Portal de Periódicos da CAPES

Augustinisme, sexualité et direction de conscience : Port-Royal devant les tentations du duc de Luynes

2003; Ernest Leroux; Volume: 220; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3406/rhr.2003.935

2105-2573

Jean‐Louis Quantin,

Historical Art and Culture Studies

Augustinism, sexuality and spiritual direction : Port-Royal confronts the temptations of the duke de Luynes The duke de Luynes (1620-1690) converted to strict Augustinian Christianity and resolved to withdraw from the world. In 1651, then a widower, he settled in the vicinity of Port-Royal des Champs. He was soon assailed by strong sexual temptations and asked for guidance his spiritual directors, first Antoine Singlin (1607-1664) and then Isaac-Louis Le Maistre de Sacy (1613-1684). They forbad him to remarry and used him severely, thus refusing him communion on account of his repeated «falls ». Luynes eventually ignored their opposition and remarried in 1661 with his own aunt. The episode, which is documented by a spiritual correspondence exceptionally well-preserved, reveals the practical deadlock of Port-Royal's moral teaching.