Ordained priest in 1867, he was professor at the Normal School of St-Trond; in 1873 director of the minor seminary of St-Roch; in 1877 of the minor seminary of St-Trond; in 1879 vicar general of the new bishop of Liège, whom he succeeded in 1901. During his episcopate, the free school system grew notably through the creation of new colleges and professional or technical institutes, as well as Catholic Action, which was then in its infancy. The last quarter of the 19th century had seen the social question emerge in a rather lively manner. From the beginning of his episcopate, R. found himself in the midst of passionate struggles dividing democratic Catholics from conservative Catholics. He attempted, with little success, to mediate between the contenders, after having in the early years vigorously, perhaps excessively, opposed the bold tendencies—though sometimes unclear—of the democratic camp. After the war of 1914–18, he instead promoted many social reforms. Another major issue he had to address was the Flemish movement, which developed in Belgium at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th centuries.
This movement arose from the desire to give Flemish culture a place not unlike that held by French-inspired culture in Belgian life, and also from the desire to promote rapprochement between social classes through the use of a common language. From his youth, R. distinguished himself by his strong attachment to his mother tongue. He published several literary works in that language, particularly of a dramatic nature, and supported all institutions aimed at promoting II. Once he became bishop, he was among the most ardent promoters of all that the Flemish movement legitimately aspired to. He also firmly opposed all separatist attempts, especially those of the activists, during the First World War. After the German occupation of Belgium, R. was one of the most intrepid defenders of the people against the enemy’s violence: his letters and speeches, collected in a volume by Mons. Simenon (*Un évêque, défenseur de la cité*), bear witness to this. Two of his books then enjoyed great success: *Manuel d'apologétique* and *L'Église et les promesses divines*.