Baianism

Baianism is a term applied to the theology of Catholic theologian Michael Baius (1513-1589). It claims thorough Augustinianism over the scholasticism which held sway over most Catholic theologians at the time. It is the immediate historical predecessor of Jansenism, and with Jansenism it has been deemed non-orthodox by the Catholic Church.

He was born at Meslin l'Eveque near Ath in Hainaut, 1513, and died at Louvain on 16 September 1589. Though poor, he succeeded in procuring, in the various colleges of the University of Leuven, a complete course of studies, including humanities, philosophy and theology.

His first appointment, immediately after his ordination, was as principal of the Standonk College, 1541. Three years later he was given the chair of philosophy which he retained till 1550. In that year he took the degree of Doctor of Theology, was made President of the College Adrien and also substitute to the professor of Holy Scripture, then absent at the Council of Trent, the full professorship following two years later at the titular's death. Baius had very early formed a close friendship with Jean Hessels.

While the leaders of the university, Ruard Tapper, Chancellor; Josse Ravesteyn, Professor of Theology; were at the Council of Trent, Baius and Hessels profited by their absence to give vent to long cherished ideas and introduce new methods and new doctrines. On his return from Trent, in 1552, Chancellor Tapper found that evil influences had been at work and asked Cardinal de Granvelle, Archbishop of Mechlin, to interfere. Granvelle succeeded in quieting the innovators for a while, but Tapper's death, in 1559, became the signal of fresh disturbances. At the request of the Franciscans, the Sorbonne university of Paris had censured eighteen propositions embodying the main innovations of Baius and Hessels. Baius answered the censure in a memoir now lost, and the controversy only increased in acridity. Pope Pius IV, through Cardinal Granvelle, imposed silence upon both Baius and the Franciscans, without, however, rendering any doctrinal decision.

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