BUSS, CÉSAR DE, VENERABILE

BUSS, César de, Venerable. — Priest, b. at Cavaillon on 3 Feb 1544, d. at Avignon on 15 Apr 1607.
Of a family originally Italian, perhaps Milanese, he was captain of the guard of Charles IX, poet and playwright. In 1547 he abandoned his dissipated life and, having been ordained priest, devoted himself with apostolic zeal to the catechetical instruction of the people. He was joined by his cousin G. B. Romillon, who had converted from Calvinism. Others followed in their footsteps, and thus arose the Congregation of Secular Priests of Christian Doctrine, living in community without vows, as the Oratorians of de Bérulle and the Sulpicians were to do later. To facilitate the work for his disciples he wrote Instructions, which were published in 1666. His cause of beatification is under way, and in 1821 his virtues were approved in the heroic degree.