LOUIS GASTON DE SÉGUR was born in Paris on April 15, 1820. Coming from a distinguished family, he was the son of Marquis Eugène de Ségur and the acclaimed children's book writer, Countess de Ségur. After completing his law studies, he served at the French Embassy in Rome, near the Holy See. It was there that he felt drawn to the priesthood. Once back in Paris, he joined the Seminary of Saint Sulpice and was ordained in December 1847. He committed himself to spreading the Gospel among children, the impoverished, and war prisoners. Facing deteriorating eyesight that eventually led to blindness, he began dictating books, presenting Catholic teachings in everyday language. By the time he passed away in 1881, his books had sold over 700,000 copies in just France and Belgium, not including translations into languages like Italian, Spanish, German, English, and even Hindi. In 1876, de Ségur wrote a book on Hell, drawing inspiration from a statement by Pope Pius IX: "The most compelling way to encourage reflection among sinners, and thus their return to God, is the truth about hell." Ségur believed that understanding the reality of Hell, not merely as a metaphor, could lead individuals to a deeper reverence for God, echoing the psalmist's words that "the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom" (Ps 111:10).