Francois Fenelon’s life was marked by zealous devotion to the order, authority, and preservation of the Roman Catholic Church and this passion often led to many inconsistencies in his life and thinking. Born in 1651 in Perigord, France, Fenelon’s zeal for knowledge showed even as a young child. As a young boy he entered the Jesuit College at Cahors, the continued his education at the Jesuit College du Plessis, and finished his theological training at the Seminary of St Sulpice. At the age of twenty-four he was ordained to the priesthood and began serving at St Sulpice. Showing early signs of promise, Fenelon quickly moved up in the Catholic order and began forming a reputation for being gifted educator. In 1689 he was appointed preceptor
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In his great enthusiasm for the Roman Catholic Church Fenelon became known for his persecution of the French Huguenots. Though he understood the triviality of a forced confession his zeal led him to bring the Huguenots back into the Catholic fold by whatever means necessary. Fenelon commitment to morality clashed with the corruption of the Catholic church of the day and ultimately led to Fenelon gaining many enemies with in the civil and ecclesiastical communities. Fenelon was highly influenced by the growing mystic movement of the day which caused a great schism between him and his childhood friend and fellow priest, Bossuet. When this mysticism was suppressed by the church, Fenelon quietly bowed to the churches authority. Even so, this dispute cost Fenelon greatly. He eventually would quietly live out the rest of his ministry tending to his duties at Cambrai. As to his preaching, Fenelon became known as a preacher who, “spoke from the heart as well as from the head.” His preaching was filled with devotional interests of the pious mystics of the day and sought to mold sermons that met the needs of the people who heard him. Though a mark on his ministry it is the mystic devotions that continue to draw people to the writings
In his great enthusiasm for the Roman Catholic Church Fenelon became known for his persecution of the French Huguenots. Though he understood the triviality of a forced confession his zeal led him to bring the Huguenots back into the Catholic fold by whatever means necessary. Fenelon commitment to morality clashed with the corruption of the Catholic church of the day and ultimately led to Fenelon gaining many enemies with in the civil and ecclesiastical communities. Fenelon was highly influenced by the growing mystic movement of the day which caused a great schism between him and his childhood friend and fellow priest, Bossuet. When this mysticism was suppressed by the church, Fenelon quietly bowed to the churches authority. Even so, this dispute cost Fenelon greatly. He eventually would quietly live out the rest of his ministry tending to his duties at Cambrai. As to his preaching, Fenelon became known as a preacher who, “spoke from the heart as well as from the head.” His preaching was filled with devotional interests of the pious mystics of the day and sought to mold sermons that met the needs of the people who heard him. Though a mark on his ministry it is the mystic devotions that continue to draw people to the writings