MASSILLON, nifi'set-ybx', JEAN BAPTISTE ( 16031742). A distinguished French pulpit ora tor. born at Ilyeres. June 24. 1663. He en tered the Congregation of the Oratory in 1681, and while engaged in teaching theology in the diocese of Meaux, he delivered an eloquent funeral oration on the Arehbishop of Vienne. which led to his being called to Paris and placed at the head of the Seminary of Saint Magloire. There a course of eonforenees, delivered in the seminary. established his reputation. More than any of his contemporaries. he was able to lay hare the secret springs of human action. He was twice called to preach in the presenee of Louis N IV. at Versailles. His funeral oration on the Prince of Conti. in 1709. was one of his greatest triumphs. In 1710 he pronouneed a funeral ora tion over the and in 1715 one on Loin; XIV. In 1717 Massillon was named Bishop of Cler mont, Inc] was appointed to preach before the young King Louis XV., for which occasion he com posed his celebrated it care me—a series of ten sermons preached in 1718. It was nut until 1719
that he was consecrated bishop, in which year also he was elected a member of the French Aeademy. In 1723 he preached the funeral oration of the Duchess of Orleans, his last public discourse in Paris. From this time lie lived almost entirely for his diocese of Clermont, where his charity, gentleness, and amiable dis position gained him the affections of all. Ile died of apoplexy at Clermont, September 28, 1742. His works, consisting mainly of sermons and other similar compositions, were collected in fifteen volumes, by his nephew. and published in 1713-46; later editions have appeared in great numbers, the best being that of the Guilin]] (Paris, 1828), and that of Blampiguan 18861. The latter has also published a biography of the great preacher. llassillon d'apres des documents inedits (ib., 1879).