RAVIGNAN, rit've'nyaN', GUSTAVE FRAN cOIS XAVIER DELACROIX DE ( 1795-1353 A noted French pulpit orator. He was born at Bay onne. studied in the Lycje Bonaparte at Paris, and having embraced the legal pro fession (1814), and obtained his degree, was named auditor of the Cour Royale at Paris, and afterwards (in 1821 ) received an appoint ment in the tribunal of the Seine. In 1322 he resolved to enter the Church. Haying spent some time in the College of Saint he soon passed into the novitiate of the Jesuits at Mont rouge, and thence to D5le and Saint Acheul for his theological studies, at the termination of which he was himself appointed a professor 11828). On the expulsion of the Jesuits from France (in 1830). Ravicman withdrew to Brieg. in Switzerland, where he first taught. and then preached in various places. In 1835 he appeared in the pulpit of the Cathedral of Amiens, and finally (in 1837) was selected to replace Lacor daire (q.v.) at Notre Dame. Paris. in the duty of conducting the special 'conferences' for men which had been opened in that church. For ten
years Ravignan occupied this pulpit with a suc cess which has rarely been equaled. and his 'con ferenNs' are regarded as models of ecclesiastical eloquence. In 1842 he undertook in addition to preach each evening during the entire Lent; and it is to the excessive fatigue thus induced that the premature break-down of his strength is as cribed. He published an apology of his Order in 1644 (Eng. trans., On the Jesuits, Their Insti tute, Doctrines, etc.. London. 1644) ; and in 1654 a more lengthened work with the same view, Clcment XIII. et Ckthent XIV., which was in tended as a reply to the Life of Clement XIV., by the Oratorian Father Theiner. These, with some occasional sermons and 'conferences' (Eng. trans.. London, 1373). constitute the sum of the publications issued during his life. He died in the convent of his Order at Paris. Consult his Life by A. Frogier de Ponlevoy (Eng. trans., Lon don, 1569), and Poujoulet (Paris, 1862).