CELLIER, REMI. — Benedictine of the Lorraine Congregation of St-Vanne and St-Hidulphe, born at Bar-le-Duc on 14 May 1688, died in the monastery of Flavigny on 26 May 1761, distinguished pathologist. After his studies at the Jesuit college in his native city, he entered the Benedictine monastery of Moyen-Moutier in the Vosges at the age of 16. He remained there until 1718, when he became prior of St-Jacques de Neufchâteau; in 1724 he moved to the priory of Flavigny-sur-Moselle, of which he was prior from 1733 until his death.
He composed his first work while teaching theology to his brethren at Moyen-Moutier from 1710 to 1716, publishing it in 1718 under the title: *Apologie de la morale des Pères contre les injustes accusations du sieur Jean Barbevrac, professeur en droit et en histoire à Lausanne* (Paris 1718). The success of this first writing, which demonstrated a serious knowledge of ecclesiastical history and theology, led him to embark on a vast publication, the first volume of which, appearing in 1729, bore the significant title revealing the entire plan: *Storia generale degli autori sacri ed ecclesiastici, che contiene la loro vita, il catalogo, la critica, il giudizio, la cronologia, l'analisi e l'enumerazione delle diverse edizioni delle loro opere; ciò che esse contengono di più interessante sul dogma, sulla morale e sulla disciplina della Chiesa; la storia dei concili sia generale di particolari e gli atti scelti dei martiri*. By "sacred authors" he meant the inspired writers of the Bible. From 1729 to 1763, 23 volumes in quarto succeeded one another, carrying the enterprise as far as the middle of the 13th century, the last author studied being William of Auvergne. Pope Benedict XIV honored this colossal work with two laudatory briefs (1751 and 1753). C. was able to continue it thanks to the collaboration of his brethren and also to similar earlier works such as Ellies Dupin’s *Nouvelle bibliothèque des auteurs ecclesiastiques* and Tillemont’s *Mémoires*. The work remained incomplete. A *General Index*, in 2 vols., prepared by Rondet and Drouet, appeared in Paris in 1782. The Benedictine scholar was accused of Jansenist tendencies. These accusations may not be entirely without foundation; yet C.’s Jansenism is barely discernible, and it seems that Benedict XIV did not notice II.