Jean-Pierre Camus (November 3, 1584 – April 26, 1652) was a French
bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
, preacher, and author of works of fiction and
spirituality.
Biography
Jean-Pierre Camus was born in Paris in 1584, the son of Jean Camus, seigneur de Saint Bonnet, who was governor of
Étampes
Étampes () is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southwest from the center of Paris (as the crow flies). Étampes is a sub-prefecture of the Essonne department.
Étampes, together with the neighboring ...
. As a young man he traveled about Europe, and following his theological studies he became a priest in 1608, and subsequently, a renowned preacher in Paris.
["A Sketch of the Life of Jean Pierre Camus, Bishop of Belley", Camus, J.P., ''The Spirit of Saint Francis De Sales'', London. Burns and Oates, 1910]
/ref> Two years later Henry IV appointed him bishop of Belley (1609–1628), which required a dispensation from Pope Paul V
Pope Paul V ( la, Paulus V; it, Paolo V) (17 September 1550 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death in January 1621. In 1611, he honored ...
as Camus was only twenty-six.
In 1609, Camus was consecrated bishop by the Bishop of Geneva, François de Sales. The two dioceses of Geneva and Belley bordered one another, which contributed to further that close friendship between the Bishops. Camus consulting the elder cleric in all important questions, and subsequently became a friend and disciple.[Sollier, Joseph. "Jean-Pierre Camus de Pont-Carré." The Catholic Encyclopedia]
Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908. 23 November 2017 He was by nature ardent and imaginative, also impetuous and excitable; and thus strove to emulate the calm gentleness characteristic of his mentor,[ an effort in which he did not always succeed. Nonetheless, in 1619, de Sales recommended Camus as spiritual director to ]Louise de Marillac
Louise de Marillac , also Louise Le Gras, (August 12, 1591 – March 15, 1660) was the co-founder, with Vincent de Paul, of the Daughters of Charity. She is venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church and the Episcopal Church in the United S ...
.[Pocetto, O.S.F.S., Alexander T., "Jean-Pierre Camus (1584-1652) as a Disseminator of the Salesian Spirit", ''Studies in Salesian Spirituality'', September 2001]
/ref>
The Bishop of Geneva was not content with receiving Camus at Annecy, but often went to Belley where he would spend several days in his company. During these visits they would discuss any difficulties that may have arisen, and encouraged each other in their ministries.[
After the death of François de Sales, Camus remained in Belley for a five more years, and then resigned his post in 1628. He was briefly given a position at the Abbey of Aunay in 1629, and subsequently performed other duties for the archbishop of Rouen. In the last years of his life, he consecrated himself to working with the poor in Paris. In 1652, he was appointed ]bishop of Arras
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Arras (–Boulogne–Saint-Omer) (Latin: ''Dioecesis Atrebatensis (–Bononiena–Audomarensis)''; French: ''Diocèse d'Arras (–Boulogne–Saint-Omer)'') is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church i ...
, but died shortly thereafter.
He was buried in the chapel of the Hospice des Incurables, at Paris.[
]
Preaching
Camus gave three speeches at the États-Généraux of 1614. As an orator, Camus was a product of the 17th century Baroque school of preaching. In form, he believed the sermon should exude good literary style, including ample illustrations and vivid examples designed to entertain the audience. In content, Camus' preaching focused primarily on doctrinal instruction, such as the defense of the Catholic doctrine of the Eucharist against that of the Protestants. His sermons occasionally took the form of moral exhortation - which foreshadowed the practice of later Neoclassical preachers - and drew on the lives of the saints as moral exemplars, of whom Charles Borromeo
Charles Borromeo ( it, Carlo Borromeo; la, Carolus Borromeus; 2 October 1538 – 3 November 1584) was the Archbishop of Milan from 1564 to 1584 and a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation combat ...
and Ignatius of Loyola
Ignatius of Loyola, S.J. (born Íñigo López de Oñaz y Loyola; eu, Ignazio Loiolakoa; es, Ignacio de Loyola; la, Ignatius de Loyola; – 31 July 1556), venerated as Saint Ignatius of Loyola, was a Spanish Catholic priest and theologian, ...
were favorite of his.
Works
Jean-Pierre Camus was one of the most prolific authors of the period 1620-1648. His prose is succinct, without the elaborate rhetoric of authors—such as Antoine de Nervèze—from the previous generation. He also shows a vast knowledge of poetry.
Camus's first works were strongly influenced by the ''Essays'' of Michel de Montaigne, albeit with more religious content. His spiritual works were directly inspired by François de Sales; he was critical of mendicant orders and wrote extensively on poverty, grace and spiritual reflection. His criticism led him into controversy with Jacques de Chevanes Jacques de Chevanes (c.1608 – 1678) was a French Capuchin polemicist. He used the pseudonyms Jacques d'Autun and Saint-Agran.
He was the son of Nicolas de Chevanes of Autun, and brother of the jurist Jacques-Auguste de Chevanes.
''L'incrédul ...
.
His fictional works encompass both novels and short stories. His first "devout novel", ''La Memoire de Darie'' is a fictionalized account of the life of Marie-Aimeé de Chantal, the wife of Francis' youngest brother, Bernard de Sale.[ His dark and violent stories, often based on contemporary anecdotes or criminal incidents (he wrote over 1000 such works) were in the tradition of the horrific tales (" histoires tragiques") of ]Matteo Bandello
Matteo Bandello ( 1480 – 1562) was an Italian writer, soldier, monk, and, later, a Bishop mostly known for his novellas. His collection of 214 novellas made him the most popular short-story writer of his day.
Biography
Matteo Bandello wa ...
, popular in France in the late Renaissance
The Renaissance ( , ) , from , with the same meanings. is a period in European history
The history of Europe is traditionally divided into four time periods: prehistoric Europe (prior to about 800 BC), classical antiquity (800 BC to AD ...
and early seventeenth century. His longer works show the influence of ancient Greek novels (such as the works of Heliodorus of Emesa
Heliodorus Emesenus or Heliodorus of Emesa ( grc, Ἡλιόδωρος ὁ Ἐμεσηνός) is the author of the ancient Greek novel called the ''Aethiopica'' () or ''Theagenes and Chariclea'' (), which has been dated to the 220s or 370s AD.
Ide ...
and Achilles Tatius
Achilles Tatius ( Greek: Ἀχιλλεὺς Τάτιος, ''Achilleus Tatios'') of Alexandria was a Roman-era Greek writer of the 2nd century AD whose fame is attached to his only surviving work, the ancient Greek novel, or ''romance'', '' The Adv ...
), with their scenes of tempests and kidnappings. Much of his fiction has a moralistic intention, showing human folly, the unruliness of passions, the dangers of illicit love, and the saving grace of divine love. The 1631 ''La tour des miroirs'' shows the effects of vanity using a series of enchanted mirrors.
''Admirable Events'' and ''Diotrèphe'' were translations of his work into English by Susan DuVerger
Susan DuVerger or Susan Du Verger born ''Suzanne de La Vallée'' (baptised in 1610 – 1657) was an English translator and author.
Life
DuVerger was born in London and baptised in 1610. The baptismal records record that her parents were Charles a ...
in 1639 and 1641 respectively.
Notes
External links
References
*Dandrey, Patrick. ''Dictionnaire des lettres françaises: le XVIIe siècle.'' Collection: La Pochothèque. Paris: Fayard, 1996
Further reading
* Blaise Pascal' ''Provincial Letters
The ''Lettres provinciales'' (''Provincial letters'') are a series of eighteen letters written by French philosopher and theologian Blaise Pascal under the pseudonym Louis de Montalte. Written in the midst of the formulary controversy between ...
'' (in particular th
Fifth
External links
*
*
{{DEFAULTSORT:Camus, Jean-Pierre
1584 births
1652 deaths
Writers from Paris
Bishops of Arras
Bishops of Belley
17th-century French novelists
17th-century French male writers
French male novelists
French male short story writers
French short story writers