Diocese of Meaux
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Meaux, is a diocese
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church
in France
. The diocese comprises the entire department of Seine-et-Marne
. It was suffragan of the Archdiocese of Sens
until 1622, and subsequently of Archdiocese of Paris.
The Concordat of 1801
gave to the Diocese of Meaux the department of Marne
, which was separated from it in 1821 and 1822 by the establishment of the archiepiscopal See of Reims
and the episcopal See of Châlons.
The current bishop is Albert-Marie Joseph Cyrille de Monléon (born January 20, 1937, in Paris
), who was installed on October 10, 1999 following his move from the post of Bishop of Pamiers.
, Soissons
and Senlis
. Hildegaire, who lived in the ninth century, says in his "Life of St. Faro" (Burgundofaro), that this bishop was the twentieth since St. Denis. According to the tradition accepted by Hildegaire, St. Denis was the first Bishop of Meaux, and was succeeded by his disciple St. Saintin, who in turn was succeeded by St. Antoninus; and another saint, named Rigomer, occupied the See of Meaux at the close of the fifth century. In 876 or 877, Hincmar showed Charles the Bald
a document which he claimed had been transcribed from a very old copy and according to which St. Antoninus and St. Saintin, disciples of St. Denis, had brought to Pope Anacletus
the account of the martyrdom of St. Denis, and on their return to Gaul had successively occupied the See of Meaux.
, the first Bishop of Meaux historically known is Medovechus, present at two councils in 549 and 552. Of the bishops of Meaux the following may be mentioned (following Mgr. Allou's chronology):
and Charles IX
; and so for that reason, shortly after St. Bartholomew's day
, Charles IX ordered the massacre of the Protestants of Meaux. At the château of Fontainebleau
, built by Francis I, was held the theological conference of 4 May, 1600, between the Catholics (Cardinal du Perron, de Thou, Pithou) and the Calvinists (du Plessis Mornay, Philippe Canaye
, Isaac Casaubon
).
Pope Eugene III
stayed some days at Meaux in 1147. In 1664 Blessed Eudes preached for two months at Meaux, Mme Guyon passed the first six months of 1695 at the Visitation convent of Meaux, where Bossuet had frequent conferences with her, but failed to make her abandon her mystic views. The celebrated Père Loriquet (1767-1845) was superior from 1812 to 1814 of the preparatory seminary of Châage, in the Diocese of Meaux.
, Bourges
, and Reims. Other councils were held at Meaux in 962, 1082, 1204, 1229 (ended in Paris), where the Count of Toulouse was reconciled with the Church; in 1240 a council was held in which the sentence of excommunication was pronounced against Frederick II
by Joannes of Palestrina, legate of Gregory IX; there was held an important council in 1523. Four councils were held at Melun
, in 1216, 1225, 1232, 1300. The city of Provins
was famous in the Middle Ages
for its burlesque ceremonies (fête de fous, fête do l'âne, fête des Innocents) held in the church. The cathedral of St-Etienne de Meaux is a fine Gothic edifice begun about 1170. The church of Champigny has a magnificent crypt dating from the thirteenth century.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
in 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...
. The diocese comprises the entire department of Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne
Seine-et-Marne is a French department, named after the Seine and Marne rivers, and located in the Île-de-France region.- History:Seine-et-Marne is one of the original 83 departments, created on March 4, 1790 during the French Revolution in application of the law of December 22, 1789...
. It was suffragan of the Archdiocese of Sens
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Sens is a Latin Rite Archdiocese of the Roman Catholic church in France. The Archdiocese comprises the department of Yonne, in the region of Bourgogne. Established in the first century AD as the Diocese of Senonensis, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese in...
until 1622, and subsequently of Archdiocese of Paris.
The Concordat of 1801
Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801. It solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France and brought back most of its civil status....
gave to the Diocese of Meaux the department of Marne
Marne
Marne is a department in north-eastern France named after the river Marne which flows through the department. The prefecture of Marne is Châlons-en-Champagne...
, which was separated from it in 1821 and 1822 by the establishment of the archiepiscopal See of Reims
Archbishop of Reims
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Reims is an archdiocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic Church in France. Erected as a diocese around 250 by St. Sixtus, the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese around 750...
and the episcopal See of Châlons.
The current bishop is Albert-Marie Joseph Cyrille de Monléon (born January 20, 1937, in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
), who was installed on October 10, 1999 following his move from the post of Bishop of Pamiers.
Creation
The present Diocese of Meaux is made up of the greater part of the former Diocese of Meaux, a large part of the former Diocese of Sens, a part of the former Diocese of Paris, and a few parishes of the former Dioceses of TroyesTroyes
Troyes is a commune and the capital of the Aube department in north-central France. It is located on the Seine river about southeast of Paris. Many half-timbered houses survive in the old town...
, Soissons
Soissons
Soissons is a commune in the Aisne department in Picardy in northern France, located on the Aisne River, about northeast of Paris. It is one of the most ancient towns of France, and is probably the ancient capital of the Suessiones...
and Senlis
Ancient Diocese of Senlis
The former French Catholic diocese of Senlis existed from the sixth century, at least, to the French Revolution. Its see was at Senlis, in the modern department of Oise, in northern France....
. Hildegaire, who lived in the ninth century, says in his "Life of St. Faro" (Burgundofaro), that this bishop was the twentieth since St. Denis. According to the tradition accepted by Hildegaire, St. Denis was the first Bishop of Meaux, and was succeeded by his disciple St. Saintin, who in turn was succeeded by St. Antoninus; and another saint, named Rigomer, occupied the See of Meaux at the close of the fifth century. In 876 or 877, Hincmar showed Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald
Charles the Bald , Holy Roman Emperor and King of West Francia , was the youngest son of the Emperor Louis the Pious by his second wife Judith.-Struggle against his brothers:He was born on 13 June 823 in Frankfurt, when his elder...
a document which he claimed had been transcribed from a very old copy and according to which St. Antoninus and St. Saintin, disciples of St. Denis, had brought to Pope Anacletus
Pope Anacletus
Pope Saint Anacletus , also called Pope Cletus, was the third Roman Pope Pope Saint Anacletus (very rarely written as Anencletus), also called Pope Cletus, was the third Roman Pope Pope Saint Anacletus (very rarely written as Anencletus), also called Pope Cletus, was the third Roman Pope (after St....
the account of the martyrdom of St. Denis, and on their return to Gaul had successively occupied the See of Meaux.
Notable bishops
According to Mgr. DuchesneLouis Duchesne
Louis Marie Olivier Duchesne was a French priest, philologist, teacher and a critical historian of Christianity and Roman Catholic liturgy and institutions....
, the first Bishop of Meaux historically known is Medovechus, present at two councils in 549 and 552. Of the bishops of Meaux the following may be mentioned (following Mgr. Allou's chronology):
- St. Faro (626-72), whose Sister St. Fara founded the Abbey of Faremoutiers, and who himself built at Meaux the monastery of St-Croix
- St. Hildevert (672-680);
- St. Pathus, who died about 684 before being consecrated;
- St. Ebrigisilus (end of the seventh century);
- St. Gilbert of Meaux (first half of the eleventh century);
- Durand de St-Pourçain (1326-1334), commentator on the "Book of Sentences", known as the "resolutive doctor";
- Philippe de VitryPhilippe de VitryPhilippe de Vitry was a French composer, music theorist and poet. He was an accomplished, innovative, and influential composer, and may also have been the author of the Ars Nova treatise...
(1351-1361), friend of PetrarchPetrarchFrancesco Petrarca , known in English as Petrarch, was an Italian scholar, poet and one of the earliest humanists. Petrarch is often called the "Father of Humanism"...
and author of the "Metamorphoses d'Ovide Moralisées"; - Pierre Fresnel (1390-1409), several times ambassador of Charles VICharles VI of FranceCharles VI , called the Beloved and the Mad , was the King of France from 1380 to 1422, as a member of the House of Valois. His bouts with madness, which seem to have begun in 1392, led to quarrels among the French royal family, which were exploited by the neighbouring powers of England and Burgundy...
; - Pierre de Versailles (1439-1446), charged with important missions by Pope Eugene IVPope Eugene IVPope Eugene IV , born Gabriele Condulmer, was pope from March 3, 1431, to his death.-Biography:He was born in Venice to a rich merchant family, a Correr on his mother's side. Condulmer entered the Order of Saint Augustine at the monastery of St. George in his native city...
, and who, when commissioned by Charles VIICharles VII of FranceCharles VII , called the Victorious or the Well-Served , was King of France from 1422 to his death, though he was initially opposed by Henry VI of England, whose Regent, the Duke of Bedford, ruled much of France including the capital, Paris...
in 1429 to examine Joan of ArcJoan of ArcSaint Joan of Arc, nicknamed "The Maid of Orléans" , is a national heroine of France and a Roman Catholic saint. A peasant girl born in eastern France who claimed divine guidance, she led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years' War, which paved the way for the...
, had declared himself convinced of the Divine mission of the Maid of OrléansOrléans-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
; - Guillaume BriçonnetGuillaume BriçonnetGuillaume Briçonnet may refer to* Guillaume Briçonnet * Guillaume Briçonnet his son...
(1516-1534), ambassador of Francis IFrancis I of FranceFrancis I was King of France from 1515 until his death. During his reign, huge cultural changes took place in France and he has been called France's original Renaissance monarch...
to Leo X, and during whose episcopate the Reformation was introduced by Farel and Gérard RousselGérard RousselGérard Roussel was a French cleric, a student of Jacques Lefèvre d'Étaples and later a member, with his former teacher, of the Circle of Meaux around Guillaume Briçonnet, bishop of Meaux...
, whom he had personally called to his diocese for the revival of studies; - Cardinal Antoine du Prat (1534-1535), who had an active share in the drawing up of the concordat between Francis I and Leo X;
- The controversial writer and historian Jean du TilletJean du TilletJean du Tillet , son of a mayor and captain of Angoulême under Francis I of France, was appointed bishop of St. Brieuc in 1553, in which capacity he took part in the Council of Trent where he encouraged Gentian Hervet to undertake a Latin translation of Photius' Syntagma together with Balsamon's...
(1564-1570); - Louis de Brézé, twice bishop, first from 1554 to 1564, then from 1570 to 1589, during whose episcopate the diocese was greatly disturbed by religious wars;
- Dominique Séguier (1637-1659), the first French bishop to establish "ecclesiastical conferences" in his diocese;
- Jacques Bossuet (1681-1704);
- Cardinal de Bissy (1705-1737), celebrated for his conflict with the Jansenists;
- Louis-Mathias, Count de BarralLouis-Mathias, Count de BarralLouis-Mathias, Count de Barral was a French church figure.He was born at Grenoble and was educated for the priesthood at the seminary of St. Sulpice, in Paris, and after ordination was made secretary, then coadjutor, and in 1790, successor, to his uncle, the Bishop of Troyes...
(1802-1805), later Grand Almoner of Empress Josephine and Archbishop of Tours, who took a prominent part in 1810 and 1811 in the negotiations between Napoleon and Pius VII.
Notable events
In 1562 most of the inhabitants of Meaux had become Protestants, and Joachim de Montluc, sent by the king, proceeded with rigour against them. They were still sufficiently powerful in 1567 to attempt to carry off, in the vicinity of Meaux, Catherine de' MediciCatherine de' Medici
Catherine de' Medici was an Italian noblewoman who was Queen consort of France from 1547 until 1559, as the wife of King Henry II of France....
and Charles IX
Charles IX of France
Charles IX was King of France, ruling from 1560 until his death. His reign was dominated by the Wars of Religion. He is best known as king at the time of the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacre.-Childhood:...
; and so for that reason, shortly after St. Bartholomew's day
St. Bartholomew's Day massacre
The St. Bartholomew's Day massacre in 1572 was a targeted group of assassinations, followed by a wave of Roman Catholic mob violence, both directed against the Huguenots , during the French Wars of Religion...
, Charles IX ordered the massacre of the Protestants of Meaux. At the château of Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau
Fontainebleau is a commune in the metropolitan area of Paris, France. It is located south-southeast of the centre of Paris. Fontainebleau is a sub-prefecture of the Seine-et-Marne department, and it is the seat of the arrondissement of Fontainebleau...
, built by Francis I, was held the theological conference of 4 May, 1600, between the Catholics (Cardinal du Perron, de Thou, Pithou) and the Calvinists (du Plessis Mornay, Philippe Canaye
Philippe Canaye
Philippe de La Canaye, sieur de Fresnes was a French jurist and diplomat.-Life:He was born in Paris, son of an advocate of the Parlement; he was brought up liberally and allowed to choose his beliefs, which became Calvinist. He travelled aged 15 in Germany and Italy and to Constantinople...
, Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon
Isaac Casaubon was a classical scholar and philologist, first in France and then later in England, regarded by many of his time as the most learned in Europe.-Early life:...
).
Pope Eugene III
Pope Eugene III
Pope Blessed Eugene III , born Bernardo da Pisa, was Pope from 1145 to 1153. He was the first Cistercian to become Pope.-Early life:...
stayed some days at Meaux in 1147. In 1664 Blessed Eudes preached for two months at Meaux, Mme Guyon passed the first six months of 1695 at the Visitation convent of Meaux, where Bossuet had frequent conferences with her, but failed to make her abandon her mystic views. The celebrated Père Loriquet (1767-1845) was superior from 1812 to 1814 of the preparatory seminary of Châage, in the Diocese of Meaux.
Saints
A number of saints are found in the history of this diocese:- St. Autharius, a relative of St. Faro, who received St. Columbanus in his domain at Ussy-sur-MarneUssy-sur-MarneUssy-sur-Marne is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* *...
, and father of Blessed Ado, who founded about 630 the two monasteries of JouarreJouarreJouarre is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-Jouarre Abbey:It is the site of the Jouarre Abbey a Merovingian foundation of Abbess Theodochilde or Telchilde, traditionally in 630, inspired by the visit of Columban, the travelling Irish...
, and of St. Ouen who founded the monastery of RebaisRebaisRebais is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
in 634 and subsequently became Bishop of Rouen; - The anchorite St. Féfre or Fiacre, and the missionary St. Chillen, both Irishmen, contemporaries of St. Faro (first half of the seventh century);
- St. Aile (Agilus), monk of Luxeuil who became in 634 the first Abbot of RebaisRebaisRebais is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
; - St. Telchilde, died about 660, first Abbess of Jouarre;
- St. Aguilberte, second Abbess of Jouarre, a sister of St. Ebrigisilus (end of seventh century);
- St. Bathilde, wife of Clovis IIClovis IIClovis II succeeded his father Dagobert I in 639 as King of Neustria and Burgundy. His brother Sigebert III had been King of Austrasia since 634. He was initially under the regency of his mother Nanthild until her death in her early thirties in 642...
, foundress of the abbey of Chelles, died in 680; - St. Bertille, first Abbess of Chelles, and St. Etheria, first Abbess of Notre-Dame of Soissons (658), both of them pupils at the abbey of Jouarre;
- St. Vincent Madelgaire (or Mauger), founder of the monasteries of Haumont and SoigniesSoigniesSoignies is a Walloon municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut.The municipality is composed of the Town of Soignies together with the villages of Casteau, Chaussée-Notre-Dame-Louvignies, Horrues, Neufvilles, Naast and Thieusies...
; - His wife, St. WaldetrudeWaltrudeSaint Waltrude is the patron saint of Mons, Belgium, where she is known in French as Sainte Waudru, and of Herentals, Belgium, where she is known in Dutch as Sint-Waldetrudis or -Waltrudis. Both cities boast a large medieval church that bears her name.Married to the Count of Hainault, she raised...
, foundress of the monastery of MonsMonsMons is a Walloon city and municipality located in the Belgian province of Hainaut, of which it is the capital. The Mons municipality includes the old communes of Cuesmes, Flénu, Ghlin, Hyon, Nimy, Obourg, Baudour , Jemappes, Ciply, Harmignies, Harveng, Havré, Maisières, Mesvin, Nouvelles,...
; - St. Aldegonde, sister of St. WaldetrudeWaltrudeSaint Waltrude is the patron saint of Mons, Belgium, where she is known in French as Sainte Waudru, and of Herentals, Belgium, where she is known in Dutch as Sint-Waldetrudis or -Waltrudis. Both cities boast a large medieval church that bears her name.Married to the Count of Hainault, she raised...
, first Abbess of Maubeuge; - St. Landry, Abbot of Soignies, claimed by some as a Bishop of Meaux;
- St. Adeltrude and St. Malberte, nuns of Maubeuge, the last three being children of St. Vincent Madelgaire and St. Waldetrude (seventh century).
Councils
A council convoked in 845 at Meaux by Charles the Bald adopted important measures for the re-establishment of discipline in the three ecclesiastical provinces of SensSens
Sens is a commune in the Yonne department in Burgundy in north-central France.Sens is a sub-prefecture of the department. It is crossed by the Yonne and the Vanne, which empties into the Yonne here.-History:...
, Bourges
Bourges
Bourges is a city in central France on the Yèvre river. It is the capital of the department of Cher and also was the capital of the former province of Berry.-History:...
, and Reims. Other councils were held at Meaux in 962, 1082, 1204, 1229 (ended in Paris), where the Count of Toulouse was reconciled with the Church; in 1240 a council was held in which the sentence of excommunication was pronounced against Frederick II
Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor
Frederick II , was one of the most powerful Holy Roman Emperors of the Middle Ages and head of the House of Hohenstaufen. His political and cultural ambitions, based in Sicily and stretching through Italy to Germany, and even to Jerusalem, were enormous...
by Joannes of Palestrina, legate of Gregory IX; there was held an important council in 1523. Four councils were held at Melun
Melun
Melun is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France. Located in the south-eastern suburbs of Paris, Melun is the capital of the department, as the seat of an arrondissement...
, in 1216, 1225, 1232, 1300. The city of Provins
Provins
Provins is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.Provins, a town of medieval fairs, became a UNESCOWorld Heritage Site in 2001.-Administration:...
was famous in the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
for its burlesque ceremonies (fête de fous, fête do l'âne, fête des Innocents) held in the church. The cathedral of St-Etienne de Meaux is a fine Gothic edifice begun about 1170. The church of Champigny has a magnificent crypt dating from the thirteenth century.
Pilgrimages
The principal pilgrimages of the diocese are:- Notre Dame de LagnyLagnyLagny is the name or part of the name of three communes of France:*Lagny in the Oise département*Lagny-le-Sec in the Oise département*Lagny-sur-Marne in the Seine-et-Marne département...
, dating from 1128; - Notre Dame du Chêne de Preuilly, dating from the foundation of the Cistercian Abbey (1118);
- Notre Dame du Chêne at Crouy-sur-OurcqCrouy-sur-OurcqCrouy-sur-Ourcq is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
, dating from the beginning of the seventeenth century; - Notre Dame de Bon Secours near Fontainebleau (the pilgrimage was established in 1661 by d'Auberon, an officer of the great CondéPrince of CondéThe Most Serene House of Condé is a historical French house, a noble lineage of descent from a single ancestor...
); - Notre Dame de la Cave at ChampignyChampignyChampigny may refer to several communes in France:*Champigny, Marne*Champigny, Yonne*Champigny-en-Beauce, in the Loir-et-Cher département*Champigny-la-Futelaye, in the Eure département*Champigny-le-Sec, in the Vienne département...
; - Notre Dame de Pitié at VerdelotVerdelot, Seine-et-MarneVerdelot is a French commune located in the Seine-et-Marne département, in the Île-de-France région.-Demographics:Inhabitants of Verdelot are called Verdelotais.As of the census of 1999, the village has a population of .-External links:* *...
; - Notre Dame de Melun at Melun;
- Notre Dame du Puy at SigySigySigy is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.-External links:* * *...
. The head of St. Veronica at PomponnePomponnePomponne is a commune in the Seine-et-Marne department in the Île-de-France region in north-central France.The inhabitants are called Pomponnais.-History:...
has long been the object of a pilgrimage, greatly furthered by the Jesuits in 1670; - The cloak (chape) of St. MartinMartin of ToursMartin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
of which a large portion is preserved at Bussy-St-Martin, also attracts pilgrims.