Bishop of Laval in France, b. at Dijon, 28 February 1823, d. at Laval 7 November, 1888. He received his classical education at Autun, where his professor of rhetoric was the Abbé, afterwards Cardinal, Pitra. He studied theology at Dijon and Paris, was ordained priest by Monseigneur Affre in 1846, was professor of church history at the Seminary of Dijon (1846-51), and then chaplain of the Convent of the Visitation in the same city (1851-61). In 1861 he accepted the position of Vicar-General to Bishop Dupanloup at Orléans. In 1886 he was appointed Bishop of Laval.

Besides the sermons which he delivered in Paris and other cities, Bishop Bougaud wrote numerous works. While chaplain of the Visitation Convent, he wrote "Histoire de Saint Bénigne, premier évêque de Dijon " and "Histoire de Sainte Chantal". While Vicar-General of Orléans, he wrote "Histoire de Sainte Monique", "Histoire de la bienheureuse Marguerite Marie", "Le Christianisme et les temps présents" (his great apologetical work, in 5 vols.), "Le grand peril de l'Eglise de France au XIX siècle", and "Histoire de Saint Vincent de Paul" (2 vols.). A volume of his discourses was published by his brother.

He was a preacher and writer of great influence, in consequence of his appreciation of all noble thoughts and deeds, his deep compassion for human suffering his great power of reflection, and his refined artistic taste. In his apologetics he evinces thorough sympathy with his own time and an unwavering hope for the triumph of the Church. His purpose was to adapt the explanations of the dogmas, precepts, and organization of the Church to the moral and intellectual aspirations of his contemporaries without any sacrifice of Catholic doctrine.

The Catholic Encyclopedia is the most comprehensive resource on Catholic teaching, history, and information ever gathered in all of human history. This easy-to-search online version was originally printed in fifteen hardcopy volumes.

Designed to present its readers with the full body of Catholic teaching, the Encyclopedia contains not only precise statements of what the Church has defined, but also an impartial record of different views of acknowledged authority on all disputed questions, national, political or factional. In the determination of the truth the most recent and acknowledged scientific methods are employed, and the results of the latest research in theology, philosophy, history, apologetics, archaeology, and other sciences are given careful consideration.

No one who is interested in human history, past and present, can ignore the Catholic Church, either as an institution which has been the central figure in the civilized world for nearly two thousand years, decisively affecting its destinies, religious, literary, scientific, social and political, or as an existing power whose influence and activity extend to every part of the globe. In the past century the Church has grown both extensively and intensively among English-speaking peoples. Their living interests demand that they should have the means of informing themselves about this vast institution, which, whether they are Catholics or not, affects their fortunes and their destiny.

Copyright © Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company New York, NY. Volume 1: 1907; Volume 2: 1907; Volume 3: 1908; Volume 4: 1908; Volume 5: 1909; Volume 6: 1909; Volume 7: 1910; Volume 8: 1910; Volume 9: 1910; Volume 10: 1911; Volume 11: - 1911; Volume 12: - 1911; Volume 13: - 1912; Volume 14: 1912; Volume 15: 1912

Catholic Online Catholic Encyclopedia Digital version Compiled and Copyright © Catholic Online