RAVIGNAN
668
RAVIGNAN
On the Notre Dame conferences de Ravignan'3
oratorical fame mainly rests ["Conferences du R. P.
de Ravignan de la Compagnie de Jesus" (Paris, 1S60,
4 vols., 5th ed., Paris, 1897); "Conferences of Revd.
Fr. de Ra\'ignan" (Lent of 18461, tr. Fetherston
(London, 1847), cf. also, "The Catholic Pulpit"
(London, 1849)]. The subjects treated were the end-
less conflict of truth and error, God, man, the
Divinity, Person, and Doctrine of Christ, the Church
and its dogmas. Here the orator introduced a course
of moral conferences, but returned to apologetics in a
study of the relations between reason and faith.
Reading these conferences now, we find little colour,
imagination, or
dramatic move-
ment ; we miss the
compelling mag-
net i s m of the
speaker. De Ra-
vignan was "^'^r-
tue preaching
Truth". His logic,
the serene author-
ity of his affirma-
tion, his unction,
his power in repose,
his noble pres-
ence, his priestlj'
zeal captivated,
dominated his
hearers. The
men's retreats
begun by him, and
in which he ex-
celled, completed
the work. Supe-
rior of his brethren at Bordeaux (1837—42), at Paris
(1848-51), then, as afterwards, he was preaching
in almost every important city in France. He was
heard also in Rome, in Belgium, and in London (1851)
where he assisted Manning at his first Mass. Every-
where he was winning souls.
In 1843-45, public opinion led by Thiers, Cousin, Michelet, Libri, Quinet, Beranger, had set against the Jesuits. Some said they were working for the Bourbons, others, that they were too loyal to the Hou.se of Orleans. Montalembert, Dupanloup, Vati- mesnil, Beugnot, Barthelemy defended them. De Ra\'ignan, the foremost Jesuit in France, was accused of haN-ing left the order; at another time, of having made unworthy concessions to the Government. He easily cleared "himself with his superior-general, Fr. Roothaan, and vindicated his order, its asceticism, its constitutions, its doctrines, its work, in a calm, logi- cal, but serenely eloquent book, "De I'Existence et de ITnstitut des'Jesuites" (Paris, 1844; 9th ed., Paris, 1879) ; tr. Seager (London, 1844) and Atchison (Lon- don, 1844). The book created a sensation, Royer- CoUard enthusiastically praising it. Twentj--five thousand copies were sold in one year, but the fight continued. Through its agent, Pellegrino Rossi, the Government of Louis-Pliihppe asked Gregory XVI to secularize the French Jesuits. The pope replied that to do so would be a \'iolation of the concordat and the constitution, that no crime was imputed to the order, that the French episcopate spoke well of it. He re- fused, although the Government and its agent tried to create a contrary impression. De Ra\'ignan ad- vised afirm constitutional resistance, but Fr. Roothaan, to si)are further embarrassment to the Holy See, with- out commanding, suggested that the French Jesuits might temporarily and partially disband. They did BO, and for a few years, as a corporate body, ceased to exist in France." A painful controversy with Mgr Affre, the future martjT .\rchbishoi) of Paris, whose measures against the order in 1844 Gregory XV^I was obliged to stop, was a sore trial to de Ravignan.
Throughout he remained loyal to the Society, respect-
ful but firm with the archbishop. Another trial
awaited him. In the campaign for the Falloux Law
(1850) for the liberty of education, though recognizing
the shortcomings of the measure and trying to elimi-
nate them, he urged the CathoUcs to unite and to use
their opportunities. He was accused of disrupting
their ranks, of being a blind follower of de Falloux,
Montalembert, and Dupanloup. He was again
triumphantly vindicated.
Twice again de Ravignan came prominently be- fore the public. In 1S55 he preached the I^enten sermons at the Tuileries, before Napoleon III and Empress Eugenie. Sickness had undermined his strength, but he spoke with much of his old \'igour, and with the same authority and unction. In 1847 Cretineau-Joly had pubUshed his "Clement XIV et les Jcsuites". His strictures on Clement XIV were severe and unfair. In 1852 the learned Augus- tine Theiner had written his "Geschichte des Pontifi- cats Clemens XIV". In it Clement XIII the de- fender of the Jesuits was attacked, Clement XIV, who suppressed them, wronged by injudicious flat- teries. At the request of Fr. Roothaan, de Ra^-ignan wTote: "Clement XIII et Clement XIV" (Paris, 1854, 2 vols). He endeavoured to put the facts in their true hght. The hterary merit of the work is not of the highest, but the author writes with im- partiahty and candour. The work of de Ra\-ignan's last years if not prominent or striking was fertile in results. The confessional, direction of souls, re- treats and conferences for noble ladies, familiar talks to the poor, employed his zeal. Many thought him careless of his reputation, but though anxious to do well, he preferred to do good. Honours sought him. Several times his name was mentioned for the Archiepiscopal See of Paris, but faithful to his vows, he refused the honour. He preferred to work as a simple religious in every good cause. He championed the proclamation of the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception, supported Petetot and Gratry in the re- organization of the French Oratory, and Muard in the formation of the Benedictine monastery of la Pierre-qui-Vire. After a two months' sickness, ten- derly watched by his friend, superior, and future biographer, de Ponle\-oy, he died a saintly death. Berryer had knelt in tears at his bedside; Mgr Dupan- loup preached liis funeral oration; thousands followed the remains of the "Apostle of Paris" to the grave.
Besides the volumes mentioned, de Ra\"ignan did not publish an\-thing of great importance. The fol- lowing works have been gathered and edited since; "Entretiens Spirituels" etc. (Paris, 1859; 7th ed., Paris, 1881); "Suite des entretiens spirituels," etc. (Paris, 1863, 2nd ed., 1871), tr. Ram, " Conferences on the Spiritual Life" (London, 1873; 5th ed.. New York, 1895); "La\-ie chrctienne d'une dame danslemonde" (Paris, 1861, 5th ed., 1895); "Fr. de Ra\ignan on Prayer" (Dubhn, 1S9-); "Pensces et Maximes (Paris, 1911); cf. also articles in "L'Ami de la Re- ligion", CXVI, CXXXIX to CLI, passim.
De Dampierre, Le R. P. de Ratianan (Pans. 1S5S) ; Mcllois, Vie du R. P. de Ravignan (Paris. 1S5S) ; de .S.iint-.\lbix. Notice hislorique sur le R. P. de Rarignan etc. (Paris. 18581: DE MlRE- COURT, Ravignan (Paris, 1858) ; Pocjovut, Le R. P. de Raetgnan, Sa Vie et ses (Eurrw (Paris. 1S58); DE Ponlevoy. Vie du R. P. de Rarignan (2 vols.. Paris, 1860; 16th ed.. 1907; tr. New York, 1869), the fullest and most authoritative biography; Veuillot, Melanges 2nd series. IV (Paris. 1860). 118; de ^I.^RGER^E, Eludes LitKraires, no. XII (Paris. 1865). 197-210; L.\t7HE.N-TlE. Milanges (Paris. 1S65). II, 254-7; Matn.vrd. Jacques Cri- lineau-Jolu etc. (Pari.s. 1875), 259-339; Hubert. Lellres infdUes du R. P.de Rarignan A Mgr Dupanloup. 1840-57 (Tours. 1899): Ledos. Le Phe de Rarignan (Paris. 1908); Broicnsons Quarterly Rerietc, XVIII. 211; The Catholic World. IX. 112; Hogg a Instructor. VI. 257; New Englander. XXIX, 23: Rerue du Monde Calhotique. IV. 33; V, 286; VI. 388: XVI, 637; Le Correspon- dant, CXI. 1000: Der Katholik. LII. 498: Prfcis Risloriqties (1855, 1858, 1869): DE L^TorRviLLE, Le P. de Rarignan el ses contradxc- teurs etc. (Paris, 1858).
John C. Reville.
