“The Renaissance was the resurrection, the worship, the fana-tic adoration of paganism with all its literary, artistic, philosophical, moral, and religious idols. The Renaissance gave birth to the Reformation. The Reformation gave birth to Voltairian impiety, and Voltairian impiety gave birth to the French Revolution. The French Revolution is the most dreadful moral catastrophe the world has ever seen.”

Letters to Monsignor Dupanloup, Bishop of Orleans, on Paganism in Education (Gaume freres, 1852).