Editing Augustin-Jean Fresnel (section)

=== Religious formation ===
Fresnel's parents were [[Catholic Church|Roman Catholics]] of the [[Jansenism|Jansenist]] sect, characterized by an extreme [[Augustine of Hippo|Augustinian]] view of [[original sin]]. Religion took first place in the boys' home-schooling. In&nbsp;1802, his mother said:
{{Blockquote|I pray God to give my son the grace to employ the great talents, which he has received, for his own benefit, and for the God of all. Much will be asked from him to whom much has been given, and most will be required of him who has received most.<ref>Kneller, tr.&nbsp;Kettle, 1911, p.&nbsp;147.&nbsp; Kneller interprets the quote as referring to Augustin; but Verdet (in Fresnel, 1866–70, vol.&nbsp;1, pp.&nbsp;xcviii–xcix), cited by Silliman (1967, p.&nbsp;8), gives it a different context, referring to Louis's academic success.</ref>}}
Augustin remained a Jansenist.<ref>Levitt, 2013, p.&nbsp;24.</ref> He regarded his intellectual talents as gifts from God, and considered it his duty to use them for the benefit of others.<ref>Kneller, 1911, p.&nbsp;148.</ref> According to his fellow engineer Alphonse Duleau, who helped to nurse him through his final illness, Fresnel saw the study of nature as part of the study of the power and goodness of God. He placed virtue above science and genius. In his last days he prayed for "strength of soul," not against death alone, but against "the interruption of discoveries… of which he hoped to derive useful applications."{{hsp}}<ref>Kneller, 1911, pp.&nbsp;148–149n; cf.&nbsp;Arago, 1857, p.&nbsp;470.</ref>

Jansenism is considered [[heresy|heretical]] by the Roman Catholic Church, and Grattan-Guinness suggests this is why Fresnel never gained a permanent academic teaching post;<ref>Grattan-Guinness, 1990, pp.&nbsp;914–915.</ref> his only teaching appointment was at the [[Athénée de Luxembourg|Athénée]] in the winter of 1819–20.{{r|brock-1909}}<ref>Fresnel, 1866–70, vol.&nbsp;1, p.&nbsp;xcvii.</ref> The article on Fresnel in the ''[[Catholic Encyclopedia]]'' does not mention his Jansenism, but describes him as "a deeply religious man and remarkable for his keen sense of duty."{{hsp}}{{r|brock-1909}}