After the death of his mother, who died young, he was brought up by the Baroness Auguste de Staël, née Vernet.

This aunt, although also a Protestant, exerted herself "to make a large-minded Christian of him in the Church to which she did not belong" (Monseigneur d'Hulst in Le Correspondant, 25 May 1895).

His teaching, which included philosophical, theological, biblical and historical themes, were intended to defend the Catholic faith from perceived attacks from Positivism and Rationalism.

At the time of his death, which resulted from the violence of an insane person he had taken under his protection, he was preparing a book on the agreement of reason and faith.

Of his other writings, some of which were pamphlets or articles in reviews, the following may be mentioned: Two posthumous publications, Religion et critique (1896) and Questions bibliques (1897) were edited by the Abbé Piat.