Gault, Jean Baptiste

Gault, Jean Baptiste a French prelate, was born at Tours, December 29, 1595. He and his elder brother, Eustache, having in view. the ecclesiastical calling, pursued their: studies at Le Fleche, then at Paris, and finally at Rome. After a sojourn of eighteen months in the latter city they returned to France, and entered the congregation of the Oratorio. Jean received the order of priesthood at Troyes, and directed successively the houses of his order at Langres, Dijon, and Le Mans. He was also charged with various apostolic missions to Spain and Flanders. His brother, who had shared all his religious labors, was appointed bishop of Marseilles, but died, March 13, 1639, before receiving his bulla from Rome, and Jean was appointed to succeed him. The latter showed remarkable zeal for the reform of his diocese, for the relief of the poor, for the restoration of captives, and for the conversion of galleyslaves. A premature death removed him from his diocese, May 25, 1643. The clergy of France demanded his beatification at Rome in 1645. Eustache Gault was the author of a book entitled Discours de l'Etat et Couronne de Suede (Le Mans, 1633). See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, s.v.