Hamon, Jean

Hamon, Jean a distinguished French moralist, was born at Cherbourg in 1618. He was a graduate physician of the University of Paris. He had already established a great reputation, and was offered a good charge by his pupil, M. de Harlay (afterwards president of the Parliament); but, by the advice of his spiritual director, Singlin, he sold all his goods, gave the proceeds to the poor, and became a hermit of Port Royal in 1651. He nevertheless continued practicing medicine, visiting the poor in the neighborhood of Port Royal, and administering to them both spiritual advice and remedies. The Necrologe de Port Royal says: "After a life as carefully guarded as though each day was to be the last, he ended it joyfully by a peaceful death, as he had wished, and entered into eternal life," Feb. 22, 1687. He wrote Divers Traites de Piete (Paris, 1675, 2 vols. 12mo): — Sur la Priere et les Devoirs des Pasteurs (Par. 1689,2 vols. 12mo): — La Pratique de la Priere continuelle (Paris, 1702, 12mo): — Explication du Cantique des Cantiques, with an introduction by Nicole (Paris, 1708, 4 vols. 12mo): — Instructions pour les Religieuses de Port Royal (1727 and 1730, 2 vols.): — Instructions sur les Sacraments, sur le Jubile, etc. (Paris, 1734, 12mo): Explication de l'Oraison Doninicale (Par. 1735), besides other practical and controversial writings. See Necrologe de Port Royal (Amst. 1723, 4to); Thomas Dufossd, Histoire de Port Royal; Memoires de Fontaine; Dupin, Hist. Eccles. du 17me siecle; Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Géneralé 23, 272.