Why does the name Rue du Docteur Garasse sound familiar? It echoes the life of Francis Garasse. He was not a medical doctor. He was a French Jesuit.
Francis Garasse lived from 1585 to 1631. He was a preacher, polemicist and writer. Garasse was known for his wit and buffoonery. His writings stirred controversy. They were bold, licentious, and scurrilous.
Garasse is remembered for igniting enmity between Jesuits and Jansenists. This feud within the Roman Church began with his book. It was titled “La Somme Theologique des Verites Capitales de la Religion Chretienne”. The book translates to “Theological Summary of the Capital Truths of the Christian Religion”.
Garasse also attacked other theologians. He called Pierre Charron an atheist. He labeled him “the patriarch of strong minds.”
Born in Angoulême, Garasse joined the Jesuits at fifteen. He taught Jean-Louis Guez de Balzac at Collège Ste. Marthe. This was in Poitiers around 1607-8.
In 1611, Garasse published elegies on the death of Henry IV. He also wrote a poem for Louis XIII’s inauguration.
Garasse became a popular preacher in France. He sought public admiration through his writings. His style was witty and made impressions.
Under a false name, he defended the Jesuits. He published “Andrew Schioppii Casparis fratris horoscopus” in 1614. In 1615, he released “Andres Schioppii Casparis fratris Elixir Calvinisticum”. These works were violent and scurrilous. They were also full of buffoonery.
Garasse published exaggerated panegyrics. One honored Andrese de Nesmond. Another celebrated Henry the Great. In 1617, he satirized magistrate Servin.
In 1618, Garasse became a father figure in his order. For years, he lectured in support of faith. He spoke against infidels. His treaties were witty and virulent.
His most significant work appeared in 1625. “La Somme Theologique” caused dissension. It fueled hatred between Jesuits and Jansenists. The Abbot of St. Cyran attacked the book in 1626. The rector of the Sorbonne complained about its heretical opinions. He also noted falsifications of Scripture.
Initially, the Jesuits supported Garasse. Later, they banished him from Paris. The enmity between orders continued.
Garasse died in Poitiers at 46. He caught the plague while helping the infected.
Today, Rue du Docteur Garasse in Aulnay-sous-Bois bears his name. The street has existed in its current form since at least 2015. It serves as a reminder of a complex figure. He was a man of wit, controversy, and ultimately, sacrifice.