Paul Godet des Marais

Paul Godet des Marais (born at Talcy, near Blois, 1647; died at Chartres, 1709) was a French Bishop of Chartres.

He studied at Saint-Sulpice, took the doctorate of theology at the Sorbonne, was ordained, and became (1677) superior of the "Séminaire des Trente-Trois". Louis XIV nominated him (1690) to the see of Chartres, but owing to difficulties between France and the Holy see the papal confirmation came only on 21 January, 1692.

As spiritual director of Mme de Maintenon, for whom he wrote "Lettres de direction", Godet used his influence to have Mme Guyon removed from Saint-Cyr. A staunch opponent of quietism, he signed with Cardinal Noailles and Bossuet the "Declaratio" condemning Fénelon's "Maximes des saints" (1697)

He then wrote (1698) several ordonnances, or pastoral letters, against the mysticism of Molinos, Fénelon, and Mme Guyon. He also did much to destroy Jansenism in France, refuted the "cas de conscience" (1703), commanded obedience to the papal constitution of Pope Clement XI (1705), and severely censured Gaspard Juénin's "Institutions théologiques" (1708).

His zeal and charity as well as his orthodoxy, were set forth in an epitaph written by his successor, Monstiers de Mérinville.

External links

*CathEncy|url=http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/06624a.htm|title=Paul Godet des Marais

"This article incorporates text from the 1913 "Catholic Encyclopedia" article " [http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_%281913%29/Paul_Godet_des_Marais?oldid=341972 Paul Godet des Marais] " by J.F. Sollier, a publication now in the public domain."