De Launoy, Jean (1603-1678)

views updated

De Launoy, Jean (1603-1678)

A celebrated doctor of the Sorbonne, canonist, and historian, De Launoy was born in Valdesie, Normandy, France. He studied at the University of Paris and after being ordained as a priest was admitted as a doctor of divinity at Navarre. He resisted the claims of the court of Rome and specialized in exposing legendary religious fables and demolishing dubious claims for saints. He thinned the ranks of sainthood by his keen scrutiny. One commentator remarked, "He suspected the whole martyrology, and examined all the saints as they do the nobility of France." In spite of his severe judgments, he was known as a kindhearted and benevolent man. He wrote several books based upon his work.

More From encyclopedia.com

About this article

De Launoy, Jean (1603-1678)

Updated About encyclopedia.com content Print Article

You Might Also Like