DUBOIS, LOUIS ERNEST

Cardinal, archbishop of Paris; b. St-Calais (Sarthe), Sept. 1, 1856; d. Paris, Sept. 23, 1929. After studies at the seminary in Le Mans, he was ordained (1879), became curate in the Le Mans Diocese at Brûlon and then at Couture du Mans, editor of the diocesan bulletin Semaine du fidèle (1888), almoner of the Notre-Dame boarding school in Le Mans (1893), pastor in Le Mans (1895), and vicar-general (1898). As bishop of Verdun (1901–09), his adherence to the Holy See's directives in the crisis caused by the law separating Church and State (1905) merited his elevation to the archiepiscopal See of Bourges (1909). During World War I he dedicated his efforts especially to the Union sacrée and to patriotic works. In 1916 Benedict XV transferred him to the See of Rouen, and made him cardinal. The government sent Dubois to the Near East to strengthen French influence (1919–20). He succeeded Cardinal amette in the See of Paris (1920). Further voyages in official capacities carried him to Poland (1924), the U.S. and Canada (1926), and Austria (1928). With his conciliatory spirit he established such diocesan cultural associations as the Gregorian Institute for plain chant, and Catholic committees for the theater, cinema, and radio; and inaugurated radio broadcasts of sermons. Christian syndicalism and the first specialized activities of catholic action met his approval. He suffered bitter recrimination in his opposition to action franÇaise. He published several brochures on the religious history of the French region of Maine; Vie de St Joseph (1927); and Paroles catholiques (1928).

Bibliography: m. florisoone, Le Cardinal Dubois (Paris 1929). h. l. odelin, Le Cardinal Dubois: Souvenirs (Paris 1931). j. rupp, Histoire de l'Église de Paris (Paris 1948) 311–316. g. jacquemet, Catholicisme. Hier, aujourd'hui et demain, ed. g. jacquemet (Paris 1947–) 3:1136–38.

[r. limouzin-lamothe]