Louis Chardon

1595-1651. French Dominican mystic and theologian. Born at Clermont (Oise) of a wealthy family, he studied in Paris and entered the Dominican* Order in 1618 at the Annunciation Priory. He became ordinary preacher in 1632 and spent most of his life as spiritual director and novice master. All his works were written during the last four years of his life. His principal work, The Cross of Jesus, was written in 1647 and is a speculative and practical theology of Christian suffering, emphasizing the Christian's progress in suffering through grace. He produced French translations of Dialogue of St. Catherine of Siena (1648) and Institutiones divinae of John Tauler (1650). He wrote Meditation on the Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ (1650), La Vie de St. Samson d'Yore (1647), Raccourci de l'art de méditer (1649), and other minor works.