LE CLERC DU TREMBLAY, FRANÇOIS

Better known by his religious name, Father Joseph of Paris, intimate adviser of Cardinal richelieu and thus called the éminence grise; b. Paris, Nov. 4, 1577; d. Rueil, near Paris, Dec. 18, 1638. As the son of a magistrate and a noblewoman, he studied at the University of Paris and began a military career but, after travels in Italy and England, entered the Capuchin novitiate in Orléans in 1599. He was ordained in 1604, and was subsequently professor of philosophy, master of novices, and provincial of Touraine. He was also a preacher and devoted himself to the reform of religious orders. In 1617 he obtained from Rome the brief confirming his foundation of the reformed Benedictine nuns of Notre Dame du Calvaire (Calvairiennes) with convents in Angers, Paris, and elsewhere, for whom he composed instructions and spiritual works until his death.

True to the spirit of St. Francis, his spirituality is characterized by love of Christ crucified, and his first political interest was to rouse Christian princes to reconquer the tomb of Christ. He wrote an epic on the Crusades. But, unable to rely on the position of Spain, he put all his trust in a France strong within and without. In contact with the royal court from 1615, he favored the political rise of Richelieu, who, when head of the royal council, made him his most intimate counselor and trusted aid. Richelieu even sent him to the Diet of Regensburg, where he is credited with having frustrated the plan of ferdinand ii to have his son elected to succeed him as emperor.

Father Joseph wrote works in defense of Richelieu's policy, composed instructions for diplomats and generals, and at times revived the cardinal's own courage, making known to him the visions of his reformed nuns. Richelieu wanted to make him his successor and asked the cardinalate for him. As prefect of French missions in the Levant, which he fostered actively, he also concerned himself with other Capuchin missions. He left many spiritual writings, among which are Exercice des bienheureux practicables en terre par les âmes dévotes (1610) and Introduction à la vie spirituelle (1626).

Bibliography: Lexicon Capuccinum (Rome 1951) 870–873. joseph de paris, Lettres et documents … concernant les missions étrangères (1619–38 ), ed. g. de vaumas (Lyon 1942). g. fagniez, Le Père Joseph et Richelieu (1577–1638 ), 2 v. (Paris 1894) fundamental. l. dedouvres, Politique et apôtre: Le Pêre Joseph …, 2 v. (Paris 1932). É. d'alenÇon, Dictionnaire de théologie catholique, ed. a. vacant et al., (Paris 1903—50) 8.2:1530–33. Bonaventura v. M., Lexikon für Theologie und Kirche, ed. j. hofer and k. rahner (Freiberg 1957–65) 5:1133–34.

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