FRANCE - The Fearless Preacher

Massillon was born at Hyères in Provence where his father was a royal notary. At the age of eighteen he joined the French Oratory and taught for a time in the colleges of his congregation at Pézenas, and Montbrison and at the Seminary of Vienne.

Massillon soon gained a wide reputation as a preacher and was selected to be the Advent preacher at the court of Versailles in 1699. He was made Bishop of Clermont in 1717, and two years later was elected a member of the Académie française. The last years of his life were spent in the faithful discharge of his episcopal duties; his death took place at Clermont on September 18, 1742. Massillon enjoyed in the 18th century a reputation equal to that of Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet and of Louis Bourdaloue, and was much praised for his eloquence by Voltaire, D’Alembert and kindred spirits among the Encyclopaedists.

Massillon’s popularity was probably because in his sermons he lays little stress on dogmatic questions, but treats generally of moral subjects, in which the secrets of the human heart and the processes of man’s reason are described with poetical feeling. He has usually been contrasted with his predecessor Bourdaloue, the latter having the credit of vigorous denunciation, Massillon that of gentle persuasiveness. Besides the Petit Carême, a sermon which he delivered before the young King Louis XV of France in 1718, his sermons on the Prodigal Son, on the small number of the elect, on death, for Christmas Day, and for the Fourth Sunday in Advent, may be perhaps cited as his masterpieces. His funeral oration on King Louis XIV of France is only noted now for the opening sentence: “Dieu seul est grand.” (Only God is great.) But, in truth, Massillon is singularly free from inequality. His great literary power, his reputation for benevolence, and his known toleration and dislike of doctrinal disputes caused him to be much more favourably regarded than most churchmen by the philosophers of the 18th century.

-en.wikipedia.org

Commentary: Jean Baptiste Massillon, 24 June 1663–28 September 1742, was a French Catholic bishop and famous preacher. The following are some highlights from his sermon “On the Last Day.”

1. Thus, my beloved friends, shall the revolutions and kingdoms of this world be brought to a conclusion for ever.

2. Man, during his abode in this world, knows not his own heart.

3. In this life we never behold the true state of our interior.

4. The sinner is oftentimes raised to honours and dignities, whilst the just man is obliged to tread the lowly paths of subjection and submission to his orders. On this great day, these evils shall be fully rectified.

5. What a consolation will it be to the just, to have the secrets of their hearts finally revealed!

6. Things will be restored to their proper order. The guilty will not triumph; will not escape the general opprobrium, nor the punishment which is due to their crimes: and an ample recompense will be given to the just man, in the clear and distinct view of an astonished and admiring universe.

The Scripture used was Luke 21:27: “And then shall they see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.”

An old newspaper reads: “Dissatisfied with Myself: Louis XIV had in his day a court preacher named Massillon. And it is told us that the king once gave him the following recommendation: ‘When I hear sermons by other preachers here at the court, I am well satisfied with them. But whenever I hear your sermons, I am very dissatisfied—with myself.’”

The fundamental principle of “worship services” should not be feel-good, but as King Louis XIV explained, “I am very dissatisfied with myself.”