NOUET, Jacques. - Ascetical writer, Jesuit, b. at Mainz on 25 March 1605, d. at Paris on 21 May 1680. He entered the Order in 1623 at Rouen. He distinguished himself for piety and sacred learning; from 1639 he devoted himself to the care of souls.
Endowed with a clear mind, he wrote several pamphlets and spiritual books, among which the most celebrated is L'homme d'oraison. Ses méditations et entretiens (6 vols., Paris 1675), which had a very wide circulation and was translated into German, English, and Italian. After his death there appeared in five volumes the sequel to the work: L'homme d'oraison. Ses retraites annuelles (ibid. 1692). N. belongs to the contemplative spiritual current, guiding souls to the higher degrees of union with God. He was also a zealous promoter of Eucharistic piety, urging souls to frequent and even daily Communion. He combated Arnauld and the Jansenists and was one of the best apologists of the Society of Jesus, defending it against the attacks of Pascal.