GAY, CHARLES-LOUIS. - Ascetical theologian, b. in Paris on 1 Oct. 1815, to a bourgeois family, indifferent in religious matters, d. there on 18 Jan. 1892.
He studied at the Royal College of St-Louis and became a Voltairian during his course in philosophy. After a year of law he attended the music conservatory and formed a friendship with C. Gounod. Reading Sainte-Beuve's novel, l'Odopti, he felt drawn to God. Voltaire's hatred for Christ revolted him. Listening to Lacordaire at Notre Dame in Paris, he began his conversion, brought to completion by his sister's teacher in 1863. Aspiring to the priesthood, he left for Rome in 1837, and, having returned to Saint-Sulpice, was born to the altar in 1845. He lived first with Msgr. de Ségur, then, advised by the Curé d'Ars, he followed Msgr. Pie, bishop of Poitiers, as vicar general. He often gave the "Euricii" to religious communities, especially to the Carmelites, whence he was called "the man of Carmel." Having come to Rome in 1867 as a theologian of the Vatican Council, he obtained at St. Francis de Sales the title of doctor of Holy Church. Having returned to Poitiers, he became in 1877 auxiliary of Card. Pie, with the title of bishop of Antibodon, on whose death he was forced to return to Paris, where he dedicated himself particularly to the apostolate of Catholic workers' associations.
The fruit of his preaching were the following books, published in Paris: De la vie et des vertus chrétiennes considérées dans l'état religieux (1874); Conférences aux mères chrétiennes (1877); Élévations sur la vie et la doctrine de N.S.J.C. (1879); Vie de la r. m. Thérèse de Jésus (Xavérine de Maistre; 1882); Entretiens sur les mystères du Rosaire (1887); Instructions en forme de retraite (1890); posthumous: Instructions pour les personnes du monde (1912); Sermons de Carême, with a preface by Msgr. d'Hulst (1894); Sermons d'Avent (1895); Correspondance (2 vols., 1899); Lettres de direction spirituelle (4 vols., 1902-1908); Nouveaux sermons (1914).
In his writings he displays an artistic sense by bringing out the harmony and beauty of the Christian mystery. In the footsteps of Scotus and of St. Francis de Sales, he proposes an ascetical doctrine rich in dogmatics. A genuine disciple of de Bérulle and of Thomassin, G. belongs to the French school of the Oratory.
Bibliography4 works
Germano Liévin