After completing his studies at the German College in Rome, he entered the Society of Jesus on 17 May 1848. After a brief period as prefect of studies in the same College, he moved on to teach theology at the Roman College (1853-57), whence, at the invitation of Cardinal Rauscher, he transferred to the Faculty of Theology at the University of Vienna (1857-1863). In 1867 he was a member of the Commission charged with the preliminary work for the Vatican Council. From 1870 until his death he taught at the Catholic University of Poitiers.
He wrote: Theses theologicae (series 1-7), Vienna 1861-1869; series 8, Poitiers 1874; De unitate Romana (I, Freiburg im Br. 1862; II, Vienna 1868); De triplici ordine, naturali, praeternaturali, supernaturali (Vienna 1864); De sacro creante (Poitiers 1875). He collaborated on Pastorella’s work on the Immaculate Conception and played a major part in the publication Der Papst und die modernen Ideen (5 fasc., Vienna 1864-67), in defence and elucidation of the Syllabus. His erudition, acuteness and precision were not always matched by the desired brevity, which, combined with his lively style, would have enhanced the effectiveness of his pages.