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Soanen, Jean

Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature

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a French prelate, was born in Riom, Jan. 6, 1647, and entered the Congregation of the Oratory at Paris in 1661, where he chose father Quesnel for his confessor. Leaving that establishment, he taught ethics and rhetoric in several provincial towns, and devoted himself afterwards to the pulpit, for which he had great talents. Having preached at Lyons, Orleans, and Paris with applause, he was invited to court, preached there during Lent in 1686 and 1688, and was appointed bishop of Senez soon after. Appealing from the bull Unigenitus to a future council, and refusing to listen to any terms of accommodation on the subject, he published a Pastoral Instruction, giving an account to his diocesans of his conduct. This Instruction gave great offense, and occasioned the famous Council of Embrun (1727), in which M. de Tencin procured its condemnation as rash, scandalous, etc., and the bishop to be suspended from all episcopal jurisdiction and ecclesiastical functions. After this council, M. Soanen was banished to La Chaise Dieu, where he died, Dec. 25, 1740. His writings are, Pastoral Instructions: — Mandates: — and Letters. The Letters have been printed with his Life (6 vols. 4to, or 8 vols. 12mo). His Sermons were published in 1767 (2 vols. 12mo). See Chalmers, Biog. Dict. s.v.; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.