Hamon, André-Jean-Marie

HAMON, ANDRÉ-JEAN-MARIE. - Sulpician, theologian and orator, b. at Le Pas (Mayenne) on 18 May 1795, d. at Paris on 16 Dec. 1874. Professor of theology at the Seminary of St. Sulpice (1820-25), then rector of the one at Bordeaux, also with the title of vicar general (1825-51), he went on to govern, until his death, the parish of St. Sulpice in Paris. He refused the bishoprics of Montauban and of Le Mans.

Wide favor was met, and numerous editions and versions were had, by the biographies: Vie du card. de Cheverus (Paris 1837), Vie de Marie River (ibid. 1852) and, above all, the Vie de st François de Sales (2 vols., ibid. 1854; 39th ed. ibid. 1929) for the accuracy of the research and of the writing and for the altogether particular unction with which the facts are set forth. Equal and well-merited success was had, and is still retained, by the Méditations pour tous les jours de l'année (3 vols., ibid. 1872; 150th thousand, ibid. 1929; Italian trans., 4 vols., Turin 1918). It is also worth recalling: Traité de la prédication (Paris 1846); Notre-Dame de France, ou Histoire du culte de la ste Vierge en France (7 vols., ibid. 1861-66) and Retraites pastorales (2 vols., posthumous, ibid. 1889).

Celestino Testore