BOURDALOUE, Lours, cne of the greatest pulpit orators of France. was b. at Beurgem, ".0th Aug., 1632, and having, at the age of 16, entered into the order of Jesuits. obtained in succession the chairsof humanity, rhetoric, philosophy, and theological ethics in the academy of his native place. He showed a great capacity for science, hut his remark able powers of eloquence led his superiors finally to determine upon employing him as a preacher. Disdaining the inflated style prevalent among the tasteless pulpit oratorsof his time, he assailed with manly vigor and truly religious earnestness the passions, weak nesses, and errors of men. The dignity of his manner and the tire of his eloquence made him famous even when the publicatind was occupied with the festivities of Ver sailles, the victories of Turenne, and the literary master-pieces of Corneille and Racine. At the court of Louis XIV. he was remarkably well received. After the revocation of the Edict of Nantes, he was sent to Montpellier. in 1866. to labor among the Protest ants on behalf of the Roman Catholic church 13 particularly understood how to accom modate his eloquence to the minds of those whom he addressed. Simple among the
simple, a dialectician among ecclesiastics. he was equally is favorite with the common people and with the learned and the great. Ile was also much esteemed and beloved as a man; and in all circumstances, maintained unimpeached a high reputation for candor and honesty. In the later years of his life, he reliuquished the pulpit. and devoted his time to hospitals. prisons, and pious institutions. Ile died at Paris 13th May, 1704. How thoroughly his religious sentiments were governed bv the theological tenets of his church, may be perceived from these remarkable words which he uttered on his death bed: "It is Moldy reasonable that God be fully satisfied: and at least in I will suffer with patience and with love." Several editions have appeared of the collected works of B. (as 16 vols., Versailles. 1812, and most recently in the Pantlu'on LitiYrairt, 3 vols., Par. 1838). The best edition of his sermons is that published under the care of Bretonneau (16 vols. and 18 vols., Par. 1707-34). His life was written by Madame de Pringv.