationalist interpretation of Holy Scripture by Richard Simon and condemned the quietism of his friend Fenelon . Not being a Jansenist and even condemning their position, Bossuet was at the same time connected with the rigorous wing of Catholicism .

In the Treatise on the Knowledge of God and Himself ( Traité de la connaissance de Dieu et de soi-même , 1722 ) one can feel the influence of Descartes and Pascal : according to Bossuet, a person is able to know himself only through Christian Revelation .

Political Science Through the Prism of Theology

In the treatise “Politics Based on the Words of the Holy Scriptures” ( La Politique tirée des propres paroles de l'Écriture sainte , 1709 ), Bossuet was based not only on the Bible , but also on the works of Aristotle , Augustine, Hobbes , as well as on the practical experience of the French monarchy . Sanctioning absolutism as a form of government subject to a rational principle and conditioned by Divine will, Bossuet distinguished him from despotism and pointed out the necessity of following the laws of morality by the monarch. State power for Bossuet is a way to ensure the survival of mankind, dominated by evil inclinations (a consequence of original sin ).

Bossuet and Protestantism

Bossuet wanted to reunite the Protestants with the Catholics . His polemical work, The History of the Evasions of Protestant Churches ( Histoire des variations des Églises protestantes , 1688 ), is a valuable source on the history of the Reformation ; it contains convex and at the same time unpleasant portraits of its leaders - Luther , Zwingli , Calvin , Melanchthon (the latter aroused special interest in Bossuet, as a victim of the era and its errors).

Tombstones

World-famous fame was gained by the “ Grave Speeches” ( Oraisons funèbres ), which Bossuet wrote in 1656 ; they are of great literary interest. Among them are speeches dedicated to Anna of Austria ( 1667 ), Henriet of England ( 1670 ), Maria Theresa ( 1683 ), and others. The last of the grave speeches was delivered by Bossuet in Notre Dame Cathedral on the occasion of the death of Prince Conde on March 10, 1687. Bossuet was long familiar with the Great Conde and introduced him not only an outstanding statesman, but also paid great attention to his appeal (comparing it with Tyurenom). Saying goodbye to Conde, Bossuet also said goodbye to the tombstone genre.

• Œuvres complètes. V. 1-31. Paris, 1862-1866.
• Oeuvres. - P .: 1979 ( Bibliotheque de la Pleiade ).
• Tombstones of Bossuet, ep. Mossky. St. Petersburg, 1822.
• Bossue . Reflections on the gospel. Pg., 1916.

• Bossuet / A. A. Krotov // New Philosophical Encyclopedia : in 4 volumes / before. scientific ed. Council V. S. Styopin . - 2nd ed., Rev. and add. - M .: Thought , 2010 .-- 2816 p.
• Vengerova Z. A. Bossuet, Jacques Benin // Encyclopedic Dictionary of Brockhaus and Efron : 86 volumes (82 volumes and 4 additional). - SPb. , 1890-1907.
• Lebedev M. Bossuet, ep. Mosky, and its significance for the Catholic Church in France // Transactions of Kiev Theological Academy . 1868. No. 1, 4.
• Panov I. Bossuet and his sermons. SPb., 1888.
• Lanson G. Bossuet and Bourdalu // History of French literature / Per. with french M., 1896. T. 1. Ch. 6.
• Lopukhin A.P. The Providence of God in the History of Mankind: The Experience of the Philosophical and Historical Substantiation of Belief Views Augustine and Bossuet. SPb., 1896.
• Denisyuk N. Jacques Benin Bossuet // Christian Holiday. 1916. N 5/6, 7/8.
• The history of French literature. T. 1. M .; L., 1946.S. 459-461.
• Samoilovich K. Yu. Problems of “Tombstones” by Jacques-Benin de Bossuet // Bulletin of St. Petersburg State University . Ser. 2. Story. Linguistics. Literary criticism. - 1996. - Issue 2. - S.84-89.
• Krotov A. Philosophical views of Jacques Bossuet // Bulletin of Moscow University. Series 7. Philosophy. - 2011. - No. 6.
• Truchet J. La Prédication de Bossuet. Étude des thèmes. - Paris: 1960. - Vol. 1-2.
• Le Brun J. La spiritualité de Bossuet prédicateur. - P .: 2002.

• Bossuet's works in the electronic library "Gallica"