Changes

Constant's father was a shoemaker in Paris. Although the material conditions of his family were rather limited, Constant attended a school for the poor free of charge run by a parish and was able to attend a seminary. Ordained as a sub-deacon in 1835, he was entrusted with teaching assignments. Since he fell in love with one of his pupils (whom he thought to be a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary), he left the seminary prior to the ordination to priesthood. The relationship, however, failed shortly after this.

Constant's father was a shoemaker in Paris. Although the material conditions of his family were rather limited, Constant attended a school for the poor free of charge run by a parish and was able to attend a seminary. Ordained as a sub-deacon in 1835, he was entrusted with teaching assignments. Since he fell in love with one of his pupils (whom he thought to be a reincarnation of the Virgin Mary), he left the seminary prior to the ordination to priesthood. The relationship, however, failed shortly after this.

[[image:Eliphas_Levi_1836.jpg|left|Portrait of the young man, 1836|thumb]]Disappointed with him leaving his education, Constant's mother committed suicide a few weeks later. Constant then saw a period of erratic quest. Within the following year, he made the acquaintance of Honoré de Balzac, befriended militant socialist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Tristan Flora Tristan], and yet still dreamt of a future as a priest. This dream took him to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Abbey,_Solesmes St. Peter's Abbey], a Benedictine monastery in whose library of 20,000 volumes he became acqainted with scripts from early Christianity, by ancient gnostics, as well as the works of religious mystics. It was there he authored his first book "Le Rosier de Mai" which was as pious as it was romantic, but at the same time enthused about matters of love in such fancyful and vivid ways he was expelled from the monastery.

[[image:Eliphas_Levi_1836.jpg|left|Portrait of the young man, 1836|thumb]]Disappointed with him leaving his education, Constant's mother committed suicide a few weeks later. Constant then saw a period of erratic quest. Within the following year, he made the acquaintance of Honoré de Balzac, befriended militant socialist [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flora_Tristan Flora Tristan], and yet still dreamt of a future as a priest. This dream took him to [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Peter's_Abbey,_Solesmes St. Peter's Abbey], a Benedictine monastery in whose library of 20,000 volumes he became acquainted with scripts from early Christianity, by ancient gnostics, as well as the works of religious mystics. It was there he authored his first book "Le Rosier de Mai" which was as pious as it was romantic, but at the same time enthused about matters of love in such fancyful and vivid ways he was expelled from the monastery.

Since the archbishop of Paris, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Auguste_Affre Denis Auguste Affre], interceded on his behalf, Constant received an appointment as a supervisor at Juilly College east of Paris. Treated badly by his seniors, he wrote his first furious pamphlet, ''La Bible de la liberté''. Its publication in February 1841 not only caused a scandal within the church hierarchy, but also at the court in Versailles.<ref>A contemporary, if rather sardonic report of these incidents and of the following may be seen at: [http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb33497059p Mystères galans des théâtres de Paris]. Paris: Cazel, 1844. Page 88 et seqq.</ref> Constant was arrested and sentenced to a prison term of eight months and a fine of 300 Francs. Unable to raise this sum, he served eleven months in prison, studying the works of Swedish mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg.  

Since the archbishop of Paris, [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Denis_Auguste_Affre Denis Auguste Affre], interceded on his behalf, Constant received an appointment as a supervisor at Juilly College east of Paris. Treated badly by his seniors, he wrote his first furious pamphlet, ''La Bible de la liberté''. Its publication in February 1841 not only caused a scandal within the church hierarchy, but also at the court in Versailles.<ref>A contemporary, if rather sardonic report of these incidents and of the following may be seen at: [http://catalogue.bnf.fr/ark:/12148/cb33497059p Mystères galans des théâtres de Paris]. Paris: Cazel, 1844. Page 88 et seqq.</ref> Constant was arrested and sentenced to a prison term of eight months and a fine of 300 Francs. Unable to raise this sum, he served eleven months in prison, studying the works of Swedish mystic Emmanuel Swedenborg.