LUDOVICO FRANCESCO D'ARGENTAN. - Ascetic writer of the Capuchin Order in the province of Normandy, born at Argentan on 26 April 1615, died at Rouen on 8 July 1680. He was lecturer in philosophy (1641), provincial minister (1665–68, 1678–80), general commissioner in the Belgian regions conquered by Louis XIV (1674–75), and an indefatigable preacher.
From the manuscripts of his spiritual companion J. Bernières-Louvigny (v.) he composed *Le chrestien intérieur* (Rouen 1660; many editions and translations; Italian version, Venice 1661), in which he treats of the life of union with God; later appeared the second volume, on the purgative and illuminative life (Rouen 1676).
The first volume, which lent itself to quietist interpretations, was condemned (26 July 1689); other editions nevertheless appeared (the purged version [Pamiers 1781] fused the two volumes into one), and the Italian translation was reprinted with ecclesiastical approval (Turin 1899). The Italian edition (Genoa 1670 etc.) was also placed on the Index (7 July 1728).
Without incident, however, there continued to appear in successive editions, translations, adaptations and abridgements his *Conferenze théologiques et spirituelles du chrestien intérieur sur les grandeurs de Dieu* (Paris 1674; Italian trans., Parma 1683); *Conferenze... sur les grandeurs de Jésus Christ Homme-Dieu* (ibid. 1676; Italian trans., Vercelli 1778); to these, at the insistence of his friend and admirer St John Eudes, followed the *Conferenze... sur les grandeurs de la très sainte Vierge Marie, Mère de Dieu* (Rouen 1680; Italian trans., Vercelli 1778), with a theological, apologetic and ascetic exposition that sets forth in simple and fervent fashion the truths of the faith for the nourishment of the spiritual and contemplative life.