AFFRE, DENIS-AUGUSTE

AFFRE, DENIS-AUGUSTE. - Archbishop of Paris, b. at Saint-Romme-de-Tarn on 28 Sept. 1793, d. at Paris on 26 June 1848. Ordained priest on 16 May 1818, he entered the Sulpicians and in 1819 was entrusted with the teaching of theology at the seminary of Paris. Chaplain of the maternity (1810), in 1821 he founded the review La France chrétienne, where he began that campaign on the rights and interests of the clergy and on the need for a reform of ecclesiastical discipline which was to trace the lines of his constant activity in the episcopate: first as vicar of the dioceses of Luçon (1822), Amiens (1822) and Paris (1834), then as coadjutor of the bishop of Strasbourg (1839), finally as archbishop of Paris (consecration on 6 Aug. 1840). At such a difficult moment in the political life of France, A. knew how to maintain a tone of absolute independence from the State. But his activity on behalf of the diocese was cut short by the death he met tragically, while he was carrying out a work of peace between the opposing ranks during the riots of June 1848.

Among his writings: Traité de l'administration temporelle des paroisses (Amiens 1826); Essai historique et critique sur la suprématie temporelle des Papes (ibid. 1829), against Lamennais; Introduction philosophique à l'étude du christianisme (Paris 1844); De l'appel comme d'abus, son origine, ses progrès et son état présent (Paris 1845).