GREA, MARIE-ETIENNE-ADRIEN. – Founder of the Canons Regular of the Immaculate Conception, born at Lons-le-Saunier (Jura) on 18 Feb. 1828, died at Rotalier (Jura) on 23 Feb. 1917.
A graduate of the École des Chartes, he entered the ecclesiastical career; inspired by the noble ideal of restoring holiness to the clergy and religious practices in parishes, he conceived the idea of establishing a Congregation of Canons Regular who would combine direct apostolate to souls with the obligations of monastic common life. The rules, initially approved in 1887, were later revised and modified in new constitutions in 1907, which altered essential points of the original statute. The painful trial was borne in a Christian manner, and the foundation continued; but from that moment, having vainly attempted to resume with some companions the religious life he had envisioned, he withdrew to Rotalier.