ORY, MATTHIEU. - Dominican theologian and inquisitor, born at La Canne in 1492, died at Paris on 12 June 1557. He entered religious life at Dinan around 1510, studied at Paris, and received his doctorate there 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 Paolo III, who appointed him apostolic penitentiary (1535), and by the French sovereigns, he exercised his office of general inquisitor with wisdom and moderation and contributed to the preservation of the faith and to checking the spread of Calvinism. At the invitation of Francesco I, in 1554 he went to Ferrara in order to seek the conversion of Duchess Renata, the king’s sister, who favoured Calvino and protected Protestants. By his presence he drove the numerous Protestants from the city, but he had to struggle greatly before bringing the duchess back to the Catholic faith. He also had to concern himself with s. Ignazio and his first companions; and he defended them against their accusers.
He wrote: Ad haeresum redivivus affectiones Alexipharmacum (Paris 1544, Venice 1551 and 1558): a commentary on the five words of s. Paolo—gratia, justificatio, peccatum, libertas, lex—against the false interpretations of the Protestants.