CORMIER, HYACVNTHE-MARIE. - Dominican, b. at Orléans on 8 Dec. 1832, d. at Rome on 17 Dec. 1916. A religious from 1856, after making his profession at S. Sabina in Rome (1859), he was master of novices; then prior and provincial of Toulouse (1855–73; 1879–82); later assistant to the general (1891) and procurator of the Order (1896); from 1904 to 1916, master general.
A gentle but firm superior, he always aimed to renew among his brethren and to maintain the traditions and the finest spirit, and he devoted himself tirelessly to the improvement of studies, publishing a new Ratio studiorum, establishing a student residence at Fribourg beside the Albertinum, and above all founding the Angelicum college in Rome (1909). Edifying and prudent, he gained a reputation as a writer on hagiography and asceticism. His cause of beatification was introduced by decree of 22 June 1945.
Principal works: Quinze eutretiens sur la liturgie dominicaine (Rome 1913); Instructions des novices (Paris 1880; Italian trans. by G. Nivoli, 4 vols., Turin 1923–24), a work whose content was not confined to his Order but was universal and suited to effective spiritual formation for all; Vie du p. Jandel (ibid. 1890); Retraite fondamentale (ibid. 1893); Trois retraites progressives (ibid. 1896); Retraite ecclésiastique (ibid. 1903); all also translated into Italian.