MARAN, PRUDENCE. - Benedictine patrologist and theologian of the Congregation of St. Maur, born at Sèzanne (Marne) on 14 Oct. 1683, died at Paris on 2 Apr. 1762. Transferred from Paris to Orbais (1734) and to St-Martin-de-Pontoise (1735) on account of opposition to the bull Unigenitus, he returned to Paris in 1737, where he spent the last twenty-five years of his life.
The learning and critical sense of M. are abundantly evidenced by the learned prefaces and notes to the special editions which he edited: the works of St. Cyril of Jerusalem (Paris 1720; PG 33), in collaboration with A. A. Toutee. He prefixed a preface and a critical life to the edition of the works of St. Cyprian, bishop and martyr of Carthage (ibid. 1726; PL 4), edited by E. Baluze. He completed the edition of the works of St. Basil of Caesarea (ibid. 1730) begun by J. Garnier. He published the works of Iustinus, Tatian, Athenagoras, St. Theophilus and St. Cyril of Jerusalem (ibid. 1742). Other works: Divinitas D. N. I. Chr. (ibid. 1746), against the Socinians (also published in French); La doctrine de l'Écriture et des Pères sur les guérisons miraculeuses (ibid. 1754) against the Abbé de Prades; Les grands de Jésus-Christ (ibid. 1756; Italian trans., Rome 1756).