Robert Morel (1653 – 19 August 1731) was a French
Benedictine
, image = Medalla San Benito.PNG
, caption = Design on the obverse side of the Saint Benedict Medal
, abbreviation = OSB
, formation =
, motto = (English: 'Pray and Work')
, foun ...
monk
A monk (, from el, μοναχός, ''monachos'', "single, solitary" via Latin ) is a person who practices religious asceticism by monastic living, either alone or with any number of other monks. A monk may be a person who decides to dedica ...
.
Morel was born in 1653 in
La Chaise Dieu,
Auvergne
Auvergne (; ; oc, label=Occitan, Auvèrnhe or ) is a former administrative region in central France, comprising the four departments of Allier, Puy-de-Dôme, Cantal and Haute-Loire. Since 1 January 2016, it has been part of the new region Auverg ...
. He took holy orders at the abbey of Saint Faron de Meaux in 1671; was sent to the abbey of
Saint Germain des Pres to finish his studies, and in 1680 became its librarian. He was afterwards appointed superior (prior) of a convent at
Meulan
Meulan-en-Yvelines (; formerly just ''Meulan'') is a commune in the Yvelines department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. It hosted part of the sailing events for the 1900 Summer Olympics held in neighboring Paris, and would d ...
, and at Saint Crespin de Soissons, and secretary to the visiting officer of France. Deafness, with which he became afflicted, obliged him to resign these offices, and he retired in 1699 to
Saint Denis, near Paris, where he divided the rest of his life between pious religious exercises and the editing of several ascetic works. He died on 19 August 1731 in the odor of sanctity.
He was a man of a clear, well-balanced, fertile mind; his words breathed charity and righteousness; but great modesty, joined to simplicity, served to conceal his talents. His publications are: ''Effussions de coeur, ou entretiens spirituels et affectifs d'une ame avec Dieu sur chaque verset des Psaumes et des Cantiques de l'Eglise'' (Paris, 1716): — ''Meditations sur la regle de Saint-Benoit'' (Paris, 1717): ''— Entretiens spiritueels sur les Evangiles'' (Paris, 1720): — ''Entretiens spirituels pour servir de preparation a la mort'' (Paris, 1721): — ''Imitation de Jesus-Christ,'' a translation, with additional pieces (Paris, 1723): — ''Meditations Chretiennes sur les Evangiles'' (Paris, 1726): ''— Du bonheur d'un simple Religieux et d'une simple Religieuse, qui aiment leur etat leurs devoirs'' (Paris, 1728): — ''De l'esperance Chretienne'' (Paris, 1728): — ''Effusion de ceur sur le Cantique des Cantiques'' (Paris, 1730).
{{DEFAULTSORT:Morel, Robert
1653 births
1731 deaths
French librarians