Fran�ois-Louis Blosius
(Also called de Blois).
A Benedictine abbot and spiritual writer, born at
Donstienne, near Li�ge, Flanders, 1506; died at
Liessies, 1566.
His parents were nobles of Hainault, his father being
Sieur of Jumigny. He became page to the Archduke Clares
(afterwards Emperor Charles V) but entered the Abbey of
Liessies when only fourteen. Whilst still a novice he
was sent to study at the University of Louvain, whence
he was recalled in 1527 to become coadjutor to the
Abbot, Gilles Gippus, his nomination as such being
confirmed by a Bull of Pope Paul III. Three years
later, in 1530, he succeeded Gippus as thirty-fourth
Abbot of Liessies, and received ordination and the
abbatial blessing in the same year. His first care was
the cultivation in his abbey of a true monastic spirit
and strict discipline, which had somewhat declined
under his predecessors. He had hardly settle down to
the work of reform before Flanders was immersed in war
owing to its invasion by Francis I of France, which
occurred in 1537. Liessies, being on the frontier,
became in consequence an unsafe habitation and Blosius
proposed a move to the priory of Ath, in the interior,
but most of his monks, being opposed to his reform,
either elected to remain at Liessies or else went to
other laxer monasteries. The abbot, however, with three
monks, returned to Ath and there he at once restored
the primitive observance of the rule. In spite of
opposition the reform gained ground and numbers
increased rapidly. When a return to Liessies became
possible, in 1545, the reform was accepted by those
that had remained there and was confirmed by a Bull of
Pope Paul III, Blosius next began a restoration and
enlargement of the abbey buildings, which were only
completed after his death. In 1556 Charles V offered
him the Archbishopric of Cambrai and the abbacy of
Tournai, both of which he refused in order that he
might remain at Liessies. In personal character he was
distinguished for his gentleness, his generosity to the
poor, his love of chastity, and his devotion to the
Mother of God. He was a diligent student, especially of
the Scriptures, the works of the Fathers, and the
mystical writers of the fourteenth century. His own
writings were numerous, the chief being
* "Speculum Monachorum", written in Latin
* "Entretiens spirituels", and
* "Instructions spirituelles et pens�es
consolantes". His complete works were first published
at Louvain in 1568 and have been many times reprinted
and translated.
G. CYPRIAN ALSTON
Transcribed by Tomas Hancil
[New Advent Catholic Website]
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From the Catholic Encyclopedia, copyright � 1913 by the
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