Jean-Baptiste Henri-Dominique Lacordaire

Jean-Baptiste Henri-Dominique Lacordaire was a French Catholic priest, preacher, journalist, theologian and political activist. He was born on May 12, 1802 in Recey-sur-Ource, a village in the Côte-d'Or department of France. His father was a doctor in the French navy who died when Henri was four years old. He was raised by his mother, a devout Catholic, in Dijon. He studied law and became a lawyer in Paris, where he joined a royalist and ultramontane circle of young intellectuals. He was influenced by the writings of Bonald, de Maistre and Lamennais, who advocated for a revival of Catholicism in France after the Revolution. He also developed a passion for oratory and participated in several trials as a lawyer. However, he felt dissatisfied with his career and decided to embrace Catholicism again and become a priest. He entered the seminary of Saint-Sulpice in 1824 and was ordained in 1827. He was appointed as a chaplain of a convent of nuns and then as a second chaplain of the Lycée Henri-IV. He realized that the public education system was secularizing the youth and he wanted to restore the Christian faith in society. He became friends with Lamennais and joined his movement for a liberal Catholicism that would support democracy, freedom and social justice. He collaborated with him in editing the newspaper L'Avenir, which advocated for the separation of church and state, freedom of conscience, freedom of the press and universal suffrage. He also defended the rights of the Polish and Irish people against oppression. However, his views were condemned by Pope Gregory XVI in 1832 and he had to submit to the papal authority. He broke with Lamennais and sought a new way to reconcile his faith and his social ideals. He found inspiration in the Dominican Order, which was known for its intellectual and missionary activities. He traveled to Rome and obtained permission from Pope Gregory XVI to re-establish the Dominican Order in France, which had been suppressed during the Revolution. He returned to France in 1839 and founded a convent in Nancy. He also resumed his preaching career and became famous for his eloquent and powerful sermons at Notre-Dame de Paris. He attracted thousands of listeners, including many intellectuals, artists and politicians. He spoke about the Christian doctrines, the history of the church, the role of women, the social problems and the moral issues of his time. He also defended the papacy against the attacks of Gallicanism and rationalism. He founded several institutions to promote education and charity, such as the École Lacordaire in Marseille, a school for poor boys; the Society of St Vincent de Paul, a lay organization for helping the needy; and the Society of St John, an association for fostering Christian art. He also supported the cause of education for women and helped to establish several Dominican convents and schools for girls. He was involved in politics as well and supported the Revolution of 1848, which established the Second French Republic. He was elected as a deputy for the Bouches-du-Rhône department and participated in the debates on the constitution, advocating for religious liberty, universal suffrage and social reform. However, he resigned from his seat after a month, disillusioned by the political turmoil and violence. He remained loyal to the republic, but he opposed the coup d'état of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in 1851, which ended the democratic regime and restored the empire. He continued his preaching and writing activities until his death. He was recognized as one of the most influential and respected figures of the French Catholicism in the 19th century. He was also admired for his literary style and his spiritual depth. He wrote several books, such as Vie de Saint Dominique (Life of Saint Dominic), Conférences de Notre-Dame de Paris (Conferences of Notre-Dame of Paris), and Lettres à un jeune homme sur la vie chrétienne (Letters to a Young Man on the Christian Life). He was elected to the Académie française in 1860, becoming the first priest to enter the prestigious institution since the Revolution. He died on November 21, 1861 in Sorèze, where he was the director of the Dominican school. He suffered a stroke and passed away peacefully. He was buried in the school's chapel. He was beatified by Pope Pius XI in 1930 and his feast day is celebrated on November 15.