COCHIN, PIERRE-SUZANNE-AUGUSTIN - Enciclopedia Cattolica, Vol. III, p. 1109

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

COCHIN, PIERRE-SUZANNE-AUGUSTIN. - French Catholic writer, b. in Paris on 2 Dec. 1823, d. in Versailles on 13 Mar. 1872.

A scholar of economic and social problems, he conducted thorough investigations into the phenomenon of pauperism in England and the conditions of workers in France. In his political activity, he served as mayor in 1853 of the 10th arrondissement of Paris. A friend and biographer of Montalembert, he was bound by assiduous and profound ties with Lacordaire. He was a member, from 1864, of the Académie des sciences morales et politiques. His scholarly personality stands out particularly in his efforts to reconcile economic liberalism with the principles of Christian ethics. He also wrote against Renan’s *Vie de Jésus* in 1863. From him were drafted the two letters which Montalembert sent to Cavour with his signature, in the first of which is formulated the thesis of the “Free Church in a Free State.” Regarding the problem of the Italian Risorgimento, Cochin sought to reconcile his sympathies for Italy with the rights of the Holy See.

BIBL.: L. Lefebure, *A. C. Son action sociale et religieuse*, in *Revue des Deux Mondes*, 1903, pp. 274-310; G. Picot, *Notice historique sur la vie et les travaux de M. A. C.*, in *Séance et travaux de l'Académie des sciences morales et politiques*, new series, 65 (1906, 1), pp. 40-84; F. Laudet, *A. C.*, in *Revue hebdomadaire*, 2nd year (1912, 11), pp. 171-97; H. Cochin, *Un grand ami français des Etats-Unis d'Amérique: A. C.*, in *Le Correspondant*, new series, 232 (1917), pp. 630-59; C. Maréchal, *Une lettre de défense sociale. A. C.*, ibid., new series, 244 (1920), pp. 404-19; J. De Cognets, *A. C. et les expériences chrétiennes*, ibid., new series, 257 (1923), pp. 593-607; *A. C. Ses lettres et sa vie. Avec introduction et notes par H. Cochin*, 2 vols., Paris 1926.

His sons were: HENRY, b. in Paris on 31 Jan. 1854, d. there on 9 Dec. 1926. He was a deputy in Parliament and a member of the Académie des Inscriptions.

His literary output is notable, not only for his assiduous engagement with the classics of Italian literature, but also for his vigilant attention to problems and issues concerning Catholic institutions. He wrote: *Expulsion des Congrégations religieuses, récits et témoignages recueillis par M. M. Duprich et H. C.* (Paris 1881); *Discours sur l'Institut des Frères des Écoles Chrétiennes* (Lille 1890); *Boccace. Études italiennes* (Paris 1890); *S. François d'Assise d'après son dernier historien* (ibid. 1895); *Chronologie du Canzoniere* of *Pétrarque* (ibid. 1897); *Le bienheureux fra' Angelico* (ibid. 1906); *Dante, Vita Nuova*, trans. (ibid. 1908); *Jubilés d'Italie* (ibid. 1911).

BIBL.: H. Bédarida, *Italiani stranieri: H. C.*, in *Leonardo*, 3 (1927), pp. 311-13; P. Hazard, *Le souvenir d'H. C.*, in *Revue des deux mondes*, 38 (1927), pp. 202-205.

DENYS, b. in Paris on 1 Sept. 1851, d. there on 24 Mar. 1922. Several times a deputy in Parliament, he fought against the anticlericalism of the Combes ministry; an active diplomat, he took part in negotiations between the French State and the Holy See. He was a member of the Académie from 1911. A student of philosophical problems, he adhered to an orthodox rationalism, in polemical opposition to Bergson.

He wrote: *Les écoles chrétiennes devant l'intolérance laïque* (Paris 1879); *Mémoire adressé à M. Poubelle, préfet de la Seine, au sujet de la laïcisation de l'hôpital* (ibid. 1885); *L'évolution et la vie* (ibid. 1886); *Le monde extérieur* (ibid. 1895); *L'esprit nouveau* (ibid. 1900); *Contre les barbares* (ibid. 1905); *Ententes et ruptures* (ibid. 1905); *Descartes* (ibid. 1913).

BIBL.: L. Dufougeary, *Le monde extérieur* (de M. D. C.). In *Le Correspondant*, new series, 144 (1895), pp. 165-69; V. Boucaille, D. C., in *Le Correspondant*, new series, 252 (1922), pp. 15-32.