Andre du Val. La vie admirable de soeur Marie de l’Incarnation: religieuse converse en l’ordre de Nostre-Dame du Mont-Carmel, & fondatrice d’iceluy en France, appelee au monde la demoiselle Acarie … Sixiesme edition reueue & augmentee. A Paris : Chez Adrian Taupinart, 1623.
Call Number: SpC. 271.97102 M224Yd1623
Vincent de Paul had no more trusted and admired advisor than the Paris theologian Andre du Val (1564-1638). Du Val held one of the two royal chairs in theology at the Sorbonne that had been created by Henry IV. He turned down all efforts to raise him to the episcopacy and would accept no other benefices. As a theologian he was best known for his efforts to establish a nuanced middle ground between Gallicanism and ultramontanism.
In his correspondence, Vincent de Paul refers numerous times to theological and other advice that he routinely sought from Du Val on the most important matters. In fact, it was Du Val who played the pivotal role in convincing Vincent to agree to take over the priory of Saint-Lazare in Paris in 1632. Vincent also consulted Du Val about the proposed introduction of vows in the Congregation of the Mission. Vincent had his friend’s portrait hung at Saint-Lazare. Du Val’s humility would not allow such a public tribute, and he asked that it be removed. He was also the uncle of two important early missionaries Philippe and Jean Le Vacher.
Du Val belonged to the circle of elite devots in Paris who were instrumental in laying the groundwork for the long delayed spiritual and disciplinary reform of the French Church. One of the other most famous members of this circle was the mystic Barbe Acarie (1566-1618). Along with Pierre de Berulle and Michel de Marillac, Du Val was responsible for bringing the reformed Carmel of Teresa of Avila to France in 1604. After the death of her husband, Acarie entered the Carmel at Pontoise in 1616 taking the name Marie de la Incarnation. Du Val remained her closest advisor until her death in 1618, and remained a zealous supporter of the order as it rapidly expanded in France.
The present volume is Du Val’s biography of Marie de la Incarnation.
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St. Vincent’s Reading List is recurring blog series exploring texts known to have been read and recommended by St. Vincent de Paul, those which can be presumed to have been read by him, and important works published during his lifetime (1581-1660). All materials discussed are held by DePaul’s Special Collections and Archives. The entire series may be viewed here.