He was the son of a lawyer at Dole, of a family, which during the previous century had attained to a high position in the magistracy and was renowned for the piety and virtue of its members.
Having studied theology at the University of Dole, he fell under the influence of Berulle and entered the Oratory in 1614, three years after its foundation.
His life was unmarked by any external event except the loss of sight which occurred in 1627, while he was preaching the Lenten course at Rouen, but this caused no cessation in his work.
In 1600 he appealed for advice to Antoine Arnauld, who ascribed these results to the laxity of confessors under the influence of casuistry, and dissuaded him from the design of abandoning his mission work.
His sermons in twelve volumes were published at Toulouse, Paris, and Rouen before his death, and a Latin translation at Mainz in 1667.