Crescente Errázuriz
Encyclopedia
Monsignor
Crescente Errázuriz Valdivieso (November 18, 1839 – July 5, 1931) was a Chile
an Dominican friar, Roman Catholic archbishop
of Santiago
, professor, writer and historian. Crescente Errázuriz was of Basque
descent.
, Chile
the sixth child of Francisco Javier de Errázuriz y Aldunate and of his second wife, Rosario Fernández de Valdivieso y Zañartu (sister to Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
.) He studied at the school of the Fernández Díaz sisters and the Justino Fagalde school, in Santiago and from there he attended the Santiago Seminary
in 1851. He graduated in Theology
and Law
. Subsequently, he decided to embrace the ecclesiastical career. He became a priest on December 18, 1863, and was appointed editor of the La Revista Católica (Catholic magazine). In 1874 founded a new magazine called El Estandarte Católico (Catholic banner) in order to defend the church position and respond to the liberal attacks. One year earlier, he had also become a member of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Chile, teaching canon law, and writing the standard text on the subject.
In 1885, he left the university to seclude himself in the Recoleta Domínica convent, adopting the name of Raimundo. There he was put in charge of the library, which he transformed in the most important private library in Chile. In 1898, he became the convent abbot, position he retained until 1907. During his time in the convent, he published his massive Los Orígenes de la Iglesia Chilena (Origins of the Chilean church), which made him the premier church historian. Due to his publications and researches, he was incorporated to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. He was also given the gold medal of the Historical and Geographical Society of Chile in 1912, and became the president of the Chilean Academy of History in 1914. In 1916, he returned to his position in the university.
In 1918 he was nominated as Archbishop
of the Santiago archdiocese by president Juan Luis Sanfuentes
. Monsignor Errázuriz was considered a peace offering in preparation for the heated presidential campaign of 1920
, even though he was already 71 years old. Pope Benedict XV named him on December 30, 1918, adopting the motto: Cruz et Evangelium ecce arma mea.
He promoted a policy to make the Catholic Church independent from the conservative party. In 1920 he proposed the creation of the bishoprics of Valparaíso and Talca. In 1924 he presided over the separation of the church and the state, consecrated in the Constitution
of 1925. He was the voice that gave serenity and long term vision to the negotiations. Monsignor Errázuriz died in 1931 at the age of 91.
Monsignor
Monsignor, pl. monsignori, is the form of address for those members of the clergy of the Catholic Church holding certain ecclesiastical honorific titles. Monsignor is the apocopic form of the Italian monsignore, from the French mon seigneur, meaning "my lord"...
Crescente Errázuriz Valdivieso (November 18, 1839 – July 5, 1931) was a Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
an Dominican friar, Roman Catholic archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Santiago
Santiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, professor, writer and historian. Crescente Errázuriz was of Basque
Basque people
The Basques as an ethnic group, primarily inhabit an area traditionally known as the Basque Country , a region that is located around the western end of the Pyrenees on the coast of the Bay of Biscay and straddles parts of north-central Spain and south-western France.The Basques are known in the...
descent.
Life
He was born in SantiagoSantiago, Chile
Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level...
, Chile
Chile
Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far...
the sixth child of Francisco Javier de Errázuriz y Aldunate and of his second wife, Rosario Fernández de Valdivieso y Zañartu (sister to Archbishop Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
Rafael Valentín Valdivieso
Rafael Valentín Valdivieso Zañartu was a Chilean priest and lawyer, who worked as Archbishop of Santiago de Chile between 1848 and 1878.-Biography:...
.) He studied at the school of the Fernández Díaz sisters and the Justino Fagalde school, in Santiago and from there he attended the Santiago Seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
in 1851. He graduated in Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
and Law
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
. Subsequently, he decided to embrace the ecclesiastical career. He became a priest on December 18, 1863, and was appointed editor of the La Revista Católica (Catholic magazine). In 1874 founded a new magazine called El Estandarte Católico (Catholic banner) in order to defend the church position and respond to the liberal attacks. One year earlier, he had also become a member of the Faculty of Theology of the University of Chile, teaching canon law, and writing the standard text on the subject.
In 1885, he left the university to seclude himself in the Recoleta Domínica convent, adopting the name of Raimundo. There he was put in charge of the library, which he transformed in the most important private library in Chile. In 1898, he became the convent abbot, position he retained until 1907. During his time in the convent, he published his massive Los Orígenes de la Iglesia Chilena (Origins of the Chilean church), which made him the premier church historian. Due to his publications and researches, he was incorporated to the Royal Academy of the Spanish Language. He was also given the gold medal of the Historical and Geographical Society of Chile in 1912, and became the president of the Chilean Academy of History in 1914. In 1916, he returned to his position in the university.
In 1918 he was nominated as Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of the Santiago archdiocese by president Juan Luis Sanfuentes
Juan Luis Sanfuentes
Juan Luis Sanfuentes Andonaegui was President of Chile between 1915 and 1920. He was son of writer and politician Salvador Sanfuentes Torres and Matilde Andonaegui....
. Monsignor Errázuriz was considered a peace offering in preparation for the heated presidential campaign of 1920
Chilean presidential election, 1920
The Chilean presidential election of 1920 resulted in the election as President of Arturo Alessandri.-Popular vote:Carried out on June 25, 1920. -Electoral vote :Carried out on July 25, 1920.-Electoral vote :...
, even though he was already 71 years old. Pope Benedict XV named him on December 30, 1918, adopting the motto: Cruz et Evangelium ecce arma mea.
He promoted a policy to make the Catholic Church independent from the conservative party. In 1920 he proposed the creation of the bishoprics of Valparaíso and Talca. In 1924 he presided over the separation of the church and the state, consecrated in the Constitution
Constitution of Chile
In its temporary dispositions, the document ordered the transition from the former military government, with Augusto Pinochet as President of the Republic, and the Legislative Power of the Military Junta , to a civil one, with a time frame of eight...
of 1925. He was the voice that gave serenity and long term vision to the negotiations. Monsignor Errázuriz died in 1931 at the age of 91.
Ecclesiastical life
| Date | Event | Title |
|---|---|---|
| November 28, 1839 | Born | Santiago Santiago, Chile Santiago , also known as Santiago de Chile, is the capital and largest city of Chile, and the center of its largest conurbation . It is located in the country's central valley, at an elevation of above mean sea level... , Chile Chile Chile ,officially the Republic of Chile , is a country in South America occupying a long, narrow coastal strip between the Andes mountains to the east and the Pacific Ocean to the west. It borders Peru to the north, Bolivia to the northeast, Argentina to the east, and the Drake Passage in the far... |
| December 18, 1863 | Ordained Priest | Priest of Order of Friars Preachers |
| 1910 | Incardinated | Priest of Santiago de Chile |
| December 30, 1918 | Appointed | Archbishop of Santiago de Chile |
| January 12, 1919 | Ordained Bishop | Archbishop of Santiago de Chile |
| January 29, 1919 | Installed | Archbishop of Santiago de Chile |
| June 5, 1931 | Died | Archbishop of Santiago de Chile |