La Rochefoucauld-Bayers, Pierre

LA ROCHEFOUCAULD-BAYERS, Pierre. - French bishop and martyr, b. 12 Oct. 1744 in the castle of Viviers, d. 2 Sept. 1792 in Paris. A student of theology at the Seminary of St. Sulpice, in 1771 he became vicar general of his brother François Joseph, bishop of Beauvais. In 1775 he was elected as one of the agents general of the clergy of France. Bishop of Saintes in 1781, he concerned himself with the direction of his Seminary, encouraged every work of charity that had as its aim the help of neighbor and above all the relief of the sufferings of the indigent, and always professed an absolute and unconditional obedience toward the Holy See, an attitude that made him disliked by the Jansenists. On 26 March 1789 the clergy of Saintes designated him as their representative to the Estates General. In the National Assembly he opposed every reform tending to affirm the dependence of the Church on the State. He exhorted his faithful to accept the pontifical brief of 13 Apr. 1791 and condemned the Civil Constitution of the clergy. Accused of anti-revolutionary activity, he was arrested and confined at the Carmelites together with his brother François Joseph. Both were massacred there by a mob of fanatics. He was beatified by Pius XI on 17 Oct. 1926.

Silvio Furlani