[5] Advancing to the major seminary of the diocese of Orléans which was conducted by the Society of the Priests of Saint Sulpice, Cormier studied philosophy and theology.

[3] Shortly after his ordination for the diocese Cormier felt called to enter the first Dominican Order, which had been officially re-established in France in 1850 after its suppression by the French government.

His inspiration for joining the order reportedly was the holy life of the Dominican nun Agnes of Jesus.

Cormier was given the necessary permission to leave the service of the diocese by Bishop Dupanloup and on 29 June 1856 he received the habit of the order and the religious name Hyacinthe-Marie.

[6] The Master had him accompany him back to Rome as his personal secretary and sent him to the convent of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill, where an international novitiate had recently been established.

Upon receiving the petition, Pope Pius IX agreed to let Cormier make his profession upon the condition that he be free from hemorrhage for one full month, but noting, "since it is not for him to live under the religious habit, it will be at least for him to die under it".

[12] Sadoc Szabo relates in his work Hyacinth Marie Cormier: 76th Master General of the Order of Preachers that in 1899 Pope Leo XIII began to make Cormier a cardinal but he was prevented because "the French government did not look favorably upon a cardinal chosen from a religious order to seek its interest as a member of the Roman Curia.

"[13] After the General Chapter, Cormier was called to Rome as socius to the newly elected Master of the Order, Andreas Frühwirth, who later became a cardinal.

[12] On 21 May 1904 he was elected as Master of the Order at the general chapter held at the Convent of S. Maria de la Quercia near Viterbo.

[8][9] As Master, he restored many suppressed provinces and erected new ones, including that of the Most Holy Name of Jesus in the Western United States of America.

His influence helped to bring about the beatifications of Reginald of Orleans, Bertrand Garrigua, Raymond of Capua and Andrew Abellon.

[8] The General Chapter in 1904 (Viterbo) directed Cormier to develop the College into a studium generalissimum for the entire Order.

"[15] On Holy Thursday, 17 April 1916, just before his retirement Cormier delivered a speech to the '"Angelicum entitled Vie intime avec Jesus: allocution prononcee au College Angelique.

In his sermon for the beatification Mass, the Pope noted that, in beatifying Cormier, "the Church wishes to recognize and honor the work of the human intellect, illuminated by faith.