ORV, MATTHIEU. - Dominican theologian and inquisitor, b. at La Canne in 1492, d. at Paris on 12 June 1557. He became a religious at Dinan about 1510, studied at Paris, and there took his doctorate in 1527. He was vicar-general of the Order in France (1542-45) and general inquisitor throughout the Kingdom of France from 1534 until his death.
Highly esteemed by Paul III, who appointed him apostolic penitentiary in 1553, and by the French sovereigns, he exercised his office of general inquisitor with wisdom and moderation, contributing to the preservation of the faith and to stemming the spread of Calvinism. At the invitation of Francis I, in 1554 he went to Ferrara to attempt the conversion of the Duchess Renata, the king’s sister, who favored Calvin and protected Protestants. By his presence he drove the numerous Protestants from the city, but he had to struggle long before he could bring the duchess back to the Catholic faith. He also had to deal with St. Ignatius and his first companions, defending them against their accusers.
He wrote: *Ad haeresum redivivas affectiones Alexiphar-
macum* (Paris 1544, Venice 1551 and 1558); it is a commentary on the five words of St. Paul: *gratia, iustificatio, peccatum, libertas, lex*, against the false interpretations of the Protestants.