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Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638), after whom Jansenism was named.
Cornelius Jansen (1585-1638), after whom Jansenism was named. Corneille Janssens, commonly known by the Latinized version of his name Cornelius Jansen or Jansenius, or most commonly in English simply as Jansen

Jansenism was a branch of Catholic Gallican thought which arose in the frame of the Counter-Reformation and the aftermath of the Council of Trent (1545-1563). Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority&mdashoften represented by the Monarchs authority or the State 's authority&mdashover the Catholic The Counter-Reformation (also Catholic Reformation denotes the period of Catholic revival from the pontificate of Pope Pius IV in 1560 to the close of the The Council of Trent was the 19th Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. Original sin is according to a doctrine in Catholic theology, humanity's state of Sin resulting from the Fall of Man. Total depravity (also called total inability and total corruption) is a theological Doctrine that derives from the Augustinian concepts In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions Predestination (also linked with Foreknowledge) is a religious concept which involves the relationship between God and His creation Originating in the writings of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, Jansenism formed a distinct movement within the Roman Catholic Church from the 16th to 18th centuries, and found its most important stronghold in the Parisian convent of Port-Royal, haven of many important theologians and writers (Antoine Arnauld, Pierre Nicole, Blaise Pascal, Jean Racine, etc. The Dutch people ( Dutch:) are the dominant Ethnic group of the Netherlands. Theology is the study of a god or the gods from a religious perspective Corneille Janssens, commonly known by the Latinized version of his name Cornelius Jansen or Jansenius, or most commonly in English simply as Jansen Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city A convent is a community of Priests religious brothers religious sisters or Nuns or the building used by the community particularly in the Roman Catholic Church The Convent of Port-Royal was built in Paris in 1626 as an off-shoot of Port-Royal-des-Champs, the stronghold of Jansenist thought in France Antoine Arnauld, ( February 6, 1612 - August 6, 1694) &mdash le Grand as contemporaries called him to distinguish him from his Pierre Nicole ( 1625 - November 16, 1695) was one of the most distinguished of the French Jansenists Born in Chartres Blaise Pascal (blɛz paskal (June 19 1623 &ndash August 19 1662 was a French Mathematician, Physicist, and religious Philosopher Jean Racine ( ( December 22, 1639 &ndash April 21, 1699) was a French Dramatist, one of the "big three" of ).

The term itself was coined by its Jesuit opponents, who accused them of being close to Calvinists, as Jansenists self-identified as rigorous followers of Augustinism [1]. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Although several propositions supported by Jansenists, in particular concerning the relationship between human's free will and "efficacious grace," were condemned by the Pope, and the movement thus considered as heretical, "Jansenism" in itself was never condemned as heretical by the Roman Catholic Church [1]. The question of free will Irresistible Grace (or efficacious grace) is a Doctrine in Christian theology particularly associated with Calvinism, which teaches that the History See also History of the Papacy Catholics recognize the Pope as a successor to Saint Peter, who Jesus named as the "shepherd" and Heresy is an introduced change to some system of belief especially a religion that conflicts with the previously established canon of that belief

Contents

Origin of Jansenism, 1600-1640

The abbé de St-Cyran (1581-1643), who, together with Jansen, was the intellectual father of Jansenism.
The abbé de St-Cyran (1581-1643), who, together with Jansen, was the intellectual father of Jansenism. Jean du Vergier de Hauranne, Abbot of Saint-Cyran (1581 - 1643 was a French Monk who introduced Jansenism into France

The origins of Jansenism lie in the friendship of Cornelius Jansen and Jean du Vergier de Hauranne. Corneille Janssens, commonly known by the Latinized version of his name Cornelius Jansen or Jansenius, or most commonly in English simply as Jansen Jean du Vergier de Hauranne, Abbot of Saint-Cyran (1581 - 1643 was a French Monk who introduced Jansenism into France The two met in the early 1600s when both were studying theology at the Catholic University of Leuven. The Catholic University of Leuven, or Louvain, was the largest oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. As the wealthier of the two, du Vergier served as Jansen’s patron for a number of years, getting Jansen a job as a tutor in Paris in 1606. Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city Two years later, he got Jansen a position teaching at the episcopal (or "bishop's") college in du Vergier’s hometown of Bayonne. Bayonne ( French: Bayonne bajɔn Gascon Occitan and Basque: Baiona) is a city and commune of southwest The duo spent the next decade studying the Church Fathers together, with a special focus on the thought of Augustine of Hippo. The Church Fathers, Early Church Fathers, or Fathers of the Church are the early and influential theologians and writers in the Christian Church

Both left Bayonne in 1617. Du Vergier became the abbot (Fr. The word abbot, meaning Father, is a title given to the head of a Monastery in various traditions including Christianity. abbé) of Saint-Cyran (and was thus generally known as the abbé de Saint-Cyran, or simply as Saint-Cyran or St-Cyran for the rest of his life). Abbé (from Latin Abbas, in turn from Greek αββας =  abbas Father, from Aramaic abba) is the French word for Meanwhile, Jansen returned to the Catholic University of Leuven, where he completed his Th.D. in 1619 and was named Professor of Exegesis. Doctor of Theology (in Latin Theologiae Doctor, abbreviated Th Exegesis (from the Greek 'to lead out' involves an extensive and critical interpretation of an authoritative text, especially of a Holy Jansen and St-Cyran continued to correspond about Augustine, especially Augustine’s teachings on grace. In Christianity, divine Grace refers to the sovereign favour of God for humankind — especially in regard to Salvation — irrespective of actions Upon the recommendation of Philip IV, Jansen was consecrated as Bishop of Ypres in 1636. Philip IV (es ''Felipe IV'' pt ''Filipe III'' ( 8 April, 1605 &ndash 17 September, 1665) was King of Spain between 1621 and The former Catholic diocese of Ypres, in present-day Belgium, existed from 1559 to 1801

Jansen died in the midst of an epidemic in 1638: on his deathbed, he committed a manuscript to his chaplain, ordering him to consult with Libert Fromondus, a theology professor at Leuven, and Henri Calenus, a canon at the metropolitan church, and to publish the manuscript if they agreed it should be published. A chaplain is typically a Priest, Pastor, ordained Deacon, Rabbi, Imam or other member of the Clergy serving a group of A canon (from the Latin canonicus, itself derived from the Greek κανωνικος 'relating to a rule' is a priest who is a member of certain bodies of the "If, however," he added, "the Holy See wishes any change, I am an obedient son, and I submit to that Church in which I have lived to my dying hour. The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Bishop of Rome, commonly known as the Pope, and is the preeminent Episcopal see of the Roman Catholic This is my last wish. " This manuscript was published in 1640 under the title Augustinus, a reference to Augustine (Jansen claimed to be setting out Augustine’s system). This book formed the basis for the subsequent Jansenist Controversy.

Jansenist theology

The title page of Augustinus by Cornelius Jansen, published posthumously in 1640. The book formed the foundation of the subsequent Jansenist controversy.
The title page of Augustinus by Cornelius Jansen, published posthumously in 1640. Corneille Janssens, commonly known by the Latinized version of his name Cornelius Jansen or Jansenius, or most commonly in English simply as Jansen The book formed the foundation of the subsequent Jansenist controversy.

The Augustinus consisted of three volumes. Volume I was an historical description of Pelagianism and Augustine’s battle against it and against Semipelagianism. Pelagianism is a theological theory named after Pelagius (ad 354 – ad Semi-Pelagianism is a Christian Theological understanding about Salvation; that is how humanity and God are restored to a right relationship Volume II contained a discussion of the Fall of Man and original sin. The Fall of Man, or simply the Fall, in Christian doctrine refers to the transition of the first humans from a state of innocent obedience to God, Original sin is according to a doctrine in Catholic theology, humanity's state of Sin resulting from the Fall of Man. In Volume III, Jansen denounced a “modern tendency” (which he did not name but which was clearly Molinism) as Semipelagian. Not to be confused with the quietist doctrine of Miguel de Molinos. (In this sense, Jansen paralleled Martin Luther, who denounced all medieval Catholic thought as Pelagian or Semipelagian. Martin Luther (November 10 1483 February 18 1546 was a German Monk, theologian, university professor Father of Protestantism, and church reformer )

Even before the publication of Augustinus, St-Cyran had begun publicly preaching Jansenism. Jansen emphasises a particular reading of Augustine’s idea of efficacious grace which stressed that only a certain portion of humanity were predestined to be saved. Irresistible Grace (or efficacious grace) is a Doctrine in Christian theology particularly associated with Calvinism, which teaches that the Predestination (also linked with Foreknowledge) is a religious concept which involves the relationship between God and His creation Jansen insisted that the love of God was fundamental, and that only contrition, and not simple attrition, could save a person (and that, in turn, only an efficacious grace could tip that person toward God and such a contrition). Perfect contrition in Catholic Theology is a sorrow for Sins which is motivated from the love of God Imperfect contrition (also known as attrition) in Catholic Theology is a desire not to Sin for a reason other than love of God. This debate on the respective roles of contrition and attrition, which had not been settled by the Council of Trent (1545-1563), was one of the motives of the imprisonment in May 1638 of St-Cyran, the first leader of Port-Royal, by order of Cardinal Richelieu [2]. The Council of Trent was the 19th Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. This article is about a cardinal For information on the Russian also called The Red Eminence, see Mikhail Andreyevich Suslov. St-Cyran was not released until after Richelieu's death in 1642, and he died shortly thereafter, in 1643.

Jansen also insisted on justification by faith, although he did not contest the necessity of revering saints, of confession, and of frequent Communion. Sola fide ( Latin: by Faith alone also historically known as the doctrine of justification by faith is a doctrine that distinguishes most Intercession of the saints is a Christian doctrine common to the vast majority of the world's Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Latin Rite The confession of one's Sins is a religious practice important to many faiths e Frequent Communion is the Roman Catholic practice of receiving the eucharist frequently as opposed to the medieval practice Jansen’s opponents (mainly Jesuits) condemned his teachings for their alleged similarities to Calvinism (though, unlike Calvinism, Jansen rejected the doctrine of assurance and taught that even the saved could not be assured that they were saved). The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the Assurance is a Protestant Christian Doctrine which states that the inner Witness of the Holy Spirit allows the justified Blaise Pascal's Ecrits sur la Grâce, based on what Michel Serres has called his "anamorphotic method," attempted to conciliate the contradictory positions of Molinists and Calvinists by stating that both were partially right: Molinists, who claimed God's choice concerning a person's sin and salvation was a posteriori and contingent, while Calvinists claimed that it was a priori and necessary. Blaise Pascal (blɛz paskal (June 19 1623 &ndash August 19 1662 was a French Mathematician, Physicist, and religious Philosopher Michel Serres (born September 1, 1930 in Agen, France) is a French Philosopher and author celebrated for his unusual career Anamorphosis is a distorted projection or perspective requiring the viewer to use special devices or occupy a specific vantage point to reconstitute the image Not to be confused with the quietist doctrine of Miguel de Molinos. Pascal himself claimed that Molinists were correct concerning the state of humanity before the Fall, while Calvinists were correct regarding the state of humanity after the Fall.

Controversy and papal condemnation, 1640-1653

La mère Angélique Arnauld (1591-1661), abbess of Port-Royal.
La mère Angélique Arnauld (1591-1661), abbess of Port-Royal. The Convent of Port-Royal was built in Paris in 1626 as an off-shoot of Port-Royal-des-Champs, the stronghold of Jansenist thought in France

Augustinus was widely read in theological circles in France, Belgium, and Holland in 1640, and a new edition quickly appeared in Paris under the approbation of 10 professors at the Sorbonne. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. The Kingdom of Belgium is a Country in northwest Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts its headquarters as well as those Holland is a region in the western part of the Netherlands. A maritime and economic power in the 17th century Holland today consists of the Dutch provinces of This article is about the Collège de Sorbonne. For other uses of the name see Sorbonne.

However, on August 1, 1641, the Holy Office issued a decree condemning Augustinus and forbidding its reading. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF ( Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei) previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, In 1642, Pope Urban VIII followed up with a papal bull entitled In eminenti, which condemned Augustinus on the grounds that (1) it was published in violation of the order that no works concerning grace should be published without the prior permission of the Holy See; and (2) the work repeated several errors of Baianism which had been condemned by Pope Pius V's 1567 bull, Ex omnibus afflictionibus. Pope A Papal bull is a particular type of Letters patent or charter issued by a Pope. Baianism is a school of thought credited to the Roman Catholic theologian Michael Baius ( 1513 - 1589) Pope

In 1634, St-Cyran had become the spiritual adviser of Port-Royal-des-Champs, a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux. Port-Royal-des-Champs was a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux, in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number Magny-les-Hameaux is a commune of the Yvelines département, in France. The Abbess of Port-Royal-des-Champs was Marie Angélique Arnauld, who had become abbess in 1609 and reformed the discipline of the convent. An abbess ( Latin abbatissa fem form of abbas Abbot) is the female superior, or Mother Superior, of an Abbey In 1625, most of the nuns moved to Paris, forming the convent of Port-Royal de Paris, which from then on was commonly known simply as Port-Royal, while the term Port-Royal-des-Champs was used for the convent in Magny-les-Hameaux. The Convent of Port-Royal was built in Paris in 1626 as an off-shoot of Port-Royal-des-Champs, the stronghold of Jansenist thought in France Port-Royal-des-Champs was a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux, in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number St-Cyran became good friends with Abbess Marie-Angélique and convinced her of the rightness of Jansen's opinions. The two Port Royal convents thus became major strongholds of Jansenism. Under Marie-Angélique, later with St-Cyran's support, Port-Royal-des-Champs developed a series of elementary schools, known as the "Little Schools of Port-Royal" (Les Petites-Écoles de Port-Royal); the most famous product of these schools was the playwright Jean Racine. Jean Racine ( ( December 22, 1639 &ndash April 21, 1699) was a French Dramatist, one of the "big three" of

Antoine Arnauld (1612-1694), who became the leader of the Jansenists following St-Cyran's death in 1643.
Antoine Arnauld (1612-1694), who became the leader of the Jansenists following St-Cyran's death in 1643. Antoine Arnauld, ( February 6, 1612 - August 6, 1694) &mdash le Grand as contemporaries called him to distinguish him from his

Through Abbess Marie-Angélique, St-Cyran had met her brother, Antoine Arnauld, and brought him to accept Jansen's position in Augustinus. Antoine Arnauld, ( February 6, 1612 - August 6, 1694) &mdash le Grand as contemporaries called him to distinguish him from his Following St-Cyran's death in 1643, Arnauld became the chief proponent of Jansenism. In 1643, he published a book De la fréquente Communion (On Frequent Communion) which presented Jansen's ideas in a way more accessible to the public (e. Frequent Communion is the Roman Catholic practice of receiving the eucharist frequently as opposed to the medieval practice g. it was published in French, whereas Augustinus was available only in Latin). French ( français,) is a Romance language spoken around the world by 118 million people as a native language and by about 180 to 260 million people Latin ( lingua Latīna, laˈtiːna is an Italic language, historically spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. The book, as its title indicated, also focussed on a related topic in the dispute between Jesuits and Jansenists. The Jesuits encouraged Catholics, including those struggling with sin, to receive Holy Communion frequently, arguing that Christ instituted it as a means to holiness for sinners, and stating that the only requirement for receiving Communion (apart from baptism) was that the communicant be free of mortal sin at the time of reception. The Jansenists, in line with their deeply pessimistic theology, discouraged frequent Communion, arguing that a high degree of perfection, including purification from attachment to venial sin, was necessary before approaching the Sacrament.

The faculty of the Collège de Sorbonne (the theological college of the University of Paris) formally accepted the bull In eminenti in 1644, and the Archbishop of Paris, Jean-François, Cardinal de Gondi, formally proscribed Augustinus; the work nevertheless continued to circulate. This article is about the Collège de Sorbonne. For other uses of the name see Sorbonne. The historic University of Paris (Université de Paris first appeared in the second half of the 13th century

The Jesuits attacked the Jansenists, claiming they were guilty of heresy similar to that of the Calvinists. Calvinism (sometimes called the Reformed tradition, the Reformed faith, or Reformed theology) is a theological system and an approach to the In response, Arnauld wrote Théologie morale des Jésuites (Moral Theology of the Jesuits), which was the basis of most of the arguments later used by Pascal in his Provincial Letters denouncing the "relaxed morality" of Jesuitism [1]. Blaise Pascal (blɛz paskal (June 19 1623 &ndash August 19 1662 was a French Mathematician, Physicist, and religious Philosopher The Lettres provinciales ( Provincial letters) are a series of eighteen letters written by French Philosopher and Theologian Blaise Jesuitism is a particular approach to moral questions and problems promoted by some Jesuits of the XVIIth century (not the Society of Jesus as a Religious order The Jesuit Nicolas Caussin, former spiritual director to Louis XIII, was charged by his order with writing a defense against Arnauld's book, titled Réponse au libelle intitulé La Théologie morale des Jésuites (1644). Nicolas Caussin (1583-1651 was a French Jesuit, a theorist of the passions. For the cognac see Louis XIII de Rémy Martin. Louis XIII ( September 27, 1601 – May 14, 1643) Other works published against Arnauld's Moral Theology of the Jesuits included the one written by the Jesuit polemist François Pinthereau (1605-1664), under the pseudonym of "the abbé de Boisic", titled Les Impostures et les ignorances du libelle intitulé: La Théologie Morale des Jésuites (1644), who was also the author of a critical history of Jansenism titled La Naissance du Jansénisme découverte à Monsieur le Chancelier (The Birth of Jansenism Revealed to the Chancellor, Leuven, 1654).

During the 1640s, St-Cyran's nephew, Martin de Barcos, who had studied theology under Jansen, wrote several works defending his uncle. Martin de Barcos (1600 &ndash 1678 was a French theologian of the Jansenist School

In 1649, the syndic of the Sorbonne, Nicolas Cornet, frustrated by the continued circulation of the Augustinus, drew up a list of five propositions from Augustinus and two propositions from De la fréquente Communion and asked the Sorbonne faculty to condemn the propositions. Syndic ( Late Lat syndicus, Gr σύνδικος, one who helps in a court of justice an advocate representative a term applied in certain Nicolas Cornet (born at Amiens, 1572 died at Paris, 1663 was a French Catholic theologian Before the faculty could do so, the Parlement de Paris intervened, forbidding the Sorbonne faculty to consider the propositions. This article is for the Ancien Régime institution For the post-Revolutionary and present-day institution see French Parliament. The Sorbonne faculty then determined to forward the propositions to the General Assembly of the Clergy, which met in 1650. In the assembly, 85 of the French bishops voted to refer the matter to Pope Innocent X. Pope Innocent X ( May 6, 1574 &ndash January 7, 1655) born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili) was Pope Eleven of the bishops opposed this move, and asked the pope to appoint a commission similar to the Congregatio de Auxiliis to resolve the situation. The Congregatio de Auxiliis, Latin for 'Congregation on help (by Divine Grace' was a commission established by Pope Clement VIII to settle the theological controversy regarding Innocent X agreed to the majority's request, but in an attempt to accommodate the view of the minority, appointed an advisory committee consisting of five cardinals and thirteen consultors to report on the situation. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. A consultor is one who gives council ie a counselor In the Catholic Church, it is a specific title for various advisory positions in the Roman Curia Over the next two years, this commission held 36 meetings, 10 of which Innocent X presided over in person.

The supporters of Jansenism on the commission drew up a table with three heads: the first listed the Calvinist position (which was condemned as heretical), the second listed the Pelagian/Semipelagian position (as taught by the Molinists), and the third listed the correct Augustinian position (according to the Jansenists).

Jansenism's supporters suffered a decisive defeat when Innocent X issued the bull Cum occasione on May 31, 1653. The bull condemned the following five propositions:

  1. that there are some commands of God which just men cannot keep, no matter how hard they wish and strive;
  2. that it is impossible for fallen man to resist sovereign grace;
  3. that it is possible for human beings who lack free will to merit;
  4. that the Semipelagians were correct to teach that prevenient grace was necessary for all interior acts, including for faith, but were incorrect to teach that fallen man is free to accept or resist prevenient grace; and
  5. that it is Semipelagian to say that Christ died for all. Irresistible Grace (or efficacious grace) is a Doctrine in Christian theology particularly associated with Calvinism, which teaches that the The question of free will For rule by those having merit see Meritocracy. For the gaming company see Merit Entertainment. Prevenient grace is a Christian theological concept rooted in Augustinian theology and embraced primarily by Arminian Christians who are influenced by the Faith is a Belief in the trustworthiness of an Idea. Formal usage of the word "faith" is usually reserved for concepts of Religion, as in

The Formulary Controversy

Main article: Formulary controversy

Background of the Formulary Controversy, 1654-1664

Antoine Arnauld accepted the bull Cum Occasione and agreed in condemning the five propositions mentioned by Cum Occasione. The Formulary Controversy, in 17th century France, pitted the Jansenists against the Jesuits. However, he argued that Augustinus did not argue in favour of the five propositions condemned by Cum Occasione. Rather, he argued that Jansen intended his statements in Augustinus in the same sense that Augustine of Hippo had offered his opinions - and since the pope would certainly not have wished to condemn Augustine's opinions, the pope had not condemned Jansen's actual opinions.

Replying to Arnauld, in 1654, 38 French bishops condemned Arnauld's position to the pope. Opponents of Jansenism in the church refused absolution to Roger du Plessis, duc de Liancourt for his continued protection of the Jansenists. Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the traditional Churches in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. In response to this onslaught, Arnauld articulated a distinction as to how far the Church could bind the mind of a Catholic. He argued that there is a distinction between de jure and de facto - that a Catholic was obliged to accept the Church's opinion as to a matter of law (i. e. as to a matter of doctrine) but not as to a matter of fact. Arnauld argued that, while he agreed with the doctrine propounded in Cum Occasione, he was not bound to accept the pope's determination of fact as to what doctrines were contained in Jansen's work.

Blaise Pascal (1623-1662). The Provincial Letters, which he wrote in 1656 and 1657 are probably the most famous literary work written from a Jansenist perspective, and are particularly remembered for his scathing denunciation of the casuistry of the Jesuits.
Blaise Pascal (1623-1662). Blaise Pascal (blɛz paskal (June 19 1623 &ndash August 19 1662 was a French Mathematician, Physicist, and religious Philosopher The Provincial Letters, which he wrote in 1656 and 1657 are probably the most famous literary work written from a Jansenist perspective, and are particularly remembered for his scathing denunciation of the casuistry of the Jesuits. The Lettres provinciales ( Provincial letters) are a series of eighteen letters written by French Philosopher and Theologian Blaise Casuistry (ˈkæʒuːɨstri is an Applied ethics term referring to case-based Reasoning. The Society of Jesus ( Latin: Societas Iesu, SJ and SI or SJ, SI) is a Catholic religious order

In 1656, the theological faculty at the Sorbonne moved against Arnauld. This was the context in which Blaise Pascal wrote his famous Provincial Letters in defence of Arnauld's position in the dispute at the Sorbonne. Blaise Pascal (blɛz paskal (June 19 1623 &ndash August 19 1662 was a French Mathematician, Physicist, and religious Philosopher The Lettres provinciales ( Provincial letters) are a series of eighteen letters written by French Philosopher and Theologian Blaise (However, unlike Arnauld, Pascal did not himself accept Cum occasione and believed that the condemned doctrines were orthodox. Nevertheless, he emphasised Arnauld's distinction about matters of doctrine vs. matters of fact. ) The letters were also scathing in their critique of the casuistry of the Jesuits, echoing Arnauld's Théologie morale des Jésuites. Casuistry (ˈkæʒuːɨstri is an Applied ethics term referring to case-based Reasoning.

However, Pascal was unable to convince the Sorbonne's theological faculty, and they voted 138-68 to expel Arnauld together with 60 other theologians from the Sorbonne. Later that year, the French Assembly of the Bishops voted to condemn Arnauld's distinction between the pope's ability to bind the mind of believers in matters of doctrine but not in matters of fact; they asked Pope Alexander VII to condemn Arnauld's proposition as heresy. Pope Alexander VII ( February 13, 1599 &ndash May 22, 1667) born Fabio Chigi, was Pope from April 7, The pope responded with the bull Ad Sanctam Beati Petri Sedem (dated October 16, 1656) in which he stated "We declare and define that the five propositions have been drawn from the book of Jansenius entitled Augustinus, and that they have been condemned in the sense of the same Jansenius and we once more condemn them as such. "

In 1657, relying on Ad Sanctam Beati Petri Sedem, the French Assembly of the Clergy drew up a formulation of faith condemning Jansenism and declared that subscription to the formula was obligatory. Many Jansenists remained firmly committed to Arnauld's formula; although they would accept the conclusions of Cum Occasione, they would not agree that the propositions were contained in Jansen's Augustinus. In retaliation, the Archbishop of Paris, Jean François Paul de Gondi, cardinal de Retz suspended the convent of Port Royal from receiving the Sacraments. Jean François Paul de Gondi cardinal de Retz ( September 29, 1613 – August 24, 1679) was a French churchman writer of memoirs and agitator A sacrament, as defined in Hexam's Concise Dictionary of Religion is "a Rite in which God is uniquely active In 1660, the elementary schools run by Port-Royal-des-Champs were closed by bull, and in 1661, the monastery at Port-Royal-des-Champs was forbidden to accept new novices, which guaranteed the monastery would eventually die out. For the city in Texas, see Novice Texas. Buddhism See also Buddhist Novitiate In many Buddhist

The Formulary, 1664

Four bishops (Henri Arnauld, Bishop of Angers (brother of Antoine and Angélique Arnauld); Nicolas Choart de Buzenval, Bishop of Beauvais; François-Etienne Caulet, Bishop of Pamiers; and Nicolas Pavillon, Bishop of Alet) sided with Port-Royal, arguing that the French Assembly of the Clergy could not command French Catholics to subscribe to something which was not required by the pope. Henri Arnauld (b in Paris, 1597 died 1692 was a French Catholic bishop François-Etienne Caulet (b at Toulouse, 1610 d at Pamiers, 1680 was a French bishop and Jansenist. Nicolas Pavillon (b at Paris, 1597 d at Alet, 1677 was a French Bishop of Alet and Jansenist. The former French Catholic diocese of Alet was created in 1317 from territory up to then in the Diocese of Narbonne. At the urging of several bishops, and at the personal insistence of King Louis XIV, Pope Alexander VII sent to France the apostolic constitution Regiminis Apostolici (dated February 15, 1664) which required all French Catholics to subscribe to the following formulary:

“I, (Name), submitting to the apostolic constitutions of the sovereign pontiffs, Innocent X and Alexander VII, published May 31, 1653 and October 16, 1656, sincerely repudiate the five propositions extracted from the book of Jansenius entitled Augustinus, and I condemn them upon oath in the very sense expressed by that author, as the Apostolic See has condemned them by the two above mentioned Constitutions. Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent ”

The Formulary Controversy, 1664-1669

This formulary formed the basis of the Formulary Controversy. The Formulary Controversy, in 17th century France, pitted the Jansenists against the Jesuits. Many Jansenists refused to sign the formulary; whilst some did sign, they made it known that they were agreeing only to the doctrine, not the allegations asserted by the bull. The latter category included the four Jansenist-leaning bishops, who communicated the bull to their flocks along with messages which maintained the distinction between doctrine and fact. This angered both Louis XIV and Alexander VII, and the pope appointed a committee of nine French bishops to investigate the siutation.

Pope Clement IX (1600-1669), whose intervention in the Formulary Controversy led to a 32-year lull (1669-1701) in the controversy over Jansenism known as the Peace of Clement IX.
Pope Clement IX (1600-1669), whose intervention in the Formulary Controversy led to a 32-year lull (1669-1701) in the controversy over Jansenism known as the Peace of Clement IX. Pope Clement IX ( January 28, 1600 &ndash December 9, 1669) born Giulio Rospigliosi, was Pope from 1667 to 1669 The Formulary Controversy, in 17th century France, pitted the Jansenists against the Jesuits.

However, before this committee acted, Alexander VII died on May 22, 1667. His successor, Pope Clement IX, initially appeared to be willing to continue the move against the Jansenist-leaning bishops. Pope Clement IX ( January 28, 1600 &ndash December 9, 1669) born Giulio Rospigliosi, was Pope from 1667 to 1669 However, in France, the Jansenists conducted a campaign arguing that allowing a papal commission of this sort would be ceding the traditional liberties of the Gallican Church, thus playing on traditional French opposition to ultramontanism. The term Gallican Church usually refers to the Roman Catholic Church in France from the time of the Declaration of the Clergy of France ( Ultramontanism is a religious philosophy within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. They convinced one member of the cabinet (Lyonne) and nineteen bishops of their position. As a result, these bishops wrote to Clement IX, arguing that the infallibility of the Church applied only to matters of revelation, and not to matters of fact. The Infallibility of the Church is the belief that the Holy Spirit will not allow the Church to err in its belief or teaching under certain circumstances Revelation is the act of revealing or disclosing (see etymology or in the theological perception making something obvious and clearly understood through active or passive communication They asserted that this was the position of Caesar Baronius and Robert Bellarmine. Venerable Cesare Baronio (also known as Caesar Baronius; August 30, 1538 &ndash June 30, 1607) was an Italian Robert Bellarmine ( Roberto Francesco Romolo Cardinale Bellarmino) (4 October 1542 Montepulciano, Siena, Italy – 17 September 1621 They also sent a letter to Louis XIV, arguing that great severity would result in political discord.

Under these circumstances, the papal nuncio to France recommended that Clement IX seek a peaceful accommodation with the Jansenists. Nuncio is an ecclesiastical Diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word Nuntius, meaning "envoy Clement agreed, and appointed César d'Estrées, Bishop of Laon as mediator in the matter (he was to be assisted by two bishops who had signed the letter to the pope, Louis-Henri de Pardaillan de Gondrin, Archbishop of Sens and Félix Vialart de Herse, Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne). César d'Estrées ( Paris, February 5 1628 - Paris, December 18 1714) was a French diplomat and Cardinal The diocese of Laon was a Catholic Diocese in France for around 1300 years up to the French Revolution. D'Estées convinced the four bishops to sign the formulary (though it seems they may have believed that signing the formulary did not mean assent to the matters of fact it contained). The pope, initially happy that the four bishops had signed, became angry when he was informed that they had done so with reservations. Clement IX ordered his nuncio to conduct a new investigation' reporting back, the nuncio declared: "they have condemned and caused to be condemned the five propositions with all manner of sincerity, without any exception or restriction whatever, in every sense in which the Church has condemned them". However, he reported that the four bishops continued to be evasive as to whether they agreed with the pope as to the matter of fact. In response, Clement appointed a commission of twelve cardinals to further investigate the matter. This commission determined that the four bishops had signed the formulary in a less than entirely sincere manner, but nevertheless recommended that the matter should be dropped in order to forestall further divisions in the Church. The pope agreed and thus issued four briefs, declaring the four bishops' agreement to the formulary was acceptable, thus instituting the "Peace of Clement IX" (1669-1701).

The Case of Conscience and aftermath, 1701-1709

Although the Peace of Clement IX brought about a lull in the public theological controversy, a number of churchmen remained attracted to Jansenism. Three major groups may be identified: (1) the "duped Jansenists", who continued to profess the five propositions condemned in Cum Occasione ; (2) the fins Jansénistes, who accepted the doctrine of Cum Occasione but who continued to deny the infallibility of the Church in matters of dogmatic fact; and (3) the quasi-Jansenists, who formally accepted both Cum occasione and the infallibility of the Church in matters of dogmatic fact, but who nevertheless remained attracted to aspects of Jansenism, notably its stern morality, commitment to virtue, and its opposition to ultramontanism which was a hot political issue in France in the decades surrounding the 1682 Declaration of the Clergy of France. The term dogmatic fact is employed in the teaching of the Roman Catholic Church, in a wide sense to mean any fact connected with a Dogma, and on which Ultramontanism is a religious philosophy within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. Under the Declaration of the Clergy of France of 1682 the following privileges were claimed by France in relation to the Holy See. The quasi-Jansenists served as protectors of the "duped Jansenists" and the fins Jansénistes.

The tensions generated by the continuing presence of these elements in the French church came to a head in the Case of Conscience of 1701. The case involved the question of whether or not absolution should be given to a cleric who refused to affirm the infallibility of the Church in matters of dogmatic fact (even though he did not preach against it but merely maintained a "respectful silence"). Absolution is a traditional theological term for the forgiveness experienced in the traditional Churches in the Sacrament of Reconciliation. A cleric ( Ancient Greek κληρικός - klērikos clergyman (pl A provincial conference, consisting of forty theology professors from the Sorbonne, headed by Noël Alexandre, declared that the cleric should receive absolution. Noël Alexandre, or Natalis Alexander (1639 Rouen, France - August 21, 1724, Paris) was a French theologian

The publication of this "Case of Conscience" provoked outrage amongst the anti-Jansenist elements in the Catholic Church. The decision was condemned by several French bishops; by Louis-Antoine, Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris; by the theological faculties at Leuven, Douai, and eventually Paris; and, finally, in 1703, by Pope Clement XI. Louis-Antoine de Noailles ( 27 May 1651 &ndash 4 May 1729) second son of Anne 1st duc de Noailles, was a French Bishop The University of Douai is a former University in Douai, France. Pope Clement XI ( July 23, 1649 &ndash March 19, 1721) born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death The Sorbonne professors who had signed the Case of Conscience now backed away, and all of the signatories withdrew their signatures and the theologian who had championed the result of the Case of Conscience, Nicolas Petitpied, was expelled from the Sorbonne.

Nuns being forcibly removed from the convent of Port-Royal-des-Champs in 1709.
Nuns being forcibly removed from the convent of Port-Royal-des-Champs in 1709. A Nun is a Woman who has taken special vows committing her to a religious life A convent is a community of Priests religious brothers religious sisters or Nuns or the building used by the community particularly in the Roman Catholic Church Port-Royal-des-Champs was a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux, in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number

Louis XIV and his grandson, Philip V of Spain, now asked the pope to issue a papal bull condemning the practice of maintaining a respectful silence as to the issue of the infallibility of the Church in matters of dogma. Philip V of Spain ( December 19, 1683 - July 9, 1746) born Philippe de France, Fils de France and duc d'Anjou

The pope obliged, issuing the bull Vineam Domini Sabaoth, dated July 16, 1705. Vineam Domini was an Apostolic Constitution issued by Pope Clement XI against the Jansenists on 16 July 1705. At the subsequent Assembly of the French Clergy, all those present (except P. The Assembly of the French Clergy ( Assemblée du Clergé de France) was in its origins a representative meeting of the Clergy of France held every five years for the purpose -Jean-Fr. de Percin de Montgaillard, Bishop of Saint-Pons) voted to accept the bull and Louis XIV promulgated the bull as binding law in France. The former French Catholic diocese of Saint-Pons-de-Thomières existed from 1317 until the French Revolution.

Louis also sought the dissolution of Port-Royal-des-Champs, the stronghold of Jansenist thought, and this was achieved in 1708, when the pope issued a bull dissolving Port-Royal-des-Champs. Port-Royal-des-Champs was a Cistercian convent in Magny-les-Hameaux, in the Vallée de Chevreuse southwest of Paris that launched a number The remaining nuns were forcibly removed in 1709 and dispersed among various other French convents and the buildings were razed in 1709. The Convent of Port-Royal in Paris remained in existence until the time of the French Revolution, when it was closed by the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, part of the general Dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution. The Convent of Port-Royal was built in Paris in 1626 as an off-shoot of Port-Royal-des-Champs, the stronghold of Jansenist thought in France The French Revolution (1789–1799 was a period of political and social upheaval in the History of France, during which the French governmental structure previously an The Civil Constitution of the Clergy ( "Constitution civile du clergé") was a law passed on July 12, 1790 during the French Revolution The Dechristianisation of France during the French Revolution is a conventional description of the results of a number of separate policies conducted by various governments of France between

The Case of Quesnel

Pasquier Quesnel (1634-1719), whose book Réflexions morales sur le Nouveau Testament set off the last major flare-up of the Jansenist controversy, ultimately leading to the 1713 papal bull Unigenitus.
Pasquier Quesnel (1634-1719), whose book Réflexions morales sur le Nouveau Testament set off the last major flare-up of the Jansenist controversy, ultimately leading to the 1713 papal bull Unigenitus. Pasquier Quesnel ( July 14, 1634 - December 2, 1719) was a French Jansenist theologian. Unigenitus may also refer to a papal bull issued by Pope Clement VI in 1343

Pasquier Quesnel had been a member of the Parisian Oratory from 1657 to 1681, at which time he was expelled because of his Jansenism. Pasquier Quesnel ( July 14, 1634 - December 2, 1719) was a French Jansenist theologian. The Oratory of Saint Philip Neri is a congregation of Catholic Priests and Lay-brothers who live together in a community bound together by no formal He sought the protection of Pierre-Armand du Camboust de Coislin, Bishop of Orléans, who harboured Quesnel for four years, at which point Quesnel joined Antoine Arnauld in Brussels. Brussels (Bruxelles pronounced; Brussel pronounced) officially the Brussels Capital-Region, is In 1692, Quesnel published a book which he had been working on since 1668, Réflexions morales sur le Nouveau Testament (Moral Reflections on the New Testament), a devotional guide to the New Testament which laid out the Jansenist position in strong terms. Following Arnauld's death in 1694, Quesnel was widely regarded as the leader of the Jansenists. In 1703, Quesnel was imprisoned by Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano, Archbishop of Mechelen, but escaped several months later and lived in Amsterdam for the remainder of his life. Humbertus Guilielmus de Precipiano ( Rougemont, France, 12 September, 1627 - Mechelen, 9 June, 1711) was Archbishop Mechelen-Brussel is the Dutch name of the only archbishopric in Belgium, and its ecclesiastical province that coincides with the country Amsterdam (pronounced) is the capital and largest city of the Netherlands, located in the province of North Holland in the west

The Réflexions morales sur le Nouveau Testament did not initially arouse controversy; in fact, it was approved for publication by Felix Vialart, Bishop of Châlons-sur-Marne and recommended by Louis-Antoine de Noailles. Louis-Antoine de Noailles ( 27 May 1651 &ndash 4 May 1729) second son of Anne 1st duc de Noailles, was a French Bishop Neither Vialart nor Noailles appears to have realised that the book had strongly Jansenist overtones, and had thought that they were simply approving a pious manual of devotion. However, in the years that followed, several bishops became aware of the book's Jansenist tendencies and issued condemnations: Ignace de Foresta, Bishop of Apt in 1703; Charles-Béningne Hervé, the Bishop of Gap in 1704; and in 1707 both the Bishop of Besançon and Edouard Bargedé, Bishop of Nevers. The former French Catholic diocese of Apt, in south-east France existed from the fourth century until the French Revolution. When the Holy Office drew the Réflexions morales to the attention of Clement XI, he issued the papal brief Universi dominici (1708), proscribing the book for "savouring of the Jansenist heresy. The Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith (CDF ( Congregatio pro Doctrina Fidei) previously known as the Supreme Sacred Congregation of the Holy Office, The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull. "; as a result, in 1710, the Bishop of Luçon and the Bishop of La Rochelle forbade the reading of the book.

However, Louis-Antoine de Noailles, who was now the cardinal Archbishop of Paris was embarrassed and reluctant to condemn a book he had previously recommended, and thus hesitated. A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official usually a bishop, of the Catholic Church. As a result, Louis XIV asked the pope to settle the matter. The result was the bull Unigenitus, dated September 8, 1713 which collected 101 propositions from the Réflexions morales and denounced them as

“false, captious, ill-sounding, offensive to pious ears, scandalous, pernicious, rash, injurious to the Church and its practices, contumelious to Church and State, seditious, impious, blasphemous, suspected and savouring of heresy, favouring heretics, heresy, and schism, erroneous, bordering on heresy, often condemned, heretical, and reviving various heresies, especially those contained in the famous propositions of Jansenius. Unigenitus may also refer to a papal bull issued by Pope Clement VI in 1343 ”
Pope Clement XI (1649-1721), whose 1713 bull Unigenitus condemned Quesnel and the Jansenists.
Pope Clement XI (1649-1721), whose 1713 bull Unigenitus condemned Quesnel and the Jansenists. Pope Clement XI ( July 23, 1649 &ndash March 19, 1721) born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death Unigenitus may also refer to a papal bull issued by Pope Clement VI in 1343

Upon examining the 101 propositions condemned by Unigenitus, Noailles determined that as set out in the bull and apart from their context in the Réflexions morales, some of the propositions condemned by Unigenitus were in fact orthodox. He therefore refused to accept the bull and instead sought clarifications from the pope.

In the midst of this dispute, Louis XIV died in 1715, and the government of France was taken over by Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, serving as regent for the 5-year-old Louis XV of France. Philippe II Duke of Orléans ( August 2, 1674 &ndash December 2, 1723) was a member of the royal family of France A regent, from the Latin regens "who reigns" is a person selected to act as Head of state (ruling or not because the ruler is a minor Louis XV (15 February 1710 &ndash 10 May 1774 ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1 September 1715 until his death in 1774 Unlike Louis XIV, who had stood solidly behind Unigenitus, Orléans expressed ambivalence. With the change in political mood, three theological faculties which had previously voted to accept Unigenitus - Paris, Nantes, and Reims - voted to rescind their acceptance. The University of Nantes is a well-known French University, located in the City of Nantes. University of Reims Champagne-Ardenne ( Université de Reims Champagne-Ardenne, URCA is a French university in the Academy of Reims

In 1717, four French bishops went even further, and attempted to appeal the papal bull to a general council; the bishops were joined by hundreds of French priests, monks and nuns, and were supported by the parlements. This is a general introduction to ecumenical councils For the Roman Catholic councils, see Catholic Ecumenical Councils. In 1718, Clement XI responded vigorously to this challenge to his authority by issuing the bull Pastoralis officii by which he excommunicated everyone who had called for an appeal to a general council. Far from disarming the French clergy, many of whom were now advocating conciliarism, the clergy who had appealed Unigenitus to a general council, now appealed Pastoralis officii to a general council as well. Conciliarism, or the conciliar movement, was a reform movement in the 14th and 15th century Roman Catholic Church which held that final authority In total, one cardinal, 18 bishops, and 3,000 clergy of Frances supported an appeal to a general council. However, the majority in France (four cardinals, 100 bishops, 100,000 clergymen) stood by the pope. The schism carried on for some time, however, and it was not until 1728 that Noailles submitted to the pope.

Legacy

Unigenitus marks the official break of toleration of Jansenism within the Church in France , though quasi-Jansenists would occasionally stir in the following decades. By the mid-eighteenth century, Jansenism proper had totally lost its battle to be a viable theological position within the Catholicism. However, certain ideas tinged with Jansenism remained in circulation for much longer; in particular, the Jansenist idea that Holy Communion should be received very infrequently and that reception required much more than freedom from mortal sin remained influential until finally condemned by Pope St. Pius X, who endorsed frequent communion, as long as the communicant was free of mortal sin, in the early 1900s. Saint Pius X ( Latin: Pius PP X) ( June 2, 1835 &mdash August 20, 1914) born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the

On the other hand, Pascal's denounciation of Jesuit casuistry and its "relaxed morality" also led Innocent XI to condemn (in 1679) sixty-five propositions which were taken chiefly from the writings of the Jesuits Escobar and Suarez. Pope Innocent XI ( May 16 1611 &ndash August 12 1689) born Benedetto Odescalchi, was Pope of the Roman Catholic Antonio Escobar y Mendoza ( 1589 - July 4 1669) was a Spanish churchman of illustrious descent Francisco Suárez ( 5 January 1548, Granada, Spain - 25 September 1617, Lisbon, Portugal) was a They were said to be propositiones laxorum moralistarum, and Innocent forbade anyone to teach them under penalty of excommunication. [3].

Acceptants

Acceptants were Jansenists who accepted the bull Unigenitus (1713), which opened the final phase of the Jansenist controversy in France and condemned 101 propositions of the French Jansenist theologian Pasquier Quesnel. A Papal bull is a particular type of Letters patent or charter issued by a Pope. Unigenitus may also refer to a papal bull issued by Pope Clement VI in 1343 Pasquier Quesnel ( July 14, 1634 - December 2, 1719) was a French Jansenist theologian.

Later developments

Jansenism influenced the development of Gallicanism, and Jansenist teachers proposed a radical reform of the Latin liturgy. Gallicanism is the belief that popular civil authority&mdashoften represented by the Monarchs authority or the State 's authority&mdashover the Catholic

Jansenism was also a factor in the formation of the independent Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands from 1702 to 1723, and is said to continue to live on in some Ultrajectine traditions. See the article on Ultrajectinism for a more detailed description of historical and theological events Ultrajectine defines the tradition of the Old Catholic Church of the Netherlands headquartered at the city of Utrecht in the Netherlands

References

  1. ^ a b c Vincent Carraud (author of Pascal et la philosophie, PUF, 1992), Le jansénisme, Société des Amis de Port-Royal, on-line since June 2007 (French)
  2. ^ Pascal, Les Provinciales - Pensées Et Opuscules Divers, Lgf/Le Livre De Poche, La Pochothèque, 2004, edited by Philippe Sellier & Gérard Ferreyrolles, note pp. 430-431 (French)
  3. ^ Kelly, J. N. D. , The Oxford History of the Popes, Oxford University Press, 1986. ISBN 0192820850 (pp. 287-288)

Bibliography (French)

[edit] Reviews

See also:

External links

Dictionary

Jansenism

-noun

  1. The Catholic doctrines, of Cornelius Jansen and his followers which emphasise original sin, divine grace and predestination
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