JACQUELINE

PASCAL (1625-T661)  , sister of Bla,ise Pascal, was born at Clermont-Ferrand, France, on the 4th of October 1625 . She was a genuine infant prodigy, composing verses when only eight years, and a five-act comedy at eleven . In 1646 the influence of her brother converted her to Jansenism . In 1652, she took the veil, despite the strong opposition of her brother, and subsequently was largely instrumental in the latter's own final conversion . She vehemently opposed the attempt to compel the assent of the nuns to the Papal bulls condemning Jansenism, but was at last compelled to yield her own . This blow, however, hastened her death, which occurred at Paris on the 4th of October 1661 .