JANNAEUS, ALEXANDER, the second of the Asmonaean kings of Judea; reigned in the beginning of the century before Christ; insulted the Jews by profaning the rites of their religion, and roused a hostility against him which was appeased only by his death, the news of which was received with expressions of triumphant exultation.

JANNES AND JAMBRES, the two Egyptian magicians who thought to outrival Moses in the performance of his miracles; supposed to be referred to in 2 Tim. iii. 8 as “withstanding” him.

JANSEN, CORNELIUS, a Dutch theologian and bishop of Ypres, born in Louvain; studied the works of Augustine, and wrote a book entitled “Augustinus” in exposition of that great Father’s doctrine of grace, which was published after his death, and which gave occasion to a great controversy between his followers, in France especially, and the Jesuits (1585-1638).

JANSENISTS, a party in the Roman Catholic Church, supporters of Jansen’s views, who, in opposition to the Jesuits, maintained the Augustinian principle of the sovereign and irresistible nature of divine grace.  The most celebrated members of the party were the PORT-ROYALISTS (q. v.) of France, in particular Arnauld and Pascal, and they were opposed not only by the Jesuits, but by both Louis XIV. and the Pope.  Driven from France on the death of Louis, they took refuge in Holland, and thither the Pope Clement XI. followed them, first in 1713, hurling a bull against them, and then in 1719 by ex-communicating them and driving them for good from within the pale of the Catholic Church.

JANUARIUS, ST., a Christian who suffered martyrdom under Diocletian, and whose head is preserved in Naples with a phial containing his blood which, on certain occasions, liquefies when brought into contact with the head.  Recourse is had to it on the occasion of public calamities, not without desired effects, and it is an object of worship.  Festival, September 19.

JANUARY, the first month of the year, so called as sacred to JANUS (q. v.).

JANUARY, EDICT OF, edict of date January 17, 1562, on which Catherine de Medecis granted certain concessions to the Protestants.

JANUS, a very ancient Italian deity who presided over the beginning of the several divisions of time, as well as the beginning of all enterprises, in connection with which he was worshipped; he had two heads, or faces, one of which looked behind into the past and the other before into the future, and this power of penetrating into both it is said Saturn endowed him with as a reward for receiving him on earth when he was driven out of heaven.