MAUR

MAUR, ST, was a celebrated disciple of St Benedict. If we can believe a life of St Maur ascribed to Faustus his companion, he was sent by Benedict on a mission to France. But this life is considered as apocryphal. In rejecting it, however, as well as the circumstances of the mission, we must beware of denying the mission itself. It is certain that it was believed in France as early as the 9th century; and notwithstanding the silence of Bede, Gregory of Tours, and others, there are several documents which prove this, or at least render it extremely probable. A celebrated society of Benedictines, took the name of St Maur in the beginning of the last century, and received the sanction of Pope Gregory XV. in 1621. This society was early distinguished by the virtue and the knowledge of its members, and it still supports the character. There are, perhaps, fewer eminent men in it than formerly; but this may be ascribed to the levity of the age, and partly to the little encouragement for the researches of learned men. The chief persons of ingenuity which this society has produced are, the Fathers Menard, d'Acheri, Mabillon, Ruinart, German, Lami, Montfaucon, Martin, Vaisette, le Nourri, Martanay, Martenne, Massuet, &c. &c. See L'Histoire Littéraire de la Congrégation de St Maur, published at Paris under the title of Brussels, in 4to, 1770, by Dom. Tassin.