The Sisters of St. Louis, a religious congregation focused on Christian education, was established by Louis Eugène Marie Bautain in 1842. His work navigated the friction between speculative thought and religious doctrine during a time when French intellectual life shifted toward questions of public moral responsibility and the limitations of human reason in understanding metaphysical truths.
Academic and Theological Formation
Educated at the Lycée Charlemagne and the École Normale Supérieure, Bautain encountered the intellectual influence of Victor Cousin. In 1816, he transitioned into higher education, securing the chair of philosophy at the University of Strasbourg. Throughout his tenure, he conducted a parallel course of lectures as a professor within the university's literary faculty. His philosophical outlook was shaped by the broader 19th-century reaction against speculative systems, a trend that engaged figures such as De Maistre and Lamennais.
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Bautain took holy orders in 1828 and subsequently resigned his university professorship. He maintained his presence at the Faculty of Strasbourg and the college of Juilly before relocating to Paris in 1849 to serve as a vicar for the diocese. His reputation as an orator grew, eventually leading to his 1853 appointment as professor of moral theology at the Sorbonne, a position he retained until his death in 1867. In 1840, he received recognition as a Knight of the Legion of Honour.
Philosophy of Faith and Reason
In his writings, Bautain sought to integrate theology and philosophy into a single scientific framework. Influenced by Kantian criticism, he argued that reason could not grasp things in themselves. Instead, he posited the existence of an 'intelligence' that connects the mind to spiritual truths. His scholarly output included 'Philosophie du Christianisme' (1835), 'Psychologie expérimentale' (1839), later revised as 'Esprit humain et ses facultés' (1859), 'Philosophie morale' (1840), 'Religion et liberté' (1848), 'La morale de l’Évangile' (1827/1855), and 'De l'éducation publique en France au XIX siècle' (1876).
Fast facts
- Born: 1796, former 7th arrondissement of Paris
- Died: 1867, Viroflay
- Education: Lycée Charlemagne, École Normale Supérieure
- Position: Dean (1838-1849)
- Award: Knight of the Legion of Honour (1840)
- Organization founded: Sisters of St. Louis (1842)
- Academic post: Professor of moral theology, Sorbonne (1853-1867)
Questions readers ask
What was Bautain's position on the relationship between faith and reason?
He distinguished between the two but viewed them as components of a unified science, ultimately prioritizing faith over reason.
What legacy did Bautain leave in the field of education?
He co-founded the Sisters of St. Louis in 1842 to promote Christian education, an order that subsequently established schools globally.
Achievements
- Knight of the Legion of Honour — 1840
