Basil Moreau was a French priest born in 1799 who dedicated his life to revitalizing the Catholic Church in post-revolutionary France. Growing up during the French Revolution, he witnessed the suppression of religious practice, which motivated his later work as an itinerant preacher and educator. He is most recognized for establishing the Congregation of Holy Cross, a religious family comprising priests, brothers, and sisters. His educational vision eventually expanded to the United States, where he played a fundamental role in the establishment of the University of Notre Dame.