THOMASSIN, D'EYNAC LOUIS de. - Theologian and jurist, born in Aix-en-Provence on 28 August 1619, from a family of ancient Burgundian nobility, died in Paris on 25 December 1695. At the age of 14 he was accepted by Fr. de Condren into the French Oratory, where he spent his life teaching and writing. His orthodoxy earned him the hostility of Gallicans and Jansenists. Of mild and timid disposition, quick and versatile intellect, and supremely methodical and exemplary piety, he is undoubtedly one of the most distinguished figures of the French Oratory.
Profoundly versed in the classical languages, mathematics, pathology, ecclesiastical history, and above all in theology and canon law, he left a very copious output: *Dissertationes in Concilia generalia et particularia* (Paris 1667); *Mémoires sur la Grâce* (3 vols., Louvain 1668); *Ancienne et nouvelle discipline de l'Eglise* (3 vols., plus index, Paris 1678-79, 1681); *Dogmata theologica: De Verbi Dei Incarnatione* (ibid. 1680); *La méthode d'étudier et d'enseigner chrétiennement et solidement les poètes, par rapport aux lettres divines* (3 vols., ibid. 1681-82); *Traités historiques et dogmatiques sur divers points de la discipline de l'Eglise et de la morale chrétienne* (2 vols., ibid. 1680-83); *Dogmata theologica: De Deo Deique proprietatibus* (ibid. 1684); *La méthode d'enseigner chrétiennement la philosophie* (ibid. 1685); *Traité de l'Office Divin* (ibid. 1686); *Vetus et nova Ecclesiae disciplina, editio latina post duas gallicanas auctior et emendator* (3 vols., ibid. 1688); *Dogmata theologica: Prolegomena, de Trinitate* (ibid. 1689); *La méthode d'étudier et d'enseigner chrétiennement la grammaire et les langues par rapports à l'Ecriture*.
THOMASSIN, D'EYNAC LOUIS de - Portrait.
*La méthode d'étudier et d'enseigner chrétiennement la théologie, la morale, l'histoire sainte et la langue hébraïque, avec cinq glossaires* (2 vols., ibid. 1690); *Traité de la vérité et de la mensonge* (ibid. 1693); *La méthode d'enseigner chrétiennement les historiens profanes* (ibid. 1694); *Traité de l'aumône* (ibid. 1695). He left various manuscript works, some of which were published shortly after his death. His name is linked to the monumental *Theologica dogmata* (though left incomplete) and to the juridical work *Vetus et nova Ecclesiae disciplina*.
In philosophy, Th. was a fervent admirer of Plato and St. Augustine; yet while not approving the direction of the scholasticism of his time, he did not stint praise for St. Thomas. In theology he followed the approach of Petau and the Oratorian Jean Morin, and thus did not neglect speculative theology, though he preferred the positive method, constantly grounding his thought in Scripture, the Fathers, and the councils. His theology is not arid but animated by the breath of his profound meditation: it is a theology of mind and heart that, illuminating the intellect, moves the will. His theological views, even when debatable, always bear the stamp of genius.