Antoine Blanc
Encyclopedia
Antoine Blanc was the fifth Bishop
and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
. His tenure, during which the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, was at a time of growth in the city, which he matched with the most rapid church expansion in the history of New Orleans. More new parishes were established in New Orleans under his episcopacy than at any other time.
, France
. He attended the seminary at Sury-le-Comtal and was ordained in 1816, arriving in North America at Annapolis, Maryland
in 1817. He went to the Louisiana Territory to begin working to establish missions there.
In 1831, he was promoted to vicar-general by Bishop de Neckère. In November 1835, Blanc was appointed bishop to succeed de Neckère after his death. Blanc's jurisdiction included the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, to which Texas was added in 1838. Later the territory was reduced when the diocese of Mississippi was established. In 1853 the diocese of Natchitoches was founded in the northern part of Louisiana. Growth in New Orleans and the region took all of Blanc's attention.
In 1850 the diocese of New Orleans was raised to an archdiocese, and Blanc became its first archbishop. St. Louis Cathedral
remained its cathedral.
Monsignor Blanc invited the Jesuits and Lazarites to Louisiana to establish seminaries for the training of priests. He also invited the Redemptorists and the Christian Brothers
. He also wanted to establish convents and schools for girls and invited the Sisters of Charity
, the , the Good Shepherd Sisters
, and the congregations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
and of the Holy Cross. These new communities of Catholic workers helped the communities and took care of their populations during epidemics and other trials. Blanc also devoted resources and attention to the lives of enslaved people. The new religious also supported the new congregations of English-speaking American migrants and Irish immigrants who had become established in New Orleans and the states since the Louisiana Purchase. By 1832 New Orleans had grown to be the fourth-largest city in the nation after New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
The crisis of a yellow fever epidemic resulted in fatalities of 5% of the population of New Orleans.
Blanc died in 1860 in New Orleans while still in office.
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans, officially in Latin Archidioecesis Novae Aureliae, is an ecclesiastical division of the Roman Catholic Church administered from New Orleans, Louisiana...
. His tenure, during which the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, was at a time of growth in the city, which he matched with the most rapid church expansion in the history of New Orleans. More new parishes were established in New Orleans under his episcopacy than at any other time.
Early life and education
Antoine Blanc was born in Sury, near Sury-le-ComtalSury-le-Comtal
Sury-le-Comtal is a commune in the Loire department in central France....
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. He attended the seminary at Sury-le-Comtal and was ordained in 1816, arriving in North America at Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis, Maryland
Annapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Maryland, as well as the county seat of Anne Arundel County. It had a population of 38,394 at the 2010 census and is situated on the Chesapeake Bay at the mouth of the Severn River, south of Baltimore and about east of Washington, D.C. Annapolis is...
in 1817. He went to the Louisiana Territory to begin working to establish missions there.
Career
After years working as a missioner, principally in the territories of Mississippi and Louisiana, and as parish priest of St. Francis Church in Pointe Coupée (and its mission chapels in the Felicianas and the Plains on the east side of the Mississippi River) and then at St. Joseph Church in Baton Rouge, Father Blanc was appointed by Bishop de Neckère to assist in the administration of the diocese of New Orleans.In 1831, he was promoted to vicar-general by Bishop de Neckère. In November 1835, Blanc was appointed bishop to succeed de Neckère after his death. Blanc's jurisdiction included the states of Louisiana and Mississippi, to which Texas was added in 1838. Later the territory was reduced when the diocese of Mississippi was established. In 1853 the diocese of Natchitoches was founded in the northern part of Louisiana. Growth in New Orleans and the region took all of Blanc's attention.
In 1850 the diocese of New Orleans was raised to an archdiocese, and Blanc became its first archbishop. St. Louis Cathedral
St. Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Saint Louis Cathedral , also known as the Basilica of St. Louis, King of France, is the seat of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans; it has the distinction of being the oldest continuously operating cathedral in the United States...
remained its cathedral.
Monsignor Blanc invited the Jesuits and Lazarites to Louisiana to establish seminaries for the training of priests. He also invited the Redemptorists and the Christian Brothers
Congregation of Christian Brothers
The Congregation of Christian Brothers is a worldwide religious community within the Catholic Church, founded by Blessed Edmund Rice. The Christian Brothers, as they are commonly known, chiefly work for the evangelisation and education of youth, but are involved in many ministries, especially with...
. He also wanted to establish convents and schools for girls and invited the Sisters of Charity
Sisters of Charity
Many religious communities have the term Sisters of Charity as part of their name. The rule of Saint Vincent for the Daughters of Charity has been adopted and adapted by at least sixty founders of religious orders around the world in the subsequent centuries....
, the , the Good Shepherd Sisters
Good Shepherd Sisters
The Good Shepherd Sisters is a Roman Catholic order of women religious. In addition to the standard vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, the Good Shepherd Sisters take the following fourth vow of zeal for souls [to save souls], particularly of women and girls."I bind myself to the labor for...
, and the congregations of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Our Lady of Mount Carmel is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late 12th and early to mid 13th centuries...
and of the Holy Cross. These new communities of Catholic workers helped the communities and took care of their populations during epidemics and other trials. Blanc also devoted resources and attention to the lives of enslaved people. The new religious also supported the new congregations of English-speaking American migrants and Irish immigrants who had become established in New Orleans and the states since the Louisiana Purchase. By 1832 New Orleans had grown to be the fourth-largest city in the nation after New York, Philadelphia, and Boston.
The crisis of a yellow fever epidemic resulted in fatalities of 5% of the population of New Orleans.
Blanc died in 1860 in New Orleans while still in office.
Legacy and honors
Blanc's institution building during the rapid growth of New Orleans and the states resulted in the number of churches increasing from 26 to 73, and of priests from 27 to 92. Under his leadership many schools, academies, colleges, convents, and asylums were established.- The Archbishop Antoine Blanc Memorial at 1100 Chartres Street was named in his honor, and holds the archives of the archdiocese.