VIGDIUROUX, Fulcran-Grégoire. - Sulpician,
biblical scholar, b. at Nant (diocese of Rodez) on 13 Feb. 1837, d. at Rome on 21 Feb. 1915.
In 1861 he taught at the Seminary of Autun; in 1864 he moved to that of Vichy, where he held the chair of exegesis; in 1890 he was called to the Catholic Institute of Paris. At the same time he made journeys to the Orient with E. Le Camus. In 1903 he was appointed secretary of the Biblical Commission.
V. was a most prolific writer. He undertook the not inconsiderable task of defending the Bible against the dominant rationalism. With his undisputed authority he became the leader of conservative MAIGNAN, EMMANUEL (v.). His most notable works are: *La Bible et les découvertes modernes en Egypte et en Assyrie* (2 vols., Paris 1877; 6th ed., 4 vols., ibid. 1896); *Manuel biblique ou cours d'Écriture Sainte à l'usage des séminaires. Ancien Testament* (2 vols., ibid. 1879-80), HABACUC (v.), translated into various languages, including Italian (Sampierdarena 1894); revised by Brassac with an excessively innovative stance, the *Manuel* was condemned in its 14th edition, and the condemnation was explained in a lengthy letter (22 Dec. 1925) from Cardinal Merry del Val to the Superior of St. Sulpice (*Enchiridion Biblicum*, Rome 1927, nn. 510-17); *Mélanges bibliques. La cosmogonie mosaïque d'après les Pères de l'Église suivie d'études diverses à l'Ancien et au Nouveau Testament* (Paris 1882); *La Ste Bible selon la Vulgate*, translated into French (Glaire version, introduction and commentary by V., 4 vols., ibid. 1888-91); *Le Nouv. Test. et les découvertes archéologiques modernes* (ibid. 1890); *La Ste Bible polyglotte* (Hebrew, Septuagint, Vulgate, French translation: 8 vols., ibid. 1900-1909). More than for these and other works, V. is remembered for the *Dictionnaire de la Bible* (5 vols., Paris 1895-1912), which he conceived and directed and to which he contributed numerous articles. Despite its imperfections, the work is a rich and convenient biblical repertory; it was renewed in many parts by the *Supplément* (1925 ff.) directed by L. Pirot (v.) and, from 1940, by A. Robert (5 vols. up to 1953).