| Jean de Dieu-Raymond de Cucé de Boisgelin | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal archbishop of Tours | |
| See | Tours |
| Enthroned | 1802–1804 |
| Orders | |
| Created Cardinal | 1802 |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 27 February 1732 Rennes |
| Died | 22 August 1804 |
Jean de Dieu-Raymond de Cucé de Boisgelin (27 February 1732, Rennes – 22 August 1804) was a French prelate, statesman and cardinal.
Achieving remarkable success in his studies, the death of his elder brother made him the head of his family, and giving up his birthright, he dedicated his life to the Catholic Church. First made Vicar-General of Pontoise, in 1765 he was created Bishop of Lavaur, and in 1770 appointed to the archiepiscopal See of Aix in Provence.
In this last position he won for himself the name of skillful administrator and princely benefactor. Provence owes to him the digging of a canal bearing his name, several works of public utility, such as a bridge at Lavaur and educational institutions for poor children. When in a time of scarcity and of political ferment, at the outset of the French Revolution, Aix was threatened with violence and famine, the archbishop by his firmness, great ascendancy, wisdom, and generosity, proved its savior. The mob had pillaged the public granaries, and had answered by insults the summons of authority; Boisgelin assembled the magistrates, chief citizens, and merchants, dispelled their fears, and prevailed upon these men to procure for Aix an abundant supply of grain, towards the payment of which he contributed one hundred thousand livres. He issued a pastoral letter to his clergy, asking them to urge the people to restore to the granaries the grain they had carried. away. The people obeyed and, flocking to the cathedral, expressed their gratitude.
Boisgelin was elected to represent the higher clergy of his province at the States-General, 1789. His practical political wisdom and moderation appeared on many occasions; he voted, in the name of the clergy, for the union of the three orders, the abolition of feudal rights, and offered 400,000 livres to the public treasury; but he opposed the abolition of tithes and the confiscation of church property. His political sagacity and eloquence made him the recognized leader and spokesman of thirty bishops, his colleagues in the assembly. He spoke the language of liberty and that of religion with equal eloquence; he would have every citizen share in the establishment and maintenance of the government, with his political rights as indestructible as his natural and civic rights.
The majority of the assembly voted for the civil constitution. It denied the supreme jurisdiction of the pope, subjected ecclesiastics to the civil power, and decreed that all the members of the clergy, beginning with those in the assembly, should take the oath of allegiance to the constitution, under penalty of exile and the forfeiture of their salaries. Boisgelin rose to champion the cause of the Church: "Let the law", he exclaimed in the assembly, "leave us our honor and liberty; take back your salaries." It was he who wrote the famous "Exposition of Principles", signed by all except four of the bishops of France, condemning the Civil Constitution of the Clergy; it was he who in the name of his colleagues corresponded during two years with Rome, he who in a letter, dated 3 May 1791, proposed to the bishops to lay their resignations at the feet of Pius VI; in 1801 he effectively made to Pope Pius VII the sacrifice not accepted by Pope Pius VI.
When persecutions drove him out of France he went to England. In his answer to a letter from Edmund Burke in which the orator expressed his admiration for the spirit of disinterestedness and dignity of character of the French episcopacy, he complains that he is expelled from France in the name of that liberty he had in perfect faith contributed to establish, and under whose protection he hoped to end his days.
Boisgelin returned to France when Napoleon restored peace to the Church and to France by his Concordat, 15 July 1801. In 1802, he was raised to the archiepiscopal See of Tours and soon after created cardinal.
In 1776 he was chosen member of the French Academy. His works include:
His complete works appeared in Paris, 1818.
| Academic offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Claude-Henri de Fusée de Voisenon |
Académie française Seat 13 1776–1804 |
Succeeded by Jean-Baptiste Dureau de la Malle |
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company.