VRAU, PHILIBERT - B. at Lille on 19 Nov. 1829, d. there on 16 May 1905.
He returned to the faith he had lost, cultivating a particular devotion to the Blessed Eucharist and, in order to spread it, promoted in northern France the practice of nocturnal Adoration, built new churches, organized regional Eucharistic congresses, and was one of the founders of the international Eucharistic congresses, the first of which was held at Lille on his initiative.
A great industrialist, he sought to improve the moral and material condition of his workers, and FÉRON-VRAU, CAMILLE (v.) founded the Catholic Institute of Arts and Crafts. He promoted Catholic Committees and Congresses in the north, thus creating a genuine model of Catholic Action. Pius XI ordered the introduction of his cause for beatification on 17 June 1930. His heart was placed in the chapel of the Catholic University of Lille, together with that of his brother-in-law.