Auguste-Théodore-Paul de Broglie
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Abbé
Auguste-Théodore-Paul de Broglie (June 18, 1834, Auteuil
, France
—May 11, 1895) was professor of apologetics
at the Institut Catholique in Paris
, and writer on apologetic subjects.
He was the son of Achille-Victor, Duc de Broglie
, and his wife, Albertine, baroness Staël von Holstein
, a Protestant and the daughter of Madame de Staël
. After the death of his mother, who died young, he was brought up by the Baroness Auguste de Staël, née Vernet. This aunt, although also a Protestant, exerted herself "to make a large-minded Christian of him in the Church to which she did not belong" (Monseigneur d'Hulst in Le Correspondant
, 25 May 1895).
Broglie studied at the École Polytechnique
, leaving in 1855. Still young, he entered the navy; he was appointed ensign in 1857 and soon after lieutenant. After a voyage to New Caledonia
in which he came in contact with active missions, he felt himself called to the religious life. He entered the Seminary of Saint Sulpice
in Paris in 1867. After completing his studies there he was ordained priest on 18 October 1870. He was named professor of apologetics at the Institut Catholique in 1879. His teaching, which included philosophical, theological, biblical and historical themes, were intended to defend the Catholic faith from perceived attacks from Positivism
and Rationalism
. He maintained the harmony and autonomy of the two spheres of knowledge, religion and reason.
In his numerous publications the Abbé de Broglie was always a faithful defender of Catholic dogma. At the time of his death, which resulted from the violence of an insane person he had taken under his protection, he was preparing a book on the agreement of reason and faith. His most important work is Problèmes et conclusions de l'histoire des religions (Paris, 1886). Of his other writings, some of which were pamphlets or articles in reviews, the following may be mentioned:
Two posthumous publications, Religion et critique (1896) and Questions bibliques (1897) were edited by the Abbé Piat.
Abbé
Abbé is the French word for abbot. It is the title for lower-ranking Catholic clergymen in France....
Auguste-Théodore-Paul de Broglie (June 18, 1834, Auteuil
Auteuil
Auteuil may refer to:* Auteuil-Neuilly-Passy, an area of Paris* Auteuil, Quebec, a borough of Laval, Quebec, CanadaAuteuil is the name of several communes in France:* Auteuil, Oise* Auteuil, YvelinesAuteuil is also a surname:...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
—May 11, 1895) was professor of apologetics
Apologetics
Apologetics is the discipline of defending a position through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers Apologetics (from Greek ἀπολογία, "speaking in defense") is the discipline of defending a position (often religious) through the systematic use of reason. Early Christian writers...
at the Institut Catholique in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, and writer on apologetic subjects.
He was the son of Achille-Victor, Duc de Broglie
Victor, 3rd duc de Broglie
Achille-Léonce-Victor-Charles, 3rd duc de Broglie, called Victor de Broglie was a French statesman and diplomat. He was twice President of the Council during the July Monarchy, from August 1830 to November 1830 and from March 1835 to February 1836...
, and his wife, Albertine, baroness Staël von Holstein
Albertine, baroness Staël von Holstein
Hedvig Gustava Albertina, Baroness de Staël-Holstein or simply Albertine , was the daughter of Erik Magnus Staël von Holstein and Madame de Staël, the granddaughter of Jacques Necker and Suzanne Curchod, wife to Victor, 3rd duc de Broglie, and mother to Albert, a French monarchist politician...
, a Protestant and the daughter of Madame de Staël
Anne Louise Germaine de Staël
Anne Louise Germaine de Staël-Holstein , commonly known as Madame de Staël, was a French-speaking Swiss author living in Paris and abroad. She influenced literary tastes in Europe at the turn of the 19th century.- Childhood :...
. After the death of his mother, who died young, he was brought up by the Baroness Auguste de Staël, née Vernet. This aunt, although also a Protestant, exerted herself "to make a large-minded Christian of him in the Church to which she did not belong" (Monseigneur d'Hulst in Le Correspondant
Le Correspondant
Le Correspondant was a French Catholic review, founded in March 1829 by Louis de Carné, Edmond de Cazalès and Augustin de Meaux, under the motto "Civil and religious liberty throughout the universe" . It ceased publication in 1937....
, 25 May 1895).
Broglie studied at the École Polytechnique
École Polytechnique
The École Polytechnique is a state-run institution of higher education and research in Palaiseau, Essonne, France, near Paris. Polytechnique is renowned for its four year undergraduate/graduate Master's program...
, leaving in 1855. Still young, he entered the navy; he was appointed ensign in 1857 and soon after lieutenant. After a voyage to New Caledonia
New Caledonia
New Caledonia is a special collectivity of France located in the southwest Pacific Ocean, east of Australia and about from Metropolitan France. The archipelago, part of the Melanesia subregion, includes the main island of Grande Terre, the Loyalty Islands, the Belep archipelago, the Isle of...
in which he came in contact with active missions, he felt himself called to the religious life. He entered the Seminary of Saint Sulpice
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
in Paris in 1867. After completing his studies there he was ordained priest on 18 October 1870. He was named professor of apologetics at the Institut Catholique in 1879. His teaching, which included philosophical, theological, biblical and historical themes, were intended to defend the Catholic faith from perceived attacks from Positivism
Positivism
Positivism is a a view of scientific methods and a philosophical approach, theory, or system based on the view that, in the social as well as natural sciences, sensory experiences and their logical and mathematical treatment are together the exclusive source of all worthwhile information....
and Rationalism
Rationalism
In epistemology and in its modern sense, rationalism is "any view appealing to reason as a source of knowledge or justification" . In more technical terms, it is a method or a theory "in which the criterion of the truth is not sensory but intellectual and deductive"...
. He maintained the harmony and autonomy of the two spheres of knowledge, religion and reason.
In his numerous publications the Abbé de Broglie was always a faithful defender of Catholic dogma. At the time of his death, which resulted from the violence of an insane person he had taken under his protection, he was preparing a book on the agreement of reason and faith. His most important work is Problèmes et conclusions de l'histoire des religions (Paris, 1886). Of his other writings, some of which were pamphlets or articles in reviews, the following may be mentioned:
- Le positivisme et la science expérimentale (2 vol., París 1880-81)
- Cours d’apologétique chrétienne (1883)
- La Morale évolutionniste (1885)
- La Morale sans Dieu (1886)
- La Réaction contre le positivisme (1894)
- "Religion de Zoroastre et religion védique"
- "Le bouddhisme"
- "Religions neo-brahmaniques de l'Inde"
- "L'islamisme"; "La vraie définition de la religion"
- "La transcendence du christianisme"
- "L'histoire religieuse d'Israël"
- "Les prophètes et les prophéties, d'après les travaux de Kuenen"
- "L'idée de Dieu dans l'Ancien et le Nouveau Testament"
- "Le présent et l'avenir du catholicisme en France"
Two posthumous publications, Religion et critique (1896) and Questions bibliques (1897) were edited by the Abbé Piat.