"Men were astounded at this mortal's mortality." Bossuet was seventy-three.
A month later, on the 13th of May, Father Bourdaloue in his turn died.
A model of close logic and moral austerity, with a stiff and manly eloquence, so impressed with the miserable insufficiency of human efforts, that he said as he was dying, "My God, I have wasted life; it is just that Thou recall it." There remained only Fenelon in the first rank, which Massillon did not as yet dispute with him.

Malebranche was living retired in his cell at the Oratory, seldom speaking, writing his _Recherches sur la Verite_ (Researches into Truth), and his _Entretiens sur la Metaphysique_ (Discourses on Metaphysics), bolder in thought than he was aware of or wished, sincere and natural in his meditations as well as in his style.

In spite of Flechier's eloquence in certain funeral orations, posterity has decided against the modesty of the Archbishop of Cambrai, who said at the death of the Bishop of Nimes, in 1710, "We have lost our master." In his retirement or his exile, after Bossuet's death, it was around Fenelon that was concentrated all the lustre of the French episcopate, long since restored to the respect and admiration it deserved.
Fenelon was born in Perigord, at the castle of Fenelon, on the 6th of August, 1651.

Like Cardinal Retz he belonged to an ancient and noble house, and was destined from his youth for the church.

Brought up at the seminary of St.Sulpice, lately founded by M.Olier, he for a short time conceived the idea of devoting himself to foreign missions; his weak health and his family's opposition turned him ere long from his purpose, but the preaching of the gospel amongst the heathen continued to have for him an attractionn which is perfectly depicted in one of the rare sermons of his which have been preserved.