Michel Poncet de La Rivière

Michel Poncet de la Rivière (11 July 1671 in Strasbourg, France – 2 August 1730 in Château d’Éventard, near Angers, France) was a French clergyman, preacher and, from 1706 to 1730, the 79th bishop of Angers. He was the son of Vincent-Matthias Ponchet de la Riviere, the Lord Lieutenant of Alsace, and his wife, Marie Betauld; the nephew of , the 61st Bishop of Uzès (1677–1728); the uncle of Mathias Poncet de la Rivière, the 90th Bishop of Troyes (1742–1758); and the cousin of Joseph Poncet de la Rivière, the Jesuit missionary of Canada.

Early life Michel de la Rivière studied theology at the University of Bourges, where he graduated with a doctorate in 1695. His uncle rewarded him with the appointments as the dean of Navacelles near Uzès and the Vicar General of Uzès

On 7 June 1706, Michel de la Rivière was appointed as the 79th Bishop of Angers.

The Bishop of Angers As the Bishop of Angers, La Rivière was firm and orthodox. But he also found the time to dedicate in 1710 l'Église du Bon-Pasteur [ Church of the Good Shepherd ], built on rue Saint-Nicolas [ St. Nicholas Street ] in Angers, for the Soeurs du Bon Pasteur [ not to be confused with the modern Good Shepherd Sisters ], a local community of non-cloistered nuns; and to build, at his own expense, the Chapel of the Calvary, set against the Cathedral, as the shrine of the mission cross. He was also on a shortlist of three clergymen for the post of the preceptor of King Louis XV in 1714 As an orator, he was considered to be one of the best, along with Jean Baptiste Massillon and Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet. He earned great praise for two speeches he made at the Court – one of them in 1715 during Lent and the other in 1722 for the coronation of King Louis XV – but Saint-Simon felt that La Rivière's skills as an orator were not the equal of these important occasions. A year later, in 1723, his fortunes came to a sudden end. Philippe II, Duke of Orléans, the Regent of France, had just died. His death caused the clergy considerable distress because, in spite his notoriously dissolute lifestyle, his funeral oration would have to be delivered to the pleasure and satisfaction of the King and his Court. La Rivière was chosen for this job. But, during the funeral, when he came to the matter of the salvation of the Duke’s soul, the Bishop blurted, "Je crains; mais j'espere [ I fear but I hope ]". These words were enough to banish him from the Court. However, his oration remains as one of the best funeral sermons ever written in the French language. In fact, d'Alembert declared, "Quand l'évêque d'Angers n'eût écrit que ce peu de mots en toute sa vie, il ne devrait pas être placé dans la classe des orateurs ordinaires [ If the Bishop of Angers had not written these few words, he would be counted only among the ordinary orators ]." in Écouflant, 3 miles (5 km) north of Angers.

La Rivière left only a few speeches, sermons, harangues and parish letters, and a funeral sermon, Oraison funèbre de très-haut, très-puissant et très-excellent prince Mgr Louis, Dauphin, prononcée dans l'église de l'abbaye royale de Saint-Denys, le dix-huitième juin 1711 [ French, Funeral Oration of Most High, Most Perfect and Most Excellent Prince, Msgr. Louis, the Dauphin, delivered at the Church of Saint-Denis, on the Eighteenth of June 1711 ].

Another book, which seems to have been written by the Bishop, or at least by his secretary, appeared in 1721. The literal translation of its Latin title is:

Series of Lessions, of the Breviary of Angers, of the Most Reverend and Illustrious Father in Jesus Christ Don Michel Poncet de la Rivière, Bishop of Angers, Recognized by the Authority and Approval of the Venerable Chapter, Château-Gontier, House of , Printer and Bookseller of the Town and College, 1721, by the Privilege of the King.

Works

Oraison funebre du Cardinal de Bonzi, Archevêque de Narbonne (1704) Oraison funebre de Monseigneur Louis Dauphin par Michel Poncet de La Rivière (1711) Harangue faite au Roy (30 octobre 1715) Mgr par l'Eveque d'Auxerre (Michel Poncet) pour la cloture du General de l' assemblée clergé (1715) Harangue faite Son Altesse Royale Monseigneur le duc d'Orleans, Regent sur sa qualité de du Royaume . Par Monseigneur l'Eveque d'Angers Poncet de La Riviere des autres Accompagné Députez de l' Assemblée du Clergé general . À the Versailles Mardy 3 Septembre 1715 (1715) Consolantes fondées Reflexions sur la première pastoral instruction de Mgr le Cardinal de Noailles archevêque de Paris du 14 janv ., 1719 adressées par Mgr Poncet et de la Rivière aux Eveque d'Angers Fideles de son diocèse confirmer pour les dans leur foi (1716) Avis aux instructif curés (1717) Mgr Poncet de réponse de la Rivière, Eveque d'Angers, à M. Dublinean, doc. en théologie, sur l'appel au futur concile. Communiquée au clergé pour servir d'Anjou au sujet d'instruction dudit appel (1718) Mandement de l' Eveque d'Angers (Mic Poncet), portant condamnation d'une thèse soutenue dans la maison de Notre-Dame des Ardilliers de Saumur, 23 et 29 Aoust 1718 (1718) Lettre de l' évêque d'Angers (Mich. - Ponc. La Rivière) à M. the Marquis de **** (au sujet des des intrigues appelans). Angers 30 oct. 1720 (1720) Lettre de l' évêque d'Angers (Mic P. de la Rivière) à l' Abbé de Claye, (au sujet of a libelle calommieux) . À ce Eventard 7 Aoust 1721 (1721) Harangue faite a la Reine, 10 Septembre 1725 à Fontainebleau . Evêque the par Monseigneur d'Angers Poncet de La Riviere (1725) Réception et discours de réponse de l' Abbé de Rothelin (1729)