CORMIER, HYACINTH-MARIE. - Dominican, born in Orléans on 8 Dec. 1832, died in Rome on 17 Dec. 1916. He entered the religious life in 1856, and after his profession in Rome at S. Sabina (1859), he became master of novices; then prior and provincial of Toulouse (1855-73; 1879-82); later assistant to the Master General (1891) and procurator of the Order (1896); from 1904 to 1916 he served as Master General.
A gentle but firm superior, he always sought to renew the spirit among his brethren and to uphold the best traditions, devoting himself tirelessly to the advancement of studies. He published a new Ratio studiorum, established a student residence in Fribourg alongside the Albertinum, and above all founded the Angelicum College in Rome (1909). Exemplary and prudent, he earned a reputation as a writer of hagiography and ascetical works. His cause for beatification was introduced by decree on 22 June 1945.
Principal works: Quinze entretiens 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 is not confined to his own Order but is universal and suited to effective spiritual formation for all; Vie du p. Jaudel (ibid. 1890); Retraite fondamentale (ibid. 1893); Trois retraites progressives (ibid. 1896); Retraite ecclesiastique (ibid. 1903); all of these were also translated into Italian.