Noel Alexandre

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Noël Alexandre, or Natalis Alexander (1630-August 21st, 1724) was a French theologian and ecclesiastical historian, born in Rouen, France. In his 15th year he joined the Dominicans and shortly after his ordination was appointed professor of philosophy at the convent of Saint-Jacques in Paris.

[edit] Ecclesiastical career

The success of his subsequent lectures at the Sorbonne led to his selection by Jean-Baptiste Colbert as tutor to his son, Jacques Nicolas Colbert, afterwards archbishop of Rouen. Alexandre obtained the degree of doctor in divinity from the Sorbonne in 1675 and for twelve years taught philosophy, theology and ecclesiastical law to the members of the Saint-Jacques community. He played a prominent part in ecclesiastical affairs and preached several times before Louis XIV, who granted him an annual pension of 800 livres. He became provincial of his order in 1706, but was banished to Chatellerault in 1709 for having subscribed to the Cas de conscience (1703), and was deprived of his pension in 1713 on account of his opposition to the bull Unigenitus. He died in Paris on August 21st, 1724, having lost his sight some time before owing to his strenuous literary activity. His numerous works are still much valued by ecclesiastical students.

[edit] Works

Alexandre's best-known work, the Selecta historiae ecclesiasticae capita, et in loca ejusdem insignia dissertationes historicae, chronologicae, dogmaticae (26 volumes, Paris, 1676-1686), was placed on the Index by Innocent XI, on account of his bold defence of the Gallican claims. In 1689 he brought out at Paris his history of the Old Testament, Selecta historiae Veteris Testamenti capita, &c., in 6 volumes. Of the numerous editions of Alexandre's ecclesiastical history the best is that of J. D. Mansi, which contains many valuable notes and additions (Lucca, 1749) and has been frequently reprinted. Alexandre's principal contribution to theological literature is his Theologia dogmatica et moralis secundum ordinem catechismi concilii Tridentini (10 volumes, Paris, 1694), in which he clearly shows himself a disciple of the Thomist school. His Conformités des cérémonies chinoises avec l'idolatrie grecque et romaine and Sept lettres sur les cérémonies de la Chine (both published at Cologne in 1700) are interesting as they mark him out as a pioneer in the study of comparative religion.

[edit] References

These references are cited in the 1911 Encyclopedia Britannica article on Noel Alexandre.

• Catalogue complet des oeuvres du Père Alexandre (Paris, 1716)
• Quetif-Echard, Scriptores ordinis praedicatorum (Paris, 1719-1721), t. ii. p. 810
• Full bibliography in Alfred Vacant, Dictionnaire de théologie (scholarly article by Pierre Mandonnet, cols. 769-772).

This article incorporates text from the Encyclopædia Britannica Eleventh Edition, a publication now in the public domain.