Cornelius Jansen (1510-1576)
Encyclopedia
Cornelius Jansen, the Elder (born at Hulst
, The Netherlands (in Dutch or North Flanders, nowadays Zeelandic Flanders), 1510; died at Ghent
, 11 April 1576) was a Catholic exegete.
(called at Ghent the Hieronymites), and later studied theology and Oriental languages at Leuven
. After he had become a licentiate of theology in 1534, he lectured, at the request of the abbot of the Premonstratensian
Abbey of Tongerloo, to the young monks on the Holy Scripture until 1542, from which date until 1562 he discharged the duties of pastor of the parish of St. Martin at Courtrai (Kortrijk) with great success. Having finally attained the degree of Doctor of Theology
in 1562, he was immediately appointed professor of theology at the University of Leuven
, became in the following year dean of the collegiate seminary of St. James, and attended the last sessions of the Council of Trent
as delegate of the university.
On his return, Philip II of Spain
appointed him first bishop of the newly founded See of Ghent, which dated only from 1559. For a long time he refused to assume the dignity, on account of the difficult conditions in the diocese, and was not preconized until 1568, by Pope Pius V
. As bishop he devoted himself especially to checking the advance of Protestantism
, and to carrying out the decrees of the Council of Trent. With this object in view, he founded a seminary for priests at Ghent in 1569, held diocesan synods in 1571 and 1574, and published a ritual for his diocese.
He was entrusted with the compilation of a ritual to be used in the ecclesiastical province of Mechlin, but did not finish it. While at Tongerloo he wrote a great deal, and, as pastor at Kortrijk
, had already become widely known for his exegetical work.
The Concordia Evangelica was epoch-making in the history of Catholic exegesis, for Jansen insisted on the literal interpretation, as against the mystical interpretation of his predecessors, emphasized also the importance of the original text, and of a profound study of Oriental languages as aids to a full comprehension of the Latin Vulgate.
Hulst
Hulst is a municipality and a city in southwestern Netherlands in the east of Zeelandic Flanders.- History :Hulst received city rights in the 12th century....
, The Netherlands (in Dutch or North Flanders, nowadays Zeelandic Flanders), 1510; died at Ghent
Ghent
Ghent is a city and a municipality located in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the capital and biggest city of the East Flanders province. The city started as a settlement at the confluence of the Rivers Scheldt and Lys and in the Middle Ages became one of the largest and richest cities of...
, 11 April 1576) was a Catholic exegete.
Life
He received his early education at Ghent from the Brethren of the Common LifeBrethren of the Common Life
The Brethren of the Common Life was a Roman Catholic pietist religious community founded in the 14th century by Gerard Groote, formerly a successful and worldly educator who had had a religious experience and preached a life of simple devotion to Jesus Christ...
(called at Ghent the Hieronymites), and later studied theology and Oriental languages at Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
. After he had become a licentiate of theology in 1534, he lectured, at the request of the abbot of the Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
Abbey of Tongerloo, to the young monks on the Holy Scripture until 1542, from which date until 1562 he discharged the duties of pastor of the parish of St. Martin at Courtrai (Kortrijk) with great success. Having finally attained the degree of Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology
Doctor of Theology is a terminal academic degree in theology. It is a research degree that is considered by the U.S. National Science Foundation to be the equivalent of a Doctor of Philosophy....
in 1562, he was immediately appointed professor of theology at the University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
, became in the following year dean of the collegiate seminary of St. James, and attended the last sessions of the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
as delegate of the university.
On his return, Philip II of Spain
Philip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
appointed him first bishop of the newly founded See of Ghent, which dated only from 1559. For a long time he refused to assume the dignity, on account of the difficult conditions in the diocese, and was not preconized until 1568, by Pope Pius V
Pope Pius V
Pope Saint Pius V , born Antonio Ghislieri , was Pope from 1566 to 1572 and is a saint of the Catholic Church. He is chiefly notable for his role in the Council of Trent, the Counter-Reformation, and the standardization of the Roman liturgy within the Latin Church...
. As bishop he devoted himself especially to checking the advance of Protestantism
Protestantism
Protestantism is one of the three major groupings within Christianity. It is a movement that began in Germany in the early 16th century as a reaction against medieval Roman Catholic doctrines and practices, especially in regards to salvation, justification, and ecclesiology.The doctrines of the...
, and to carrying out the decrees of the Council of Trent. With this object in view, he founded a seminary for priests at Ghent in 1569, held diocesan synods in 1571 and 1574, and published a ritual for his diocese.
He was entrusted with the compilation of a ritual to be used in the ecclesiastical province of Mechlin, but did not finish it. While at Tongerloo he wrote a great deal, and, as pastor at Kortrijk
Kortrijk
Kortrijk ; , ; ) is a Belgian city and municipality located in the Flemish province West Flanders...
, had already become widely known for his exegetical work.
Works
Among Jansen's writings is the Concordia evangelica (Leuven, 1529), to which he later added the "Commentarius in Concordiam et totem historiam evangelicam" (Leuven, 1572), undoubtedly his best work. He published also: "Commentarius in Proverbia Salomonis" (Leuven, 1567), and "Commentarius in Ecclesiasticum" (Leuven, 1569), both of which were republished in one work at Antwerp in 1589; "Commentarius in omnes Psalmos Davidicos" (Leuven, 1569), with an introduction to each psalm, an excellent paraphrase of the text, and explanations of the difficult passages; "Paraphrases in ea Veteris Testamenti Cantica, quae per ferias singulas totius anni usus ecclesiasticus observat" (Leuven, 1569). After his death appeared "Annotationes in Librum Sapientiae" (Leuven, 1577).The Concordia Evangelica was epoch-making in the history of Catholic exegesis, for Jansen insisted on the literal interpretation, as against the mystical interpretation of his predecessors, emphasized also the importance of the original text, and of a profound study of Oriental languages as aids to a full comprehension of the Latin Vulgate.