Gastaud, Francois

Gastaud, Francois, a French theologian, was born at Aix about 1660. He entered the congregation of the Oratorio at the age of fourteen, but after five years withdrew, having studied philosophy at Marseilles and theology at Aries. He was ordained priest, and for several years preached at Paris with great success. His brother, a distinguished advocate, having died about. 1700, abbe Gastaud, after two years of study, was appointed counsellor to the parliament of Aix, and obtained a license to practice from the court of Rome. He also succeeded well in this, and in 1717 gained an important. suit against the Jesuits. This affair, together with his. predilection for the Jansenists, made enemies who attacked him, and whom he repulsed with great violence. Being banished to Viviers in 1727, and recalled in about eight months, he was again banished in 1731 to the same place, where he died in 1732. Some of his principal works are, Homelies sur l'Epitre aux Romans (Paris, 1699): — Le Politique des Jesuites Demasquee (without date).. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.