LALLEMANT, LOUIS. — Jesuit, spiritual director, born in Châlons-sur-Marne in 1578, died in Bourges on 5 April 1635. Professor of philosophy at the College of La Flèche, and of moral theology and dogmatic theology in Paris; he was master of novices and instructor of the third year of probation in Rouen; when he died, he was rector in Bourges.
He displayed outstanding gifts as a spiritual director and was one of the most deservedly renowned Jesuits of his time; the so-called « school of L. » consists of his distinguished disciples, J. J. Surin, J. Rigouleuc, F. Nouet, and F. Nepveu.
He had a profound knowledge of ascetical and mystical literature. He left no writings, but after his death Fr. Rigouleuc collected, and Fr. Champion published under the title La doctrine spirituelle du p. L. L. (Paris 1694; Italian translation, Milan 1945), the spiritual instructions that he had recorded from the master’s own lips. They can be traced back to seven essential principles: consideration of the purpose of man, the idea of perfection, purity of heart, docility to the Holy Spirit, the interior life, union with Our Lord, and the orders or degrees of the spiritual life; and they are conducted according to the spirit of s. Ignatius and the traditions of the Society of Jesus.