Ceillier, Remy

CEILLIER, sêl´´lyê´, REMY: French bibliographer; b. at Bar-le-duc May 14,1688; d, at Flavigny, near Nancy, Nov. 17, 1761. He entered the Congregation of St. Vannes (reformed Benedictines) in 1705, and became titular prior of Flavigny. His great work was an Histoire générale des auteurs sacrés et ecclésiastiques, qui contient leur vie, le catalogue, la critique, le judgement, la chronologie, l’analyse, et le dénombrement des diffürentes éditions de leurs ouvrages; ce qu’ils renferment de plus intéressant sur le dogme, sur la morale, et sur la discipline de l’église (23 vols., Paris, 1729–63; Table générale des matières by Rondet and Drouet, 2 vols., 1782, new ed., 16 vols., 1858–69). This work is brought down to the middle of the thirteenth century, and is more complete and exact than the similar undertaking of Du Pin, but is inferior in respect to style and critical judgment; it is of most value for the first six centuries, for which Ceillier was able to use Tillemont and the Benedictine editions.

Bibliography: A. Beugnet, Étude biographique et critique sur Dom Rémi Ceillier, Bar-le-Duc, 1891.