ABSTRACT
JeanneGuyon(1648-1717)hasalwaysbeenacontroversialhistoricalfigure. Authoroftreatiseson"theinnerway"toGod,biblicalcommentaries,several volumesofmysticalpoetry,andastoryofherlifepublishedposthumouslyin 1720,MadameGuyonwasreadinherownlifetimebyFrenchCatholics attractedbythespiritualistmovementsoftheseventeenthcentury.Butafter 1687herteachingswerecondemnedalongwiththoseofother"Quietist" figures-althoughsheherselfalwaysdeniedadheringtotheQuietistdoctrine. 1 Theofficialrejectionofherteachingsbythechurchwas,inanyevent,a dramaticsignofthewaningofthemysticalmovementsoftheseventeenth century.JeanneGuyonthoughtofherlifeasparticipatinginanestablished contemplativetraditionwhenshedecided,in1680,toleaveherhousehold andtravelacrossFranceasanitinerant"spiritualguide"withherfriendand collaboratorFran<;oisdeLaCombe.Inherautobiographyshetellsherreaders thatforherthiswasadecisioninspiredbypredecessors;shewasimitatinga hostofillustriousspiritualcouplesbeginningwithJeannedeChantaland Fran<;oisdeSales:VincentdePaulandLouisedeMarillac,MadameAcarieand PierredeBerulle,Jean-JacquesOlierandMereAgnes.Eachofthesewere alreadyfamousinstancesoffruitfulpartnershipsinwhichadevoutwoman andherreligiousdirectorworkedtogetherinpublictoteachnewdevotional practicesorpresenttheirownlivesasevidenceofGod'sgrace.2ButJeanne's mission,theaudienceshewastoreachandhermeansofcommunicatingwith them,andmostimportantlyherownpublishednotionofherrelationshipto bothherdirectorsandherfollowers,allevolvedinwaysthatdistinguishher fromthefiguressheinitiallywasimitating.Unlikeherpredecessors,Jeanne wasbroughtbeforeanecclesiasticalcourtandcondemnedforherparticular mysticalvision,inahighlypublicizedexaminationinwhichArchbishops BossuetandFenelon,thetwomostpowerfulCatholicvoicesinFrance, engaged,inprint,inalengthydebateoverherinnocence.Justwhyherwriting wassosingledoutisoneofthetopicsIwillexploreinthischapter.
