Gentian Hervetus

Gentian Hervetus (Hervet) (b. at Olivet, near Orléans, in 1499; d. at Reims, 12 September1584) was a French Roman Catholic theologian, humanist and controversialist.

Life

After studying the humanities at Orléans, he went to Paris where he became tutor of Claude d'Aubespine, afterwards secretary of state. Here he became acquainted with Thomas Lupset, an Englishman, whom he later followed to England, where he was charged with the education of a brother of Cardinal Reginald Pole. He accompanied his scholar to Rome, where he remained some time in the house of Cardinal Pole, occupying himself chiefly with the Latin translation of various Greek Fathers.

Returning to France, he taught the humanities for a short time at the College of Bordeaux, then went back to Rome and became secretary to Cardinal Cervini, the future Pope Marcellus II. In 1546 he accompanied this cardinal to the Council of Trent, and delivered an oration against clandestine marriages.

In 1556, when he was already fifty-seven years old, he was ordained priest. Soon after, he became Vicar-General of the diocese of Noyon and received a canonry at Reims. As pastor he preached against the Calvinists and wrote numerous pamphlets against them. In 1562 he returned to the Council of Trent in company of Cardinal Charles of Lorraine.

Works

He is the author of "Le saint, universel et general concile de Trente" (Reims, 1564, Rouen, 1583; Paris, 1584), and numerous controversial pamphlets. He also translated into Latin and French many works of the Greek Fathers, Sextus Empiricus, collections of canons, decrees of councils, etc.

References

*Nicéron, Memoires pour servir a l'histoire des hommes illustres, XVII, XX; Germ. ed. BAUMGARTEN, V, 87-102;
*Hugo von Hurter, "Nomenclator", III, 296;
*WEISS, in MICHARD, biographie universelle. s.v.;
*STREBER, in "Kirchenlexikon", s.v.