Laurent Bénard (1573–1620) was a chief founder of the

Congregation of Saint-Maur The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), ...

. Bénard was born in

Nevers Nevers ( , ; la, Noviodunum, later ''Nevirnum'' and ''Nebirnum'') is the prefecture of the Nièvre department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in central France. It was the principal city of the former province of Nivernais. It is ...

and joined the Cluniac Benedictines at Nevers, became a Doctor of the

Sorbonne Sorbonne may refer to: * Sorbonne (building), historic building in Paris, which housed the University of Paris and is now shared among multiple universities. *the University of Paris (c. 1150 – 1970) *one of its components or linked institution, ...

and later Prior of the Cluny College, Paris, which he reformed with the help of two monks of the recently established

Congregation of St. Vanne The Congregation of St. Vanne or Congregation of St. Vanne and St. Hydulphe ( French: ''Congrégation de Saint-Vanne et Saint-Hydulphe''), sometimes also known as the Vannists (''Vannistes'') was a Benedictine reform movement centered in the Duchy o ...

. Refusing the abbacy of St. Etienne, Caen, and the grand-priorship of Cluny, Bénard passed through a second novitiate at St. Vannes, and renewed his profession there in 1615. At his suggestion the

Congregation of Saint Maur The Congregation of St. Maur, often known as the Maurists, were a congregation of French Benedictines, established in 1621, and known for their high level of scholarship. The congregation and its members were named after Saint Maurus (died 565), ...

was formed, to be for France what that of St. Vannes was for Lorraine. Royal letters patent were obtained for it in 1618 and the project was warmly supported by Cardinal de Retz and others. Bénard's works include "Parénèses", "De l'esprit des ordres religieux", "Instructions Monastiques", "L'éloge Bénédictin", and "Police régulière", all published in Paris between 1616 and 1619. Bénard died in Paris, 1620.

References

People from Nevers 1573 births 1620 deaths French Benedictines Congregation of Saint-Maur {{RC-clergy-stub