CONTENTS.

CHAPTER I.

AT HOME AND AT SCHOOL.

GUSTAVE XAVIER DE RAVIGNAN, A CHILD IN BAYONNE, A STUDENT IN PARIS — HIS FIRST COMMUNION — HIS FATHER'S DEATH, 1

CHAPTER II.

THE SOLDIER AND THE MAGISTRATE.

GUSTAVE DE RAVIGNAN, LIEUTENANT OF CAVALRY, COUNSELLOR OF THE ROYAL COURT OF PARIS, DEPUTY PROCUREUR DU ROI — VOCATION — MYSTERIOUS DEPARTURE, 18

CHAPTER III.

RETIREMENT AT ISSY.

GUSTAVE DE RAVIGNAN MAKES KNOWN HIS ENTRY AT THE SEMINARY — RECEIVES THE TONSURE — FIRST THOUGHTS OF MONTROUGE — HE RENOUNCES HIS PROPERTY, 42

CHAPTER IV.

NOVICIATE AT MONTROUGE.

ARRIVAL OF THE ABBE DE RAVIGNAN AT MONTROUGE — ENTRY ON RELIGIOUS LIFE — HIS FIRST SERMONS, HIS VOWS, 60

CHAPTER V.

SCHOLASTICATE.

BR. DE RAVIGNAN BEGINS HIS THEOLOGICAL STUDIES AT PARIS — COMPLETES THEM AT D$LE — IS RAISED TO THE PRIESTHOOD — ORDINANCES OF JUNE 16, 1828, 81

CHAPTER VI.

PERIOD OF TEACHING.

F. DE RAVIGNAN TEACHES THEOLOGY — HIS PERIL DURING THE ATTACK ON SAINT- ACHEUL IN 1830 — EXILE IN SWITZERLAND — RETREATS FOR THE CLERGY, 91

CHAPTER VII.

THE THIRD YEAR OF PROBATION.

F. DE RAVIGNAN IN THE SCHOOL OF THE EXERCISES — RURAL MISSIONS — HIS THOUGHTS ON ENTERING PUBLIC LIFE, 108

CHAPTER VIII.

VARIOUS WORKS.

F. DE RAVIGNAN MINISTER AT SAINT- ACHEUL — SUPERIOR AT BORDEAUX — HIS EARLIEST STATIONS — HIS GOVERNMENT, 119

CHAPTER IX.

CONFERENCES AT NOTRE-DAME.

F. DE RAVIGNAN'S PLAN — HIS CORRESPONDENCE WITH F. ROOTHAAN — HIS RETREATS — THE STYLE OF HIS ELOQUENCE, 134

CHAPTER X.

ADVENT STATIONS AND DETACHED SERMONS.

F. DE RAVIGNAN TAKES HIS LAST VOWS AT LYONS — PILGRIMAGE TO LOYOLA — MISSION TO ROME — FUNERAL SERMON ON MGR. DE QU^LEN — DISCOURSE IN PRESENCE OF QUEEN MARIE- AMALIE — CONVERSIONS OF RUSSIAN SCHISMATICS, 167

CHAPTER XI.

THE PERSECUTION IN 1843 AND 1844.

PUBLIC OPINION DIRECTED AGAINST THE JESUITS — M. GUIZOT SENDS FOR F. DE RAVIGNAN — CHARGE AGAINST HIM AT ROME — ENDEAVOUR TO SEPARATE HIS CAUSE FROM THAT OF HIS BRETHREN — PUBLICATION OF HIS DEFENCE OF THE SOCIETY. 187

CHAPTER XII.

PERSECUTION CONTINUED IN 1845.

F. DE RAVIGNAN CONVEYS TO THE CHAMPIONS OF THE SOCIETY THE THANKS OF F. GENERAL — HE VISITS VALS AND THE TOMB OF ST. FRANCIS REGIS — HE ATTENDS THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES ON THE 2D AND 3D OF MAY — PLAN OF LEGAL RESISTANCE — M. ROSSI : HIS NEGOTIATIONS AT ROME — LETTER OF F. DE RAVIGNAN TO THE ARCHBISHOP OF PARIS — JUBILEE AT LIEGE, 214

CHAPTER XIII.

ILLNESS OF 1846.

F. DE RAVIGNAN FINDS PLEASURE IN SICKNESS — TEACHES SACRED ELOQUENCE AT VALS — CORRESPONDENCE WITH M. MOLlS — HIS RESIGNATION TO THE WILL OF HIS SUPERIORS — REVISION OF THE TOULOUSE CONFERENCES — HE SPENDS A SEASON AT EAUX-BONNES — NOTRE-DAME DE FRANCE — HE TRAVELS IN ITALY — DEVOTEDNESS OF MME. DE LA FERRONNAYS — HE RETURNS TO PARIS, 256

CHAPTER XIV.

RESIDENCE IN THE RUE DE SEVRES.

REVOLUTION OF 1848 — M. DE CHATEAUBRIAND ON HIS DEATHBED RETRACTS PARTS OF HIS WRITINGS — F. DE RAVIGNAN RECOVERS HIS HEALTH AT BlfeVRE — THE GENERAL OF THE SOCIETY VISITS PARIS — F. DE RAVIGNAN SUPERIOR OF THE HOUSE IN THE RUE DE SEVRES, 301

CHAPTER XV.

MISCELLANEOUS DISCOURSES.

F. DE RAVIGNAN REAPPEARS IN THE PULPIT — HOMILIES ON THE PASSION AT ST. THOMAS OF AQUIN — LAST TWO RETREATS AT NOTRE-DAME — MISSION TO LONDON — CONNECTION WITH THE CATHOLICS OF ENGLAND, 325

CHAPTER XVI.

CONVERSIONS.

GENERAL DONNADIEU — M. ROYER-COLLARD, PROFESSOR IN THE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE — PRINCE PAUL OF WIRTEMBERG — BARON WALCKENAER — M. DU CAMPER, THE NAVAL OFFICER — GENERAL THE DUKE DE BELLUNE — THE DUKE DE GRAMONT — TWO ACTRESSES, 341

CHAPTER XVII.

CONGREGATION OF THE CHILDREN OF MARY.

ORIGIN OF THE ASSOCIATION — MEETINGS AT THE HOUSE OF MME. DE SWETCHINE — DIRECTION OF THE CHILDREN OF MARY ENTRUSTED TO F. DE RAVIGNAN BY THE BISHOP OF ORLEANS — RETREATS IN THE RUE DE VARENNES — MARSHAL DE SAINT-ARNAUD AND M. DE SALVANDY ATTEND SECRETLY — DEATH OF MME. SOSTHENE DE LAROCHEFOUCAULD, 363

CHAPTER XVIII.

THE DIRECTION OF SOULS.

F. DE RAVIGNAN'S VIEWS OF THE SPIRITUAL LIFE: THEY ARE LOFTY, PRACTICAL, AND SOLID — HIS ZEAL THAT SOULS SHOULD MAKE ADVANCEMENT — CHARACTER OF HIS DIRECTION — A RELIGIOUS VOCATION SANCTIONED BY HEAVEN, 380

CHAPTER XIX.

INTERCOURSE WITH VARIOUS PERSONS.

GENERAL VIEW OF THE AMOUNT AND NATURE OF THE CORRESPONDENCE KEPT UP BY F. DE RAVIGNAN, AND OF THE VISITS PAID OR RECEIVED BY HIM — HIS OWN ROOM AND THE PARLOUR, 407

CHAPTER XX.

HIS SHARE IN RELIGIOUS QUESTIONS.

F. DE RAVIGNAN AVOWS HIS SYMPATHY WITH A PERSECUTED CHURCH — HE DEFENDS THE DOCTRINE OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION : ASSISTS IN THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE CONGREGATION OF THE ORATORY — BEGINNINGS OF THE MONASTERY OF THE PIERRE-QUI-VIRE — MEMORIAL IN FAVOUR OF FREEDOM FOR THE MISSIONS TO THE ALGERINE ARABS — DISCUSSION ON THE LAW FOR FREEDOM OF INSTRUCTION : THE LAW CARRIED INTO EXECUTION — THE COLLEGES AT METZ AND SAINT-ETIENNE — F. DE RAVIGNAN HAS AN AUDIENCE WITH THE EMPEROR, 434

CHAPTER XXI.

SICKNESS IN 1852.

ANXIETY AND ALARM OF THE PHYSICIANS — SELF-DEVOTION OF SCEUR ROSALIE — DR R^CAMIER'S COURSE OF TREATMENT — F. DE RAVIGNAN CONVALESCENT AT VERSAILLES — DEATH OF MARSHAL EXELMANS — SPIRITUAL EXERCISES FOLLOWED BY INTERNAL TRIALS — JOURNEY TO ANGERS — RETURN TO PARIS AND SUDDEN RECOVERY, 462

CHAPTER XXII.

DEATH OF F. ROOTHAAN.

F. ROOTHAAN RECOMMENDS F. DE RAVIGNAN TO WRITE HIS APOLOGY FOR CLEMENT XIII. AND CLEMENT XIV. — HIS DEATH — F. DE RAVIGNAN GOES TO ROME FOR THE ELECTION OF HIS SUCCESSOR, 484

CHAPTER XXIII.

APOSTOLATE TO GREAT AND POOR.

THE VICTORIOUS COMMANDER AT THE ALMA BECOMES A PENITENT OF F. DE RAVIGNAN, AND DIES A CHRISTIAN DEATH — F. DE RAVIGNAN PREACHES THE LENT AT THE TUILERIES, AND AT THE HOUSE OF THE LITTLE SISTERS OF THE POOR, 512

CHAPTER XXIV.

DEALINGS WITH PROTESTANTS.

METHOD FOLLOWED BY F. DE RAVIGNAN IN INSTRUCTING AND CONVERTING PROTESTANTS — HIS CHARITY, PRUDENT FORBEARANCE, VIGOUR IN OPPOSING DIFFICULTIES — VARIOUS EXAMPLES, 531

CHAPTER XXV.

RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES.

THE SACRED HEART — THE VISITATION — THE CARMELITES, 547

CHAPTER XXVI.

HIS INTERIOR LIFE.

SPIRITUAL PRINCIPLES — DOMINANT THOUGHTS — HIS TENDENCIES, THE ROADS HE WALKED, HIS TRIALS, 561

CHAPTER XXVII.

GENERAL SKETCH OF F. DE RAVIGNAN.

ACCOUNT OF HIS PORTRAIT : HIS FEATURES, BEARING, LANGUAGE, AND HABITS — HIS CHARACTER : MODEST, VIGOROUS, AND AFFECTIONATE — DEATHS OF SOME OF HIS FRIENDS, 595

CHAPTER XXVIII.

LAST SICKNESS. — SAINT-ACHEUL.

F. DE RAVIGNAN'S JOY AT LEAVING PARIS — HIS FOREBODINGS — COMMENCEMENT AND FIRST STAGE OF HIS SICKNESS — THE INFIRMARY IN THE NOVICIATE — DECEITFUL RECOVERY AND RETURN TO PARIS — RETREAT GIVEN TO THE CARMELITES IN THE RUE DE MESSINE, 616

CHAPTER XXIX.

HIS DEATH.

F. DE RAVIGNAN IS TAKEN ILL IN HIS CONFESSIONAL IN PARIS — PASSES HIS LAST DAYS IN SOLITUDE — JOURNAL OF HIS SICKNESS — HIS LAST LETTERS — VISITS PAID TO HIM — THE LAST SACRAMENTS — HIS AGONY, 637

CHAPTER XXX.

HIS FUNERAL.

THE BODY IS PUBLICLY EXPOSED DURING THREE DAYS — EXTRAORDINARY GATHERING OF VISITORS — THE SIMPLE BUT GRAND PROCESSION — FUNERAL SERVICE AT SAINT-SULPICE — DISCOURSE BY THE BISHOP OF ORLEANS — THE CEMETERY OF MONT-PARNASSE, 673