The author uses the book to examine the Christian liturgy, express his opinions about the state of Catholicism in contemporary France and explore the question of suffering (one notable passage describes the Garden of Gethsemane).
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In L'Oblat, Durtal becomes an oblate, reflecting Huysmans' own experiences in the religious community at Ligugé.
He completed his classical studies and Baccalauréat ès-art at the Séminaire Oblat de Chambly and at the Collège de Montréal (Université de Montréal).
Among the novices and postulants at this period were Joris-Karl Huysmans and Paul Claudel, who wrote of their experiences at Ligugé in "L'Oblat" and "Partage de Midi" respectively.