Alexandre Vincent Jandel

Alexandre Vincent Jandel(1810-1872)

Alexandre Vincent Jandel(born atGerbéviller,Lorraine,18 July 1810; died at Rome, 11 December 1872) was a FrenchDominican,who becameMaster of the Order of Preachers.

After a college course atNancy,he entered the diocesan seminary there. He was ordained priest on 20 September 1834, then appointed professor of Scripture, and soon afterwards rector of the seminary atPont-à-Mousson.At this time he became acquainted with figures includingBautain,Gerbet,Maria Alphonse Ratisbonne,andJean-Baptiste Henri Lacordaire.Such was the impression made on him by Lacordaire, that he began to think of entering theDominican Order,hoping to restore it in France, where it had been destroyed by theFrench Revolution.

In 1839 he therefore went to Rome, consultedPope Gregory XVIon the matter, and finally received the habit on 15 May 1841. Two years afterwards Jandel and Lacordaire commenced the work of re-establishing their order in France. TheCatholic Encyclopediadescribes Jandel as "a ruler of men: calm, grave, sagacious, tenacious of traditions and customs, and pre-eminently practical", and recounts story in which a sermon atLyonon the power of the Cross led to Jandel being challenged by aFreemasonto prove the truth of his words in the lodge; Jandel supposedly entered it, produced his crucifix, and made the sign of the cross, instantly extinguishing the lights, throwing about the furniture, and causing the occupants to flee. Many persons in France placed themselves under his guidance.Pope Pius IX,however, called him to Rome, and made him in 1850 vicar-general of the orderad beneplacitum,and in 1855 general for six years.

Under Jandel's stewardship, several provinces of his order were re-established, and houses opened everywhere. He also contributed to the growth of the second and third orders of Dominican nuns, promoted devotion to therosary,and propagated the doctrine ofThomas Aquinas.Such were the services he rendered to theHoly Seeespecially as regarded theZouaves,that Pius IX, who was warmly attached to him, intended to make him a cardinal; but he was elected general of the order, on 7 June 1862.

He visited Ireland twice, and only weak health prevented him from visiting America. New editions ofliturgical booksand of the "constitutions" or legislation formed part of his characteristic work. He also paid great attention to foreign missions. During his term of office sixteen Dominicans were beatified or canonized. He presided at two chapters of the order, and theCatholic Encyclopediaconsiders him one of its greatest generals.

References

• Cormier,Vie du Révérendissime Père Jandel, soixante-troisième Maître Général des Frères Prêcheurs(Paris, 1890)

External links

• Works by or about Alexandre Vincent JandelatInternet Archive
• Biography,newadvent.org. Accessed 23 February 2024.