BACUEZ, Nicolas-Louis. – Biblical exegete and Sulpician ascetical writer, born at Loisan in Picardy (France) on 3 February 1820, died in Paris at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice on 31 August 1892. He studied at the seminary of Arras; in 1842 he entered the seminary and the Society of Saint-Sulpice. Ordained priest on 21 June 1844, he first taught philosophy and moral theology at the seminaries of Rodez and Lyon; later he became superior of the philosophical seminaries of Angers and Nantes. From 1864 to 1892 he taught biblical exegesis in Paris at the seminary of Saint-Sulpice, where he also served as spiritual director. He was among the hostages of the “Commune” from 7 to 28 May 1871, escaping death in a surprising manner.
In the biblical field he published: *Questions d'Écriture Sainte, ou Programme détaillé pour servir de guide dans l'étude des Saints Livres, avec indication des difficultés à résoudre, des recherches à faire et des ouvrages à consulter*, 2 vols., Paris 1874. He collaborated with F. Vigouroux, to whose *Manuel biblique* he contributed vols. III and IV: *Nouveau Testament*, 2 vols., Paris 1878, which he improved in seven successive editions. This learned, pious, personal yet traditional work became a classic in French seminaries and was translated into Italian (Sampierdarena 1902), including those in Italy; however, from the 12th edition (1907 and 1909) onward, B.'s work was entirely revised by A. Brassac, who departed from the original method; the entire *Manuel biblique* was placed on the Index on 12 December 1923 (for editions after 1907).
No less substantial, and even more renowned, are B.'s ascetical works, nearly all translated into German and English, widely circulated in many editions, and still in use: *Manuel du séminariste en vacances*, Paris 1855 (13th ed. 1900); *Du Sacerdote et du saint ministère par les Pères de l'Église* (Latin text and translation), Paris 1861; *St François de Sales modèle et guide du prêtre et du pasteur*, ibid. 1861 (new ed. by G. Letourneau, 1911); *Du saint office au point de vue de la piété*, ibid. 1867 (5th ed. by A. Vigouroux, 1925, under the title: *L'office divin et la vie de l'Église*); *Instructions et méditations à l'usage des ordinands*, 3 vols., ibid. 1884–90; *Du divin sacrifice et du prêtre qui le célèbre*, ibid. 1888; *Du directeur de séminaire*, ibid. 1892.