Pierre de Bérulle

See also: Bérulle (homonymy)

Pierre de Bérulle , born the February 4th 1575, deceased the October 2nd 1629, was a cardinal and French statesman.

It was born with the castle from Cérilly, close to Troyes. He studied near the Jésuites and at the University of Paris and, still young person, he wrote a Discours on the Intérieure Abnegation. Shortly after its ordination, in 1599, it helped the cardinal Duperron in his controversy with the Protestant Philippe de Mornay and converts many people. With Mrs Acarie it introduced in France the Carmelite nuns reformed by Therese d' Avila in spite of the difficulties which the Carmelite friars made him who would have liked that they depend on their congregation.

It was especially at the origin of the Congrégation of the Oratory which it created in France in 1611 on the model of that had formed a few years earlier Philippe Néri in Rome, and in spite of the opposition of the Jésuite S which saw a competitor order there. In regard to the differences of time and place the French congregation differed on some important points from the Italian Oratory. In fact the French oratoriens in France proceeded to the reform of the clergy to the seventeenth century. The famous Coton Jesuit said this congregation which it was “necessary for the Church” and Dirty François said on its side that he did not know “anything holier and of more useful for the Church and God”.

Bérulle also played a big role like statesman, because it was one of the influential members of the devout Parti; he had become chaplain of Henri IV besides shortly after his ordination. He obtained the exemptions necessary of Rome for the marriage of Henriette Marie de France, girl of the king Henri IV, with Charles I {{er}} of England and was his chaplain during the first year of his stay in England. In 1626, as ambassador of France in Spain, it concludes the Traité from Monzon. After it had reconciled Louis XIII with his mother, Marie de Médicis, it was named to advise of state, but quickly had to resign, because of its Austrian policy, opposed to that of Richelieu. In 1627 it was made cardinal, dignity which it had refused without the express order that made him the pope accept. He died suddenly by celebrating the mass.

Guard of the letters, Bérulle encouraged the philosophical studies of Descartes and it is thanks to him that the Pentateuque Samaritan , brought back Constantinople, was inserted in 1645 in the polyglot Bible of Guy-Michel Jay. He left itself of excellent writings (1644, 2 folio volumes and 1856).

Its treaty, Des Sizes of Jésus, was one of the favorite books of the Janséniste S. His work, published by the François Bourgoing (2 vol., 1644) were reprinted by the Abbé Jacques-Paul Migne in 1857.

Pierre de Bérulle is buried since 1955 in the vault of the Collège of Juilly (college oratorien) with Charles de Condren, founder of this establishment.

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