GIRY, FRANÇOIS

A Minim, author of ascetical, historical, and hagiographical works; b. Paris, Sept. 15, 1635; d. there, Nov. 29, 1688. His father, Louis Giry, lawyer, scholar, and translator, was among the first members of the Académie Française. François entered the minims in 1652 and made profession the following year. Under the direction of Nicolas barrÉ (founder of the Charitable Schools of the Saint-Enfant-Jésus), he progressed in virtue and knowledge. A professor of theology and master of novices, he held the most important positions in his order. Father Barré, while dying (1686), commissioned him to care for his charitable schools, and Giry fulfilled this trust for the rest of his life. His spiritual treatises are: Entretiens de Jésus-Christ avec l'âme chrétienne; Livre des cent points d'humilité; Explications … sur la Règle du tiers-ordre de St. François de Paule; Méditations pour les soeurs… du Saint-Enfant Jésus. Among his hagiographical works are the Dissertio chronologica … de anno natali et aerate s. Francisci de Paula (Paris 1680), and above all his edition (following L. Lippomano, L. Surius, P. Ribadeneyra) of Les Vies des saints dont on fait l'office dans le cours de l'année, 2 v. (Paris 1683, 1687, 1715,1719). This work, begun by Simon Martin, though lacking a critical approach, was a marked advance over earlier collections and is still in use.

Bibliography: c. raffron, Vie du R. P. François Giry (Paris 1691). l. morÉri, Grand dictionnaire historique (new ed. Paris 1759). e. d'alenÇon, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, ed. a. vacant, 15 v. (Paris 1903–50; Tables générales 1951–) 6.2:1377–79.

[j. daoust]