BOSSUET, JACQUES-BÉNIGNE. - French theologian, nephew of the great Bishop of Meaux, born in Dijon on 15 Dec. 1664, died in Paris on 12 July 1743. On 7 March 1716 he was appointed Bishop of Troyes. In his diocese he introduced not a few legal innovations, as he was an ardent follower of the doctrines of Port-Royal: thus he published a Missal (1726), which aroused strong controversy, and a decree (1729) against the Office of St Gregory VII inserted in the Roman Breviary by Benedict XIII (25 Sept. 1728).
He also published some unpublished works of his uncle, which gave rise to bitter debates. Among these we recall: *Defensio declaratoris clericalis*, whose complete edition (2 vols. in-4) appeared only in 1745, i.e. after B.’s death; *Élévations à Dieu sur les mystères de la vie chrétienne* (2 vols., Paris 1727); *Méditations sur l’Évangile* (4 vols., ibid. 1730-31). He resigned the see of Troyes in 1742 and retired to Paris. — V. Tav. CXVI.