Boyer, Pierre-Denis - Catholic Encyclopedia, Vol. II, p. 1153

Machine translation of the 1948–1954 Italian original. The original text is authoritative.

BOYER, PIERRE-DENIS. - Theologian and preacher, b. at Sévérac-l'Eglise (Alverniè) on 29 Oct. 1766 and d. at Paris on 24 Apr. 1842. A cousin of mons. Frayssinous, he shared with him collegiate and seminary life, the labors of the apostolate, the dangers of persecution during the Revolution, the teaching chair at S. Sulpizio at Emery’s invitation, and the ardor of preaching. A tireless apostle of retreats for the clergy, he travelled throughout France evangelizing. His activity was characterized by opposition to the ideas of Lamennais, by the vigorous defense of the rights of the Church in the new French state order, and by zeal for the spiritual renewal of the clergy of France.

Principal works: Antidote contre les aphorismes de M. de Lamennais sous le triple rapport de la philosophie, de la théologie et de la politique (Paris 1834); Défense de l'enseignement des écoles catholiques (ibid. 1835); Examen de la philosophie du christianisme de M. l'abbé Bautain (ibid. 1836); Défense de l'ordre social contre le corbonarisme moderne (I, ibid. 1835; II, ibid. 1837); Défense de l'Eglise catholique contre l'hérésie constitutionnelle qui soumet la religion au magistrat (ibid. 1840); Discours pour les retraites ecclésiastiques (ibid. 1843).

Article illustration — BOVIO, GIOVANNI — Portrait.
(phot. Alinari)

BIBL.: Hurter, V, cols. 1183–85; E. Levesque, s. V. in DThC, II, cols. 1121–22; E. Levesque, s. V. in DHG, X, cols. 312–13; E. Levesque, s. V. in DSp, II, col. 1921.

Vito Zollini