Forbin-Janson, Charles-Auguste, Count of

FORBIN-JANSON, Charles-Auguste, Count of. - Bishop of Nancy and Toul, founder of the Pontifical Society of the Holy Childhood (11 May 1843; v.), b. in Paris on 3 Nov. 1785, d. on 11 July 1844.

In 1808 he entered the Seminary of St. Sulpice. Ordained a priest in Dec. 1811, he was soon called back to Paris, where he matured the idea of going to China. He remained, instead, in France and together with Abbot de Rauzan founded the "Oeuvre des missions" for the interior of France. In 1813 he went to the Near East and, having returned to his homeland in 1819, he resumed the popular missions. On 21 Nov. 1823 he was appointed bishop of Nancy and Toul. In the government of the diocese no few imprudences were attributed to him which, together with the persecutions of the government and the ill will of others, forced Msgr. F. in 1830 to leave Nancy and go to Rome. He sought to return to his see but was unable to. Far from pastoral cares, Msgr. F. helped Jaricot in the development of the Society for the Propagation of the Faith and maintained an intense correspondence with the missionaries. With the approval of Gregory XVI, he went in 1839 to North America, devoting himself to preaching among the Catholics of French origin. From 16 to 24 May 1840 he took part in the IV Provincial Council of Baltimore. From Baltimore he passed into Canada. On 8 Dec. 1841 he embarked for France and the following year returned to Rome to give the Pope an account of the work accomplished in America. Gregory XVI appointed him assistant at the Throne. Death, however, overtook him in the family castle of Ayagalades near Marseilles.

Saverio Paventi