Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte

Guyon, Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte

(zhän märē` bo͞ovyā` də lä môt güēyôN`), 1648–1717, French mystic and author of writings dealing largely with quietismquietism,
a heretical form of religious mysticism founded by Miguel de Molinos, a 17th-century Spanish priest. Molinism, or quietism, developed within the Roman Catholic Church in Spain and spread especially to France, where its most influential exponent was Madame Guyon.
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. Confined by the government (1688) in a convent because of her heretical opinions and her correspondence with Miguel de MolinosMolinos, Miguel de
, 1640–1697?, Spanish priest and mystic. He was the founder of quietism, which he adhered to in its most extreme form. From 1669 he lived principally at Rome.
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, she was released through the efforts of Mme de Maintenon. François FénelonFénelon, François de Salignac de la Mothe
, 1651–1715, French theologian and writer, a leader of the quietism heresy, archbishop of Cambrai. As tutor to the duke of Burgundy, he wrote Télémaque
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, who became her disciple, defended her in a famous controversy with BossuetBossuet, Jacques Bénigne
, 1627–1704, French prelate, one of the greatest orators in French history. At an early age he was made a canon at Metz; he became bishop of Condom and was (1670–81) tutor to the dauphin (father of Louis XV), for whom he wrote his
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. She was later condemned and imprisoned (1695–1702) in the Bastille. Her collected works appeared (1767–91) in 40 volumes.

Bibliography

See her autobiography (tr. 1897).