Nicolas-Hugues Ménard (Hugo Menardus) (1585 in

Paris Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...

– 21 January 1644) was a French

Benedictine , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , foun ...

scholar. His father was private secretary to

Catherine de' Medici Catherine de' Medici ( it, Caterina de' Medici, ; french: Catherine de Médicis, ; 13 April 1519 – 5 January 1589) was an Florentine noblewoman born into the Medici family. She was Queen of France from 1547 to 1559 by marriage to King ...

, his mother was a native of

Blois Blois ( ; ) is a commune and the capital city of Loir-et-Cher department, in Centre-Val de Loire, France, on the banks of the lower Loire river between Orléans and Tours. With 45,898 inhabitants by 2019, Blois is the most populated city of the ...

. After a liberal education Ménard entered the

Order of St. Benedict , image = Medalla San Benito.PNG , caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal , abbreviation = OSB , formation = , motto = (English: 'Pray and Work') , found ...

, 3 February 1607, at St. Denis, and made his religious profession 10 September 1612. In the next year, he joined the reform movement of St. Vannes in Verdun which some years later developed into the

Congregation of St. Maur The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), ...

; and he became one of its main helps. After some time he was called to Paris, where he soon became a favourite preacher and frequently occupied the principal pulpits. For sixteen years he taught rhetoric at the College of Cluny. By word and deed he sought to induce his fellow religious to unite an exemplary life with love for study especially of Church history and

patrology Patristics or patrology is the study of the early Christian writers who are designated Church Fathers. The names derive from the combined forms of Latin ''pater'' and Greek ''patḗr'' (father). The period is generally considered to run from ...

. On account of failing health he was placed by his superiors in the abbey of St. Germain des Prés, where he lived in great seclusion. In his small circle of intimate friends the Jesuit

Sirmond Jacques Sirmond (12 or 22 October 1559 – 7 October 1651) was a French scholar and Jesuit. Simond was born at Riom, Auvergne (province), Auvergne. He was educated at the Jesuit College of Billom; having been a novice at Verdun-sur-Meuse, ...

stood foremost.

Works

*''Martyrologium Sanctorum ordinis St. Benedicti'', to which he added several biographies and explanatory notes which greatly enhance the value of the work (Paris, 1629) *''Concordia regularum, auctore St. Benedicto Anianae abbate'', from a manuscript found in the Abbey of Fleury, which is supplemented by a life of

St. Benedict of Aniane Benedict of Aniane ( la, Benedictus Anianensis; german: Benedikt von Aniane; 747 – 12 February 821 AD), born Witiza and called the Second Benedict, was a Benedictine monk and monastic reformer, who left a large imprint on the religious prac ...

(Paris, 1638) *''St. Gregorii I Papae Liber Sacramentorum'', from a manuscript Missal of St. Eligius (Paris, 1642). This also appears in the edition of the works of St. Gregory of the year 1705. The commentary on the book is highly praised by Muratori (Dissert. de rebus liturgicis, ch. 6), who states that Tomasi and

Mabillon Dom Jean Mabillon, O.S.B., (; 23 November 1632 – 27 December 1707) was a French Benedictine monk and scholar of the Congregation of Saint Maur. He is considered the founder of the disciplines of palaeography and diplomatics. Early life Mabil ...

would have preferred the text of Pamelius but the Maurists, when publishing the notes of Ménard had also to use his text *''De unico Dionysio Areopagita Athenarum et Parisiorum episcopo'', a defence of the identity of the Areopagite and first Bishop of Paris, written (at first anonymously) against Jean Launoy, in defence of Millet (Paris, 1643) *''S. Barnabae Apostoli (ut fertur) Epistola Catholica, ab antiquis olim ecclesiae patribus sub ejusdem nomine laudata et usurpata'' (Paris, 1640). The Greek text had been found by

at Rome, and Ménard discovered a Latin translation at the

Abbey of Corbie Corbie Abbey is a former Benedictine monastery in Corbie, Picardy, France, dedicated to Saint Peter. It was founded by Balthild, the widow of Clovis II, who had monks sent from Luxeuil. The Abbey of Corbie became celebrated both for its library ...

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Menard, Nicolas Hugues French scholars French Benedictines 1585 births 1644 deaths