O'REILLY, Bernard, clergyman, born in Donegal, Ireland, in 1823. He came to Canada at an early age, entered the Seminary of Quebec, and, after finishing his studies, was ordained a priest. He was for several years on the Canadian mission, devoting himself particularly to the interests of those of his countrymen that were forced to emigrate by the famine of 1848, and was also engaged in a plan for promoting Irish colonization, which was only partially successful. He was professor of rhetoric in St. John's college, Fordham, for some time after 1851, and, after studying abroad, was attached to the church of St. Francis Xavier, New York. He afterward travelled extensively through Europe, at the same time devoting himself with success to literary pursuits. His intercourse with Plus IX. and Leo XIII. has been confidential, and the latter pontiff selected him to write the official "Life of Leo XIII." He was raised to the dignity of domestic prelate of the papal throne in 1887. His principal works are " Mirror of True Womanhood" (New York, 1876); "Life of Plus IX." (1877) ; " True Men" (1878); "Key of Heaven" (1878); "The Two Brides," a novel (1879); and "Life of Leo XIII." (1887).