Marie Noël, born Marie-Melanie Rouget (Auxerre, 16 February 1883 – 23 December 1967) was a French poet, a devout Catholic laywoman and officer of the Légion d'honneur.[1][2] She was affectionately called "the Warbler of Auxerre".[3]
Marie Noël | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 16 February 1883 Auxerre, Yonne, France |
| Died | 23 December 1967 (aged 84) Auxerre, Yonne, France |
Biography
editEarly life
editMarie Noël came from a well-educated family that respected Catholic heritage but did not go above and beyond what was required of them—attending services when needed. Her father, Louis Rouget, was an agrégé in philosophy and a professor at the Collège d' Auxerre teaching both philosophy and art history. Her mother, Marie-Émélie-Louise Barat, was a devout Christian who was naturally happier and more outgoing than her father. Her family originated in Auxerre and had been river companions since the 1400s. They then became ship carpenters and, in the 18th century, building contractors.[4][5]
Death
editHaving become almost blind, she died peacefully on 23 December 1967, having taken holy communion one last time. Her funeral took place at Église Saint-Pierre d'Auxerre and was buried in the family grave in the Saint-Amâtre cemetery in Auxerre.[6]
Literary career
editMarie Noël was a deeply religious and even mystical woman, but she was also a passionate and tormented person. She is often only recognized for her "traditional song" works, which diminishes the literary value and emotional depth of her darker writings. One such poem is "Howl," which is the title of another of her poems, and it depicts the true "howl" of a mother torn between her almost animal suffering and her faith in God's acceptance.[7] Based on Jeanne-Marie Baude's reading of the Notes intimes, this passage highlights a particularly emotional torn between faith and despair that culminates in a blasphemous outburst immediately repented.[8]
Among the intellectuals she corresponded with during her period were Henry de Montherlant, François Mauriac, Jean Cocteau, Colette and Marthe Bibesco. She was also a close friend of French diplomat Léon Noël.[9][10] In 1960, she was nominated for the Nobel Prize in Literature by the literary critic Maurice Bémol.[11]
Beatification
editOn 10 October 2017, the Archbishop of Sens-Auxerre Hervé Giraud officially opened her cause for beatification.[12][13]
Awards and honors
edit- 1923: Prix Archon-Despérouses for Les chansons et les heures
- 1923: Prix Heredia for Les chansons et les heures
- 1940: Prix Alice-Louis Barthou
- 1949: Prix d’Académie
- 1953: Prix Alice-Louis Barthou
- 1958: Prix de la Paulée de Meursault
- 1962: Grand Prix de Poésie de l'Académie Française
Publications
edit
Poetry collectionsedit
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Posthumous collectionsedit
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References
edit- ^ Estaunié (Edouard), Une lyrique de la Province: Marie Noël, 1957-58, p. 1-20.
- ^ Noël (Léon), Remise de la croix d’officier de la Légion d"honneur à Marie Noël, 1959-60, p. 366-369.
- ^ Solène Tadié (11 April 2020). "Poetess (and Possible Future Saint) Captures Essence of Holy Saturday". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 1 January 2021.
- ^ Durr (René), La disparition de Marie Noël, 1967-68, p. 251-253.
- ^ Durr (René), La Société des Sciences de l’Yonne et Marie Noël, 1978, p. 5-9
- ^ "Marie NOËL (1883-1967): poems, biography, works and collections". unjourunpoeme.fr.
- ^ Daniel S. Larangé, Du discours mystique dans l’œuvre poétique de Marie Noël, dans Les Cahiers Marie Noël, 2010, p. 39-48.
- ^ Jeanne-Marie Baude, "Notes intimes" de Marie Noël, Paris, Le Cerf, 2012.
- ^ Jean-Claude Charlet, Marie d'Auxerre, Éd. de l'Armançon, 2005.
- ^ Yves Beauvois, Léon Noël de Laval à de Gaulle via Pétain (1888–1987), Septentrion, 2001.
- ^ Nomination archive – Marie Noël nobelprize.org
- ^ "1967". Hagiography Circle. Retrieved 10 October 2017.
- ^ "Ouverture officielle de la cause de béatification de Marie Noël". Diocèse de Sens & Auxerre. 23 December 2017. Retrieved 1 January 2018.