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Pascal, J

Name: Jacqueline Pascal

Achievements: Jansenist nun, and Blaise Pascal’s sister.

Born: October 4, 1625; Clermont, France

Died: October 4, 1661; Paris, France (Aged 36)

Field & Discipline: Religion; Nun

Language: French

Father: Etienne Pascal

Mother: Antoinette Begon

Siblings: Blaise; Gilberte; Jacqueline

Spouse: None

Children: None

Education: Privately at home

Life & Times:

From the age of six, Jacqueline Pascal was brought up in Paris where her father had taken his motherless children, principally in order to get a good education for her brother, [brother was] Blaise Pascal*. She wrote poetry as a child and in 1638, when she was thirteen, had a volume of poems printed.

She was an exceptionally beautiful but in her early teens her looks were spoiled after she contracted smallpox, an event she interpreted even then as a sign that God would keep her innocent. At Rouen, where her father was sent on government business, Jacqueline met the dramatist [encouraged by] Corneille* who helped her with her poetry and who advised her to enter a competition which she won.

Corneille made her acceptance speech for her. In 1646 the Pascals were introduced to the works of the Dutch theologian [a follower of] Jansen*. After meeting the spiritual director of the Jansenist convent of Port Royal des Champs Jacqueline decided to become a nun.

The convent had  been revived in 1648 under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop of Paris, and the direction of Mere Angelique, a relative of [knew] Arnauld*. It was located in the valley of the Chevreuse near Paris and was a model of devotion and self-denial and devoted to the idea of rational piety. There was also a Port Royal convent in Paris.  Jacqueline's father returned to Paris in 1648 and strongly opposed Jacqueline's desire to enter the convent.

She retired from social life, visiting the sick and her friends at Port Royal, and in 1652 after her father died she entered the convent of Port Royal in Paris at the age of twenty-six.  Blaise Pascal, who was very attached to his sister and could not bear the thought of losing her company, argued against her plan, and for a time he denied her money from their father's estate which Jacqueline wished to take as her dowry to the convent.

In May 1652 she took her vows as a novice and became known as Jacqueline de Ste. Euphemie.

In 1654 Blaise Pascal also converted to Jansenism. The Jansenists and the Port Royal communities were subjected to constant hostility from the Jesuits, who in turn were supported by [opposed by] Mazarin* in government.  A document condemning Jansenism was drawn up which all ecclesiastical and religious communities in France were required to sign.

Arnauld defended the Jansenist cause but the Queen Regent, Anne of Austria, ordered the destruction of Port Royal. The convent was saved by the recording of a miracle at Port Royal which was confirmed by the king's doctor, after which the Queen withdrew her plans.

Jacqueline wrote a poem about the miracle, and the holy relic which was credited with causing it;  the convent allowed the poem to be published.

Jacqueline, although young, was appointed second novice mistress and put in charge of the education of some of the younger children who attended the Port Royal school.  In 1657 she became novice mistress and deputy Prioress.

When [persecuted by] Louis XIV* took power in 1660, he renewed the attack on Jansenism, and religious communities were once again required to sign a declaration that Janenism was heretical. The Port Royal communities refused,  and in April 1661 ordered to send all scholars and novices back to their families. Jacqueline was subjected to examination of her beliefs by one of the Grand Vicars of the Archbishopric of Paris and she refused to acknowledge any heresy in Jansenism.

Together with the Archbishopric, Arnauld produced a compromise document which Jansenists could sign and which would guarantee the safety of the nuns. He and Blaise Pascal, who refused to compromise, fell out over this.  Pascal eventually agreed that the nuns could sign but was so upset at this compromise he fainted.

Jacqueline was equally strong in her belief and  she refused to sign for a long time, felt debased because she had given in, and wrote that the episode had broken her heart. She became seriously ill and three months later.

Assessment: The trigger for her brother's conversion to Jansenism, she was one of the foremost followers of Jansenism in seventeenth century France.

Oneliner: Jacqueline Pascal, sister of Blaise Pascal and Jansenist nun

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