LALLEMANT, Louis. – Jesuit, spiritual director, b. at Châlons-sur-Marne in 1578, d. at Bourges on 5 Apr. 1635. Professor of philosophy at the College of La Flèche, of moral and dogmatic theology in Paris; he was master of novices and instructor of the third year of probation at Rouen; at the time of his death he was rector at Bourges.
He displayed outstanding gifts as a spiritual director and was one of the most deservedly famous Jesuits of his time; the so-called “school of L.” is formed by his illustrious disciples, J. J. Surin, J. Rigoulenc, F. Nouet, F. Nepveu.
He had a profound knowledge of ascetical and mystical literature. He left no writings, but after his death Fr. Rigoulenc collected and Fr. Champion published under the title La doctrine spirituelle du p. L. (Paris 1694; II. trans., Milan 1945) the spiritual instructions which he had noted down from the living voice of the master. These are reduced to seven essential principles: consideration of man’s end, the idea of perfection, purity of heart, docility to the Holy Spirit, interior life, union with Our Lord, and the stages or degrees of the spiritual life, and are conducted according to the spirit of St. Ignatius and the traditions of the Society of Jesus.