June 10, 1695 • Second Place for Francois Fenelon

rançois Fénelon was consecrated archbishop of Cambrai, one of the richest and most important sees in France on this day June 10, 1695. Many observers thought that Fenelon, owing to his character and acknowledged gifts, should have been presented with Paris. Cambrai was considered a second-rate posting. Ironically, he was proposed for the see by Louis XIV and consecrated by Bishop Bossuet, both of whom would condemn him in a few years.

Cambrai was the king's reward to bishop Fenelon for taming his grandson, the Duke of Burgundy, a sickly, tantrum-prone child. Fenelon accomplished the task through love, patience, and educational techniques which anticipated Rousseau. He wrote dozens of texts and fables for his passionate pupil, every one steeped in Christian sensibility. He taught the lad that love holds a kingdom together better than pomp and force. He showed him how he disgraced himself when he lost his temper, and forbade the entire household to speak a syllable to the lad when he was in one of his rages. At the same time he lavished love on the boy who learned to respond with affection.

Once the young prince resisted the master's discipline. "No, no, sir," he said to Fénelon. "I remember who I am and who you are." Fénelon remained silent all that day, for it was his maxim that one should not punish while angry. The next morning, however, he woke the lad, reminded him of his words, showed him his authority and made it plain he was requesting the king to end the arrangement. The boy had so much pride he could not bear that it should be known he had outworn Fénelon's notable patience. He apologized.

It was Fénelon's support of Quietism and its chief French proponent, Madame Guyon, which brought him into trouble with Bossuet. Fénelon was deeply impressed by Guyon. Widowed young, devout, she turned away from marriage proposals and formalist systems of faith and sought to apprehend Christ in her inner being. When she refused to renounce her beliefs, Bossuet incarcerated her for eight years.

Bossuet wrote a critique against quietist mysticism and asked Fenelon to read it. Fénelon disagreed so thoroughly that he wrote a book of opposite tenor, Sayings of the Saints. Bossuet convinced the king to support him in having these Sayings suppressed and the two pressured the Pope until he finally gave it a mild censure.

Fénelon got into hot water with the king for another reason, too. He had written Telemachus, Son of Odyssus for training the Duke of Burgundy and this came to Louis' attention. Through fiction, this utopian book rebuked Louis' policies. The King forbade the Duke to see Fénelon any longer and did not relent for years. Fenelon accepted the restrictions meekly. He was allowed to remain archbishop of Cambrai where he put France's other bishops to shame with his noble character and faithful fulfillment of his duties. Fénelon's works remain in print today and provide continual inspiration to Christians of many denominations.

Bibliography

1. Degert, Antoine. "François de Salignac de la Mothe-Fénelon." The Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton, 1914.
2. Fenelon, Francois. Writings.
3. Mudge, James. Fenelon the Mystic. Cincinnati: Jennings and Graham, 1906.
4. Upham, Thomas C. Life and Religious Experiences of Madame de la Mothe Guyon...New York: Harper and Bros., 1877. Source of the images.

Last updated April, 2007.