Emmanuel d'Alzon
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel d’Alzon was a leading figure of the Church
in France
in the 19th century.
(Gard), in southern France
, to an aristocratic
and intensely Catholic
family from the Cévennes Mountains, the oldest of four children.
In 1816 the family moved to the family château of Lavagnac (Hérault) where d’Alzon received his early education at home at the hands of tutor
s. From 1823 to 1828 d’Alzon studied at the renowned Parisian colleges of Lycée Louis-le-Grand
and Collège Stanislas de Paris
. It was at the end of his secondary studies that he came into contact with the influential thinker, Félicité de Lamennais, much of whose early teachings on the political order and Christian society would mark the young d’Alzon. In 1828 d’Alzon enrolled in law school in Paris but never finished because of the political upheavals which struck France in 1830. During these years in the French capital he had come to know a host of distinguished young men, some of whom remained friends throughout his life, Henri Lacordaire, who would re-establish the Dominican order
in France, Olympe Philippe Gerbet, founder of La Revue catholique, Eugène de la Gournerie, author of Rome chrétienne and other works, Louis Antoine de Salinis, founder of the Association pour la défense de la religion catholique, Théodore Combalot, noted preacher, Jean Melchior du Lac, prolific journalist, and Count Charles de Montalembert, journalist, historian, and politician.
of Montpellier
. However, the following year, disappointed by the lack of ambition of the students and the lack of depth of the course work, he went to Rome
where he stayed until 1835. In Rome he completed his theological studies by seeking out outstanding tutors such as the Capuchin
Cardinal Micara, the Dominican Fr. Olivieri
, soon to become master-general of the order, Nicholas Wiseman, the Englishman who would be named a cardinal, Fr. Ventura
, superior general of the Theatines
, and Fr. Mazzetti
, an influential Carmelite. On 26 December 1834 he was ordained. He continued studies until May of the following year.
Upon his return to France he opted to join the diocese of Nîmes where his uncle, Liron d'Airolles, was a priest. D’Alzon’s early years in ministry were dedicated to confronting Protestants, who made up a third of the local population, and to numerous apostolic
initiatives such as the founding of youth groups, a home for unwed mothers, libraries for workers, and innumerable retreats, conferences, and sermons. By 1839 he was appointed vicar general
of the diocese, a position he held until 1878, two years before his death. All of his endeavors carried the stamp of his ultramontanism
(defense of the sovereignty of the Pope in religious matters).
In 1843 one of his most cherished dreams became a reality: he acquired a secondary school, Collège de l'Assomption, in Nìmes, where he hoped to form upper-class students to enter society as Catholic agents of change in a traditionalist mode. With this purchase began one of the greatest struggles of d’Alzon’s life, a fight to obtain free and full exercise of private education in the face of state monopoly. It was at this institution that in 1845, spurred along by his lifelong friend and collaborator, Mother Marie-Eugénie de Jésus
, foundress of the Religious of the Assumption, he founded an order of men, the Augustinians of the Assumption, also known as the Assumptionists
. In his own words the purpose of this order was “to work toward our perfection by extending the reign of Jesus Christ in souls”, especially through “education, publication of books, works of charity, retreats, and the foreign missions” (First Constitutions, 1855). He placed his congregation under the guidance of St. Augustine
, giving it his name, his rule, and his intellectual tradition.
in 1862 that would have a profound effect on him and his young congregation. Encouraged by the pope, he visited Constantinople
and soon thereafter decided to invest much of his time, energy, and resources in addressing the needs of the Church in Eastern Europe
. As with his concerns to convert Protestants, d’Alzon wished to win back Orthodox Christians to Rome, so profound was his desire for the unity of Church, as he saw it. Within a few years he had sent some of his first religious to Bulgaria
and eventually to Romania
and Turkey
(after his death communities would be established in the Holy Land
, Russia, Greece, and Yugoslavia). In 1865 he founded a congregation of religious women, the Oblates of the Assumption, to assist the Assumptionists in the foreign missions, especially in Eastern Europe. At the same time he continued his efforts in France to promote freedom of exercise for private Catholic schools and dreamed of building a Catholic university. He opened a series of minor seminaries for students of limited financial means called alumnates.
In 1870 d’Alzon returned to Rome where he fought for the declaration of the doctrine of papal infallibility
. Throughout his life he was an ardent and indefatigable supporter of the papacy which he considered to be “the guarantor of Church unity”. In Paris he established an organization called the Association of Our Lady of Salvation (Notre Dame de Salut) from which would spring two great Assumptionist fields of apostolic involvement:
He understood these latter endeavors to be “education in its various forms.”
D’Alzon died in Nìmes. Pope John Paul II declared him “venerable” in 1991.
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...
in the 19th century.
Early years
He was born in Le ViganLe Vigan
Le Vigan is a commune in the Gard department in southern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Le Vigan is located at the south of the Massif Central and near the Mont Aigoual, in the Arre valley.-Population:-Economy:...
(Gard), in southern 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...
, to an aristocratic
Aristocracy (class)
The aristocracy are people considered to be in the highest social class in a society which has or once had a political system of Aristocracy. Aristocrats possess hereditary titles granted by a monarch, which once granted them feudal or legal privileges, or deriving, as in Ancient Greece and India,...
and intensely Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
family from the Cévennes Mountains, the oldest of four children.
In 1816 the family moved to the family château of Lavagnac (Hérault) where d’Alzon received his early education at home at the hands of tutor
Tutor
A tutor is a person employed in the education of others, either individually or in groups. To tutor is to perform the functions of a tutor.-Teaching assistance:...
s. From 1823 to 1828 d’Alzon studied at the renowned Parisian colleges of Lycée Louis-le-Grand
Lycée Louis-le-Grand
The Lycée Louis-le-Grand is a public secondary school located in Paris, widely regarded as one of the most rigorous in France. Formerly known as the Collège de Clermont, it was named in king Louis XIV of France's honor after he visited the school and offered his patronage.It offers both a...
and Collège Stanislas de Paris
Collège Stanislas de Paris
Le Collège Stanislas de Paris is a private Catholic school in Paris, situated on "Rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs" in the Montparnasse arrondissement. It has approximately 3,000 students, and is the largest private school in France....
. It was at the end of his secondary studies that he came into contact with the influential thinker, Félicité de Lamennais, much of whose early teachings on the political order and Christian society would mark the young d’Alzon. In 1828 d’Alzon enrolled in law school in Paris but never finished because of the political upheavals which struck France in 1830. During these years in the French capital he had come to know a host of distinguished young men, some of whom remained friends throughout his life, Henri Lacordaire, who would re-establish the Dominican order
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
in France, Olympe Philippe Gerbet, founder of La Revue catholique, Eugène de la Gournerie, author of Rome chrétienne and other works, Louis Antoine de Salinis, founder of the Association pour la défense de la religion catholique, Théodore Combalot, noted preacher, Jean Melchior du Lac, prolific journalist, and Count Charles de Montalembert, journalist, historian, and politician.
Middle years
In 1832 d’Alzon, against the wishes of his parents since he was an only son of a noble family, decided to enter the diocesan seminarySeminary
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...
of Montpellier
Montpellier
-Neighbourhoods:Since 2001, Montpellier has been divided into seven official neighbourhoods, themselves divided into sub-neighbourhoods. Each of them possesses a neighbourhood council....
. However, the following year, disappointed by the lack of ambition of the students and the lack of depth of the course work, he went to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
where he stayed until 1835. In Rome he completed his theological studies by seeking out outstanding tutors such as the Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
Cardinal Micara, the Dominican Fr. Olivieri
Olivieri
Olivieri is a surname of Italian origin. The name refers to:*Aldo Olivieri , Italian professional football player*Andrew Olivieri Olivieri is a surname of Italian origin. The name refers to:*Aldo Olivieri (1910–2001), Italian professional football player*Andrew Olivieri Olivieri is a surname of...
, soon to become master-general of the order, Nicholas Wiseman, the Englishman who would be named a cardinal, Fr. Ventura
Ventura
-Places:*Ventura, California, US*Ventura, Iowa, US*Ventura County, California, US*Las Venturas, San Andreas, a fictional city in Grand Theft Auto series of video games...
, superior general of the Theatines
Theatines
The Theatines or the Congregation of Clerks Regular of the Divine Providence are a male religious order of the Catholic Church, with the post-nominal initials "C.R."-Foundation:...
, and Fr. Mazzetti
Mazzetti
-List of people with the surname Mazzetti:* Annamaria Mazzetti, an Italian triathlete* Mark Mazetti, an American journalist with The New York Times* Pilar Mazzetti, a Peruvian doctor and Minister of the Interior...
, an influential Carmelite. On 26 December 1834 he was ordained. He continued studies until May of the following year.
Upon his return to France he opted to join the diocese of Nîmes where his uncle, Liron d'Airolles, was a priest. D’Alzon’s early years in ministry were dedicated to confronting Protestants, who made up a third of the local population, and to numerous apostolic
Apostolic
Apostolic may refer to:An Apostle meaning one sent on a mission*The Twelve Apostles of Jesus, or something related to them, such as the Church of the Holy Apostles...
initiatives such as the founding of youth groups, a home for unwed mothers, libraries for workers, and innumerable retreats, conferences, and sermons. By 1839 he was appointed vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
of the diocese, a position he held until 1878, two years before his death. All of his endeavors carried the stamp of his ultramontanism
Ultramontanism
Ultramontanism is a religious philosophy within the Roman Catholic community that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope...
(defense of the sovereignty of the Pope in religious matters).
In 1843 one of his most cherished dreams became a reality: he acquired a secondary school, Collège de l'Assomption, in Nìmes, where he hoped to form upper-class students to enter society as Catholic agents of change in a traditionalist mode. With this purchase began one of the greatest struggles of d’Alzon’s life, a fight to obtain free and full exercise of private education in the face of state monopoly. It was at this institution that in 1845, spurred along by his lifelong friend and collaborator, Mother Marie-Eugénie de Jésus
Marie-Eugénie de Jésus
Saint Marie-Eugénie de Jésus. R.A., born Anne-Eugénie Milleret de Brou, was a Catholic Religious Sister who founded the religious congregation of the Religious of the Assumption in 1839....
, foundress of the Religious of the Assumption, he founded an order of men, the Augustinians of the Assumption, also known as the Assumptionists
Assumptionists
The Augustinians of the Assumption constitute a congregation of Catholic religious , founded in Nîmes, southern France, by Fr. Emmanuel d'Alzon in 1845, initially approved by Rome in 1857 and definitively approved in 1864 . The current Rule of Life of the congregation draws its inspiration from...
. In his own words the purpose of this order was “to work toward our perfection by extending the reign of Jesus Christ in souls”, especially through “education, publication of books, works of charity, retreats, and the foreign missions” (First Constitutions, 1855). He placed his congregation under the guidance of St. Augustine
St. Augustine
-People:* Augustine of Hippo or Augustine of Hippo , father of the Latin church* Augustine of Canterbury , first Archbishop of Canterbury* Augustine Webster, an English Catholic martyr.-Places:*St. Augustine, Florida, United States...
, giving it his name, his rule, and his intellectual tradition.
Later Years
A frequent visitor to Rome, d’Alzon had a meeting with Pope Pius IXPope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
in 1862 that would have a profound effect on him and his young congregation. Encouraged by the pope, he visited Constantinople
Constantinople
Constantinople was the capital of the Roman, Eastern Roman, Byzantine, Latin, and Ottoman Empires. Throughout most of the Middle Ages, Constantinople was Europe's largest and wealthiest city.-Names:...
and soon thereafter decided to invest much of his time, energy, and resources in addressing the needs of the Church in Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe
Eastern Europe is the eastern part of Europe. The term has widely disparate geopolitical, geographical, cultural and socioeconomic readings, which makes it highly context-dependent and even volatile, and there are "almost as many definitions of Eastern Europe as there are scholars of the region"...
. As with his concerns to convert Protestants, d’Alzon wished to win back Orthodox Christians to Rome, so profound was his desire for the unity of Church, as he saw it. Within a few years he had sent some of his first religious to Bulgaria
Bulgaria
Bulgaria , officially the Republic of Bulgaria , is a parliamentary democracy within a unitary constitutional republic in Southeast Europe. The country borders Romania to the north, Serbia and Macedonia to the west, Greece and Turkey to the south, as well as the Black Sea to the east...
and eventually to Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
and Turkey
Turkey
Turkey , known officially as the Republic of Turkey , is a Eurasian country located in Western Asia and in East Thrace in Southeastern Europe...
(after his death communities would be established in the Holy Land
Holy Land
The Holy Land is a term which in Judaism refers to the Kingdom of Israel as defined in the Tanakh. For Jews, the Land's identifiction of being Holy is defined in Judaism by its differentiation from other lands by virtue of the practice of Judaism often possible only in the Land of Israel...
, Russia, Greece, and Yugoslavia). In 1865 he founded a congregation of religious women, the Oblates of the Assumption, to assist the Assumptionists in the foreign missions, especially in Eastern Europe. At the same time he continued his efforts in France to promote freedom of exercise for private Catholic schools and dreamed of building a Catholic university. He opened a series of minor seminaries for students of limited financial means called alumnates.
In 1870 d’Alzon returned to Rome where he fought for the declaration of the doctrine of papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
. Throughout his life he was an ardent and indefatigable supporter of the papacy which he considered to be “the guarantor of Church unity”. In Paris he established an organization called the Association of Our Lady of Salvation (Notre Dame de Salut) from which would spring two great Assumptionist fields of apostolic involvement:
- large scale pilgrimages within France (e.g. Lourdes) and outside of France (Rome and the Holy Land) and
- the Bonne Presse (now known as Bayard Presse), an influential publication house.
He understood these latter endeavors to be “education in its various forms.”
D’Alzon died in Nìmes. Pope John Paul II declared him “venerable” in 1991.
Further reading
- Bernoville, Gaétan; Emmanuel D'Alzon, 2003, Bayard, Inc. ISBN 1-58595-296-6
- Guissard, Lucien; The Assumptionists: From Past to Present, , Bayard, Inc., 2002 ISBN 1-58595-207-9
- Sève, André ; Christ Is My Life: The Spiritual Legacy of Emmanuel d'Alzon, New City Press, 1988, ISBN 0-911782-65-6
- Tavard, George; "Emmanuel d'Alzon," New Catholic Encyclopedia, 1967