Born Saint-Malo, 1782; died Paris, France, 1854. Converted from a careless life, he began ecclesiastical studies and was ordained 1817. His "Essai" (essay) on religious indifference caused him to be hailed as the foremost champion of the Church, but his second volume contained a philosophical system opposed by many churchmen. With Lacordaire, Maurice de Guerin and others, he founded the Congregation of Saint Peter, a religious society for the defense of the Church. After the Revolution he established the journal, "L'Avenir," to defend the Church against the government of the House of Orleans, and to oppose Gallicanism. The Encyclical "Mirari vos" of Gregory XVI condemned his ideas, and he discontinued the journal, but refused to submit to the Encyclical, renouncing his ecclesiastical functions, 1833, and publicly declaring his rupture with the Church by publishing (1834) "Paroles d'un croyant" (Sentiments of a believer), a denunciation of kings and priests. In 1848 he was elected deputy to the Constituent and Legislative Assemblies, but the coup d'etat of 1851 ended his political career. He died unreconciled to the Church.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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