Migne, Jacques Paul
MIGNE, JACQUES PAUL (1800-1875), French priest and publisher, was born at St Flour, Cantal, on the 25th of October 1800. He studied theology at Orleans, was ordained priest in 1824 and placed in charge of the parish of Puiseaux, in the diocese of Orleans. In 1833 he went to Paris, and started L'Univers religieux, which afterwards became Louis Veuillot's ultramontane organ. On severing his connexion with the paper three years later, he opened at Petit Montrouge, near Paris, the great publishing house which brought out in rapid succession numerous religious works at popular prices. The best known of these are: Scripturae sacrae cursus completus, and Theologiae cursus (each in 28 vols., 1840-1845); Collection des auteurs sacrts (100 vols., 1846-1848); Encyclopedic theologique (171 vols., 1844-1866); Patrologiae cursus completus, Latin series in 221 vols. (1844-1855; 2nd edition, 1878 seq.) ; Greek series, first published in Latin (85 vols., 1856-1861); with Greek text and Latin translation (165 vols., 1857-1866). Unfortunately these editions, brought out in great haste and often edited by superficial scholars, do not come up to the requirements of modern criticism. By far the most noteworthy is the Patrology, which was superintended by the learned Benedictine J. B. Pitra. Its vast scope leaves it still unique and valuable, where other editions of special works do not exist. The indices in 3 vols. are arranged so that one may easily find any reference in the patristic writings. In February 1868 a great fire destroyed the whole of Migne's printing premises, but he established a new house in Paris, which was purchased in 1876 by the publishers Gamier Freres, who still own all the works brought out by Migne. He died in Paris on the 25th of October 1875. For a more complete account of Migne's life, see the article in the Catholic Encyclopedia (New York, 1906 seq.).
Note - this article incorporates content from Encyclopaedia Britannica, Eleventh Edition, (1910-1911)
