Jeanne Guyon facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon
Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon
Born	13 April 1648 Montargis, Orléanais
Died	9 June 1717 (aged 69) Blois, France

Jeanne-Marie Bouvier de La Motte Guyon (often called Madame Guyon) was a French Christian writer. She lived from 1648 to 1717. She was known for her unique spiritual ideas about prayer and faith. These ideas were different from what the Roman Catholic Church taught at the time. Because of her beliefs, Madame Guyon was put in prison from 1695 to 1703. This happened after she published a book called A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer.

Early Life and Family

Jeanne-Marie was born in Montargis, France, in 1648. Her father, Claude Bouvier, was a lawyer. As a child, Jeanne-Marie was often sick. She moved homes many times and her schooling was not always steady. Her parents were very religious, so she grew up with strong spiritual beliefs. She also learned a lot from reading books by St. Francis de Sales and from the nuns who taught her. For a short time, she even wanted to become a nun herself.

In 1664, when she was 15, Jeanne-Marie had an arranged marriage. She married Jacques Guyon, a wealthy man who was 38 years old. Their marriage was not happy. She faced difficulties from her mother-in-law and a servant. During these years, she also experienced much sadness. Her half-sister, mother, and a son passed away. Then, her daughter and father died within days of each other in 1672. She had two more children before her husband died in 1676. Madame Guyon became a widow at 28, with three surviving children.

Spiritual Journey and Teachings

Even during her marriage, Madame Guyon strongly believed in God's plan. She felt that suffering could bring blessings. Her spiritual journey deepened when she met Father François Lacombe, a religious leader. He introduced her to a way of thinking called mysticism. This is a path focused on a very deep, personal connection with God.

After her husband died, Madame Guyon lived quietly for a while. But in 1679, she reconnected with Father Lacombe. She felt called to travel to Geneva to help set up a home for new Catholics. This was part of a plan to help Protestants in the area convert to Catholicism. She moved to Gex in 1680 with her young daughter.

However, the project faced problems. Madame Guyon had disagreements with the nuns in charge. Her new spiritual ideas also caused concern. The Bishop of Geneva asked her to leave his area. Father Lacombe was also asked to leave.

Spreading Her Ideas

Madame Guyon continued to travel and share her beliefs. She went to Turin, then Grenoble. In 1685, she published her book, "Moyen court et facile de faire oraison" (A Short and Very Easy Method of Prayer). This book helped spread her ideas widely. The Bishop of Grenoble was worried by how popular her ideas became. So, she left Grenoble and rejoined Father Lacombe.

In 1686, Madame Guyon and Father Lacombe returned to Paris. She tried to gain more followers for her mystical views. However, this was a difficult time. The king, Louis XIV, was trying to stop similar ideas from spreading. He saw Madame Guyon's teachings as too much like "Quietism," which the Church had condemned.

Imprisonment

Because of her beliefs, Father Lacombe was arrested and imprisoned. Madame Guyon herself was arrested on January 29, 1688. She was held for seven months. She was released after she agreed to change some of the ideas in her book.

Soon after, she met her cousin, François Fénelon. He was a very important religious leader and became her strong supporter. Through Fénelon, Madame Guyon's ideas reached powerful people at the royal court. Even Madame de Maintenon, the king's wife, became interested.

However, other Church leaders became alarmed. They asked for her writings to be examined. After much discussion, her ideas were again rejected by Church officials. The Archbishop of Paris condemned her published works. Fearing another arrest, she hid for a few months. But on December 24, 1695, the police arrested her again. She was imprisoned in places like Vincennes and the Bastille prison. On August 23, 1699, she again signed a paper saying she would stop spreading her theories.

Madame Guyon stayed in the Bastille until March 21, 1703. After more than seven years in prison, she was finally released. She went to live with her son in a village near Blois.

Later Life and Legacy

Madame Guyon spent her last fifteen years in Blois. Many people, including visitors from England and Scotland, came to see her. She spent her time writing many letters and poems. Important supporters like Fénelon continued to communicate with her secretly. One visitor, Pierre Poiret, later published many of her works.

One of her most famous works, published in 1717, was Ame Amante de son Dieu. This book featured her poetry written in response to popular religious images. Madame Guyon said she even took these images with her into the Bastille prison.

Beliefs About Prayer

Madame Guyon believed that people should pray all the time. She thought that every moment should be devoted to God. She wrote: "Prayer is the key of perfection and of sovereign happiness... for the way to become perfect is to live in the presence of God." She felt that prayer was the only way to stay connected to God constantly. In one of her poems, she wrote: "There was a period when I chose a time and place for prayer... But now I seek that constant prayer, in inward stillness known..."

Grace and God's Help

In Christianity, there is a discussion about whether people are saved by their good deeds (works) or by God's free help (grace). Madame Guyon believed that salvation comes from God's grace, not from what people do. She thought that God gives His help as a gift, not as a reward for good behavior.

She wrote that people who try to earn their way to heaven through their own good deeds might feel too proud. She believed that humble people who simply trust in God's will are more easily helped by Him. She felt that God's gifts are given because He chooses to give them, not because people deserve them.

Death

Madame Guyon died on June 9, 1717, at the age of 69. She passed away at her daughter's home in Blois. She believed she had always remained loyal to the Catholic Church, even though her ideas caused much debate.

After her death, her works continued to be published, especially in the Netherlands. Her books, Moyen Court and Règles des associées à l'Enfance de Jésus, were placed on a list of forbidden books by the Church.

Images for kids

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  Mme Guyon

See also

• List of Christian mystics
• Christian mysticism
• Quietism
• Madame Guyon (in French)