Berulle, Pierre De

Berulle, Pierre De institutor and first superior general of the "congregation of priests of the Oratory" in France, was born in the neighborhood of Troyes, in Champagne, February 4, 1575. After establishing the Carmelites in France, he laid the foundation of the '"Congregation of the Oratory," which raised a great storm on the part of the Jesuits. He, however, had the concurrence of the pope and of the king, Louis XIII, and on the 4th of November, 1611, the Oratory, SEE ORATORIANS, was established. In 1627 Urban VIII made him cardinal. He died suddenly at the altar, Oct. 2, 1629, not without suspicion of having been poisoned by Richelieu. He left many controversial and devotional works, published at Paris (1644,1657,2 vols. fol.). His Life was written by Hubert (Paris, 1746) and Tabaraud (new ed. Paris, 1817, 2 vols.). — Biog. Univ. 4, 379-384; Landon, 2:214.