MOREAU, BASILE-ANTOINE. — Founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross and of the women religious of the same title, b. at Laigné-en-Belin (Mayence) on 11 February 1798, d. at Le Mans (Sarthe) on 20 January 1873.
Ordained a priest in 1821 and subsequently professor and director of the two seminaries, minor and major, of his diocese, in 1834 he founded the Institute of Auxiliary Priests, with the aim of assisting parish priests through parish retreats, preaching, missions, etc.; at the request of the bishop of Le Mans, in the same year he undertook the reorganization of the Congregation of the Brothers of St Joseph, founded in 1820 by Canon G. F. Dujarié, and eventually merged the two groups into a single Congregation (11 March 1837), which took the name of Holy Cross and received the decree of praise on 18 June 1855 and approval of the Constitution by the Holy See on 13 May 1857. M. saw his work flourish greatly, especially in France and America; it devoted itself enthusiastically to education, preaching, particularly in rural areas and foreign missions, parish ministry, the good press, and the direction of homes for the care of delinquent or abandoned boys. M. was also responsible for founding, in 1841, a parallel female institute, the Sisters of Holy Cross, intended above all to attend to the education of young women.
In addition to the circular letters addressed to his religious (2 vols., Montréal 1941), he wrote Meditazioni per religiosi e laici (ibid. 1932) and several pedagogical works of high value. Indeed, together with Lacordaire, Montalembert, and Dupan-
Baker, one of the most effective and constant pioneers in the struggle for freedom of education, succeeding in opening a college in Le Mans in full operation even before the law on freedom of education was passed. Pius IX conferred on him the title of “Apostolic Missionary.” The cause of beatification has begun.