LOUISMET, SAVINIEN. — Benedictine mystical theologian, in the world Irenée, b. at Sens (France) on 4 April 1858, d. at Buckfast on 19 January 1926. He completed his studies at the Cathedral school, then at the Minor Seminary of Auxerre.
A monk at La Pierre-qui-Vire (1876) and a priest from 1882, he exercised the apostolic ministry for 13 years among the Indians of North America, who had been entrusted to a Benedictine abbey. This missionary experience among the Pellerose made a profound impression on his spirit; he recorded his experiences day by day and published part of them in 1899. Returning to Europe, after a brief stay in Rome he was appointed conventual prior of Buckfast, in England, in 1902. Shortly thereafter, when the monastery was erected as an abbey, he relinquished the position and lived as a simple monk until the end of his intensely active life of study.
L. treated of the mystical life in an original and very simple manner, identifying it with fervent Christian life. This drew criticism, but the influence exerted by his agile treatises, translated into many languages, was considerable and profound. Works: Essai sur la connaissance mystique de Dieu, Tours 1922; La vie mystique, Paris 1922; Miracle et mystique, there 1923; La contemplation chrétienne, there 1924; Le mystère de Jésus, there 1925; Initiation mystique, there 1926. Luigi Arnal