BOUGAUD, LOUIS-VICTOR-EMILE. — French bishop, orator, and writer, born in Dijon on 26 February 1823, died in Laval on 7 November 1888. He studied philosophy at the minor seminary of Autun and theology at the major seminary of Dijon, and was ordained a priest in 1846. From 1846 to 1851 he was professor of dogmatic theology and ecclesiastical history at the seminary of Dijon.
From 1851 to 1861 he served as spiritual director of the local convent of the Visitation and at the same time devoted himself to compiling the Histoire de s.te Chantal (2 vols., 1861). This valuable work attracted the attention of Dupanloup, bishop of Orléans, who offered him the position of vicar
general in his diocese. This office left him some free time, and B. intensified his activity as a writer and devoted himself to preaching with considerable success. Of the works he published during this period, the Histoire de s.te Monique (1866) and the Histoire de la bienheureuse Marguerite-Marie (1874) should be mentioned. Upon Dupanloup’s death, B., already somewhat ill, withdrew to his family, where he spent some time wholly devoted to his studies, completing and polishing his major work, Le christianisme et les temps présents (5 vols., 1872–74). In February 1888, only eight months before his death, he was appointed bishop of Laval. Other writings by B. that should be mentioned are Le grand péril de l'Eglise de France (1878), the posthumous work in 2 vols. Histoire de s. Vincent de Paul (1889), and a volume of Sermons et discours.
To lead contemporary French society back to Christ through persuasion, compassion, and love was the aim pursued by B. in his activity as an orator and sacred writer. As an apologist, he preferred to insist on the inward beauty, profound harmonies, and transcendence of Christianity, and to highlight its perfect correspondence to the needs and aspirations of the individual, family, and social human spirit.