Jansenism was a
Catholic theological movement, primarily in
France, that emphasized
original sin, human
depravity, the necessity of
divine grace, and
predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the
Dutch theologian
Cornelius Jansen, who died in 1638. It was first popularized by Jansen's friend
Abbot Jean Duvergier de Hauranne, of
Saint-Cyran-en-Brenne Abbey, and after Duvergier's death in 1643, was led by
Antoine Arnauld. Through the 17th and into the 18th centuries, Jansenism was a distinct movement within the
Catholic Church. The theological centre of the movement was the convent of
Port-Royal Abbey, Paris, which was a haven for writers including Duvergier, Arnauld,
Pierre Nicole,
Blaise Pascal, and
Jean Racine.