NEPVEU, FRANÇOIS. - Spiritual writer, born at St-Malo on 29 Apr. 1639, died at Rennes on 17 Feb. 1708. Having entered the Society of Jesus (1639), he taught grammar and humanities, rhetoric and philosophy. He was superior at Nantes (1679), rector at Vannes (1684), Orléans (1694 and 1700), Rouen (1697), and Rennes (1704). For several years he directed spiritual retreats.
His name has gone down in history for the composition of highly esteemed spiritual works, among which: De l'amour de Notre-Seigneur Jésus-Christ et des moyens de l'acquérir (Nantes 1684); Méthode facile d'oraison réduite en pratique (ibid. 1684); Pensées et réflexions chrétiennes pour tous les jours de l'année (Paris 1695); L'esprit du christianisme, ou la conformité du chrétien avec Jésus-Christ (Paris 1700). These works went through numerous reprints and were translated into the principal languages.