Alphonse Gratry was a French Oratorian priest, born 1805, died 1872.
Some commentators regard him as perhaps the greatest philosopher of the 19th century. Certainly he has a claim to consideration as the greatest Catholic philosopher of that period. Unquestionably, he was a profound thinker and wonderful writer.
Moreover, Gratry and his disciple, Léon Ollé-Laprune, can justly be considered as the architects of the "new philosophy" which provided the intellectual foundation for the modern lay apostolate.
Stefan Gigacz
Editor
