Louis Legrand (theologian)

Louis Legrand (b. in Burgundy at Lusigny-sur-Ouche, 12 June1711, d. at Issy (Paris), 21 July1780) was a French Sulpician theologian and doctor of the Sorbonne.

Life

After studying philosophy and theology at St. Sulpice, Paris, he taught philosophy at Clermont, 1733-1736, resumed his studies at Paris, where he entered the Society of St. Sulpice in 1739 and obtained the licentiate in 1740. He professed theology at Cambrai, 1740-1743, was superior of the seminary of Autun, 1743-1745, and having been recalled to Paris received the doctorate in theology from the Sorbonne in 1746. Henceforth he remained at the seminary of St. Sulpice in various employments.

Appointed director of studies in 1767 he exercised in this capacity an influence over young ecclesiastics of France, who were preparing to take their degrees at the Sorbonne. As a doctor of the Sorbonne he was called upon to take a prominent part in framing the decisions and censures of the theological faculty; in that intense period of opposition to Christian dogma, he was centrally involved in its defense.

Works

It was he who wrote the condemnation of Jean-Jacques Rousseau's "" (reprinted in Migne's "Theologiae Cursus Completus", II, col. 1111-1248).

Legrand also drafted the censures of Marmontel's "Bélisaire" and Isaac-Joseph Berruyer's "Histoire du Peuple de Dieu". He helped to avert a censure from Buffon's "Epoques de la Nature", in consideration of the author's retraction. Legrand's moderation and kindliness gained the esteem and good will of both Buffon and Marmontel.

Most of what he wrote was in collaboration. Nearly all the writings of Legrand, were selected by Migne in his "Theologiae Cursus Completus". The most important are:

*"Praelectiones Theologicae de Deo ac divinis attributis", a work by La Fosse based on Tournély's treatise, re-edited by Legrand who added about 400 pages of additional matter. Reprinted in Migne, VII.
*"Tractatus de Incarnatione Verbi Divini" (in Migne, IX), also based on Tournély.

Parts of his "Tractatus de Ecclesia" have been reproduced by Migne in his "Scripturae Sacrae Cursus Completus", IV. Legrand left a posthumous treatise, "De Existentia Dei" (Paris, 1812), which is unfinished.

References

*Louis Bertrand, Histoire littéraire de la Compagnie de St-Sulpice, I (Paris, 1900). gives the complete list of Legrand's writings;
*MONTAIGNE, Notice prefixed to the above-mentioned treatise "De Existentia Dei" (Paris, 1812)