Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon

Guyon, Madame (1648–1717), French Quietist. Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Mothe in 1664 married Jacques Guyon. After his death (1676) she came under the influence of a Barnabite priest with whom she toured France. They were suspected of heresy and immorality and imprisoned. Mme Guyon was released through the efforts of Mme de Maintenon. From 1688 she corresponded with F. Fénelon, who found her mystical experiences authentic. J. B. Bossuet, however, distrusted her illuminism and wrote her a doctrinal letter in 1694. She requested a theological Commission to clear her of the suspicion of heresy, but the Conference of Issy (1695) condemned her writings. She taught complete detachment from the world, indifference to suffering and misfortune, self-abasement, and submission to God's will in pure love.

Jeanne Marie Bouvier de la Motte Guyon , 1648-1717, French mystic and author of writings dealing largely with quietism . Confined by the government (1688) in a convent because of her heretical opinions and her correspondence with Miguel de Molinos , she was released through the efforts of Mme de Maintenon. François Fénelon , who became her disciple, defended her in a famous controversy with Bossuet . She was later condemned and imprisoned (1695-1702) in the Bastille. Her collected works appeared (1767-91) in 40 volumes.

Bibliography: See her autobiography (tr. 1897).