Growing into manhood during and towards the end of the Wars of Religion,  André began his studies of  philosophy - first at the Collège de Pontoise, then in Paris, dedicating his philosophical theses to Cardinal de Gondi, archbishop of Paris and Abbé de St-Martin lez Pontoise.  Uncertain of a career on which to embark, he then studied law. Eventually,  he began studies in theology in preparation for Priesthood, receiving a Doctorate in Theology, apparently being ‘top of his class’ in this discipline.   

Becoming a lecturer in theology at the Sorbonne University. in Paris, he made he made a significant impact on the reform of a number of Religious Orders and Institutions in France.  As a theologian in the Sorbonne, Duval was further able to dedicate his talents and prestige to the Catholic Restoration in France by concentration upon restoring the University of Paris to its role as the intellectual stronghold of Catholicism. Two ideas dominated his theological attitudes.  A dedicated disciple of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Duval was concerned that only re-dedication to authentic Thomism could offer the foundation requisite for the refutation of heresy and the revival of Catholicism.  Secondly, he staunchly defended the infallibility of the pope and papal supremacy in spiritual affairs. André Duval was an ultramontanist.   Since he was a Doctor of the Sorbonne,  the gallican dispute in regard to papal authority eventually involved Duval.

As a Person

Duval was an austere, perhaps even dour man. He visited the poor and was himself quite poor. His Lectureship in Theology at the Sorbonne brought in 700 livres annually and he lived simply – no fancy furniture or clothes. His room had no floor covering, just one bed and five plain chairs, and no silverware. When he eventually relinquished his Lectureship, he was unwilling to accept a pension.  Like his father before him, Duval was not concerned about accepting preferments to better his state. He refused several benefices, and even though he was proposed and named Archbishop of Rheims, he would not accept the appointment.

In his religious and spiritual life, he was devout to the point of mysticism, for a time a disciple of Cardinal Pierre de Bérulle (founder of the Oratory), a friend of Benoît de Canfeld (Benet of Canfield) the English Capuchin monk and spiritual writer. He was very much influenced by Mme Acarie, herself a mystic. It was in writing the life of Mme Acarie that his knowledge of theology preserved him from error and misunderstandings in describing her unusual piety, including her experience of the stigmata.

He was also somewhat modest as to his own appearance. He had been told that, being un bel homme  who had un beau visage, he should have his picture sketched. He refused, but his portrait was drawn without his knowledge.  Vincent de Paul was given one of the copies of the sketch and displayed it at St Lazare.  When Duval, visiting St Lazare, saw it there, he was overcome with confusion, so much so that he compelled Vincent to remove it from sight.  This Vincent did, until after the death of Duval, when the picture was again displayed, along with those of others known for their virtue and piety.
    

During his life, Vincent consulted and deferred to André Duval many times. The matters on which he consulted Duval were both large and small.  An example was the acceptance of the Priory of St Lazare in 1631.  For a number of years, Vincent had looked to Pierre de Bérulle for guidance on the professional level, in matters concerning his work and occupations, but he followed Duval’s advice more in matters of conscience. It would seem that Vincent found Duval just as wise as de Bérulle, but more impartial in his judgments and more saintly. Vincent said of him ‘He was a great doctor of the Sorbonne, but even greater for the holiness of his life. Speaking further about Duval, Vincent de Paul said of him “Everything is holy in M. Duval.  If I wanted to go through all the virtues I have seen in him,  I would never have managed it.  And so, I conclude that I have never seen anything in him which did not appear to me to be holy. Vincent gave a similar testimony on the occasion when the nephew of  Duval gave to a M. des Cordes, an adviser at the Chatelet, two small pictures that had belonged to Duval. Vincent said “These are relics of a holy man – do not refuse them.”

André Duval died on September 9, 1638, aged 74.  Though he was Vincent de Paul’s director for many years, he  never took over Vincent’s soul.  Vincent admired him, and respected him, but did not indicate he wanted to imitate him. In time, much of Vincent de Paul’s  developing spirituality focused on Providence and the Will of God.  And, from 1610 or 1611 up until 1638, in the forefront  of advising him with sound judgement, helping him to make decisions and to recognise the Will of God in the experiences and events of his life, was André Duval.  Clearly, this man had more than a passing role in the life and work of Vincent de Paul !

 

BIBLIOGRPAPHY

Williams CM, T., "Man Strokes of the Lash - André Duval", Oceania Vincentian,  3, (2002): 29-44