DESIRANT, BERNARD. - Augustinian theologian, b. at Bruges on 21 May 1656, d. at Rome on 2 March 1725. He distinguished himself by his vast theological learning and his mastery of many languages, especially ancient ones, which led to his appointment as imperial theologian, professor of Scripture at the Sapienza in Rome (known as via Clemente XI), qualificator of the Inquisition, and prefect of studies at the College of Propaganda Fide. The struggle he waged against the Jansenists brought him no small amount of trouble. His writings, all of a polemical nature, are also rich in autobiographical details and valuable for the history of the Jansenist movement in the 18th century.
Principal works: *Commonitorium ad orthodoxos* (2 vols., Louvain 1701; placed on the Index, decree of 26 Oct. 1707); *Honorius Papa vindicatus, contra jansenistas* (Aachen 1711); *Dissertatio dogmatica de oratione pluribus et publicani* (Venice 1712); *Actio epistolaris de Gratia et libero arbitrio, eiusque prosecutio* (2 vols., Aachen-Cologne 1712-13); *Auctoritas episcopalis vindicata* (Cologne 1713); *S. Augustinus vindicatus contra Quessellii propositiones* (5 vols., Rome 1721-22); *Consilium pietatis* (3 vols., Venice 1720).