Belin, ALBERT (JEAN) French prelate and writer, b. in Besangon early in the seventeenth century; d. 29 April, 1677. He made his profession in the Benedictine monastery of Faverney, 29 December, 1629, and spent some time at the monasteries of Charité-sur-Loire, Nevers, and Paris as prior and subsequently as abbot. He was consecrated Bishop of Belley, 14 February, 1666. His works, which were written in French, are: “Pierre philosophale” (Paris, 1653); “Talismans justifiés” (ibid., 1653); “Poudre de sympathie mystérieuse” (ibid., 1653); “Poudre de projection demontrée” (ibid., 1653); “Le voyage inconnu” (ibid., 1653); “Principes de la foi demontrés par la raison” (ibid., 1667); “ Preuves convainquantes des vérités du christianisme” (ibid., 1666); “Emblémes eucharistiques, ou octave du trés S. Sacrement” (1647, 1660); “Les solides pensées de l’ame, pour la porter A son devoir” (Paris, 1668). He is probably identical with Alphonsus Belin, O.S.B., Prior of Charité-sur-Loire in the latter half of the seventeenth century, and author of “La vérité de la religion catholique et la fausseté de la religion prétendue réformée” (Nevers, 1683).
Hurter, Nomenclator (Innsbruck, 1893); Ziegelbaxjer, Historia Rei Literaria O. S. B, (Augsburg, 1754), III; Calmet, Bibliotheque Lorraine (1751).
Alexius Hoffman.