The voice of bishops in pastoral literature The French case of Quietism

In his pastoral writings composed at the time of the Revocation of the Edict of Nantes, Bossuet uses an oral style of rhetoric. While Harlay and Noailles have stayed true to the tradition of prescriptions in the Quietist controversy, Bossuet and Godet des Marais try to persuade the faithful by transmitting their words in writing, or even orally. Such a stylistic diversity allows Fénelon to develop his Instruction pastorale in 1697, which announces his the way he will make use of the dialogue in 1714.