Albert (Jean) Belin

French prelate and writer, b. in Besançon 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 ves convainquantes des vérités du christianisme" (ibid., 1666); "Preuves convainquantes des verites du christianisme" (ibid., 1666); "Emblèmes eucharistiques, ou octave du très S. Sacrement" (1647, 1660); "Les solides pensées de l'ame, pour la porter à 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 las fausseté de la religion prétendue réformée" (Nevers 1683).