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FIACC

1887. He belonged to an old family of barristers, and his parents wished him to follow the family traditions. He received his secontlary instruction at the hjcue of Rennes and stiulied law at the university of the same city. He was admitted to the bar at the age of nine- teen, but the loss of his first case disgusted him with the practice of law, and he went to Paris, where he secured a position as a bank clerk. His fondness for reading, which caused him to neglect his professional duties, led to his dismissal a few months later. He is next found in the service of an ad- vertising concern, then on the staff of an obscure Pa- risian paper, and finally as proof- reader in the offices of " Le Nouvel- liste". He had already begun to write. A short story, "Le club des Phoques", which he published in " La Revue de Paris", in 1841, attracted atten- tion and opened to F6val the columns of the most im- _ „ „ ^, portant Parisian

Paci^Henri-Corentin F£val newspapers. In

1844, under the pseudonym of Francis Trolopp, he wrote "Les mysteres de Londres", which had great success and was translated into several lan- guages. From this time on he hardly ever ceased writing, sometimes publishing as many as four novels at a time. 8ome of them he also tried to adapt for the stage but, with the exception of " Le Bossu" which was played many times, his ventures in that direction were unsuccessful. Feval's writings had not always been in conformity with the teachings of the Church. In the early seventies he sincerely re- turned to his early belief, and between 1877 and 1882 published a revised edition of all his books. He also wrote some new works which show the change. His incessant labour and the financial reverses he had suf- fered told on his constitution; he was stricken with paralysis. The Societe des Gens de Lettres, of which he was the president, had him placed in the home of Les Freres de S. Jean de Dieu, where he died.

Most of Feval's novels are romantic; in fact he may be considered as the best imitator of the elder Dumas; his fecundity, his imagination, and his power of inter- esting the reader rival those of his great predecessor; the style, however, too often betrays the haste in which his novels were written. The list of his works is a very long one; the best known besides those already mentioned are: "Etapes d'une conversion" (Paris, 1877); "Merveilles du Mont-Saint^Michel " (Paris, 1879).

LouANnRE AND BouRQUELOT, Litleralure coniemporaine (Paris, 1854); de Mirecouht, Lcs conlemporains (Paris, 1856): BuET, MidaUlons et camces (Paris, 1853).

Pierre Marique.

Peyjoo y Montenegro, Benito Jeronimo, a cele- brated Spanish writer, b. at Casdemiro, in the parish of Santa Maria de Melias, Galicia, Spain, 8 October, 107G; d. at Oviedo, 26 September, 1764. Intended by his parents for a literary career, he showed from a very early age a predilection for ecclesiastical studies, and in 168S received the cowl of the Order of St, Bene- dict at the monastery of San Juan de Samos. A man of profound learning, Feyjoo wrote on a great variety of subjects, embracing nearly every branch of human knowledge. In his writings ho attacked many old in-

stitutions, customs, and superstitions. He criticized, among other things, the system of public instruction in Spain, offering suggestions for reforms; and it was owing to his agitation that many universities adopted new and better methods of teaching logic, physics, and medicine. He naturally stirred up many controver- sies and was the oliject of bitter attacks, but he was riot without his supporters and defenders. In his long life he wrote many works, the full list of which may be found in Vol. LVI of " La Biblioteca de Autores Es- panoles" (Madrid, 1883). The subjects may be con- veniently grouped as follows: arts; astronomy and geography; economics; philosophy and metaphysics; philology; mathematics and physics; natural history; literature; history; medicine. Nearly all are included in the eight volumes which bear the title "Teatro critico universal 6 discursos varios en todo g^nero de materias para desengano de errores comunes" (Mad- rid, 1726-39) and in the five volumes of his "Cartas Eruditas" (Madrid, 1742-60). During the life of the author his works were translated into French, Italian, German, and after his death into English. At his death Feyjoo was laid to rest in the church of San Vicente at Oviedo. A fine statue in his memory orna- ments the entrance to the National Library at Madrid. Vicente de la Fuente, Vida y Juicio Critico de Feyj'do in Rivadeneira, Biblioteca de Autores Espafioles (Madrid, 1848- 86), LVI.

Ventura Fuentes.

Fiacc, Saint (about 415-520), poet, chief bishop of Leinster, and founder of two churches. His father, Mac Dara, was prince of the Hy-Bairrche in the coun- try around Carlow. His mother was sister of Dubh- tach, the chief bard and brehon of Erin, the first of Patrick's converts at Tara, and the apo.stle's hfelong friend. Fiacc was a pupil to his uncle in the bardic profession and soon embraced the Faith. Subse- quently, when Patrick came to Leinster, he so- journed at Dubhtach's house in Hy-Kinsellagh and selected Fiacc, on Dubhtach's recommendation, to be consecrated bishop for the converts of Leinster. Fiacc was then a widower; his wife had recently died, leaving him one son named Fiacre. Patrick gave him an alphabet written with his own hand, and Fiacc acquired with marvellous rapidity the learning necessary for the episcopal order. Patrick conse- crated him, and in after time appointed him chief bishop of tlie ijrovince. Fiacc founded the church of Domnach-Fiech, east of the Barrow. Dr. Healy identifies its site at Kylebeg. To this church Patrick presented sacred vestments, a bell, the Pauline Epis ties, and a pastoral staff. After many years of aus tere life in this place, Fiacc was led by angelic com- mand to remove to the west of the Barrow, for there "he would find the place of his resurrection". The legends state that he was directed to build his oratory where he should meet a hind, his refectory where he should find a boar. He consulted Patrick, the latter fixed the site of his new church at Sletty — " the high- land " — a mile and a half north-west of Carlow. Here Fiacc built a large monastery, which he ruled as abbot, while at the same time he governed the surrounding country as bishop. His annual Lenten retreat to the cave of Drum-Coblai and the rigours of his Lenten fast, on five barley loaves mixed with ashes, are men- tioned in his life by Jocelyn of Furness. He suffered for many years from a painful disease, and Patrick, commiserating his infirmity, sent him a chariot and a pair of horses to help him in the visitation of the dio- cese. He lived to a very old age; sixty of his pious disciples were gathered to their rest before him. His festival has been always observed on the 12th of Octo- ber. He was buried in his own church at Sletty, his son Fiacre, whom Patrick had ordained priest, occupy- ing the same grave. They are mentioned in several calendars as jointly revered in certain churches.

St. Fiacc is the reputed author of the metrical life of