FORBIN-JANSON, CHARLES-AUGUSTE, conte di. - Bishop of Nancy and Toul, founder of the Pontifical Work 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 S. Sulpizio. Ordained priest in Dec. 1811, he was soon recalled to Paris, where he conceived the idea of going to China. He remained, however, in France and, together with Abbé 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, resumed popular missions. On 21 Nov. 1823 he was appointed bishop of Nancy and Toul. In the government of the diocese he was charged with not a few imprudences which, together with persecution by the government and the ill will of others,
compelled Msgr. F. in 1830 to leave Nancy and go to Rome. He sought to return to his see, but this proved impossible. Far from his pastoral responsibilities, Msgr. F. assisted Jaricot in the development of the Work for the Propagation of the Faith and maintained an intensive correspondence with missionaries. With the approval of Gregorio XVI, in 1839 he went to North America, devoting himself to preaching among Catholics of French origin. From 16 to 24 May 1840 he took part in the Fourth Provincial Council of Baltimore. From Baltimore he went to Canada. On 8 Dec. 1841 he embarked for France, and the following year returned to Rome to report to the Pope on the work accomplished in America. Gregorio XVI appointed him assistant to the Papal Throne. Death, however, overtook him at the family castle of Ayagalades near Marseille.