Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim
Encyclopedia
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim (1707–1774) was the Archbishop-Elector of Mainz
from 1763 to 1774 and Bishop of Worms from 1768 to 1774, in which capacities he was notable for introducing reforms inspired by the Enlightenment
.
on November 12, 1707. From 1752 onward, he was associated with Anton Heinrich Friedrich von Stadion, the Grand Steward of the electoral
court of Archbishop of Mainz Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein
. Anton Heinrich Friedrich von Stadion was associated with the introduction of Enlightenment-inspired reforms in the Archbishopric of Mainz
.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim was ordained
as a priest
in Mainz
on October 5, 1758, becoming the dean of Mainz Cathedral
. Following the death of Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein on June 4, 1763, the cathedral chapter
of Mainz Cathedral elected Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim as Archbishop of Mainz on July 5, 1763. Pope Clement XIII
confirmed his appointment on October 22, 1763. He was subsequently consecrated as a bishop
by Christoph Nebel, Auxiliary Bishop
of Mainz, on November 13, 1763. The cathedral chapter of Worms Cathedral
elected him Bishop of Worms on March 1, 1768, with Clement XIII confirming this appointment on May 16, 1768.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim introduced several reforms during his time as Archbishop of Mainz. The number of holidays was reduced. Schools and monasteries in the archbishopric were modernized to reflect the latest in Enlightenment thinking. Education was removed from the care of the church, and an independent teacher's academy opened on May 1, 1771. In 1773, Pope Clement XIV
issued the papal brief
Dominus ac Redemptor
, resulting in the Suppression of the Society of Jesus and as a result, the Society of Jesus
, which had run Mainz's system of higher education, was expelled from the Archbishopric of Mainz.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim died in Mainz on June 11, 1774 and is buried in Mainz Cathedral.
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
from 1763 to 1774 and Bishop of Worms from 1768 to 1774, in which capacities he was notable for introducing reforms inspired by the Enlightenment
Age of Enlightenment
The Age of Enlightenment was an elite cultural movement of intellectuals in 18th century Europe that sought to mobilize the power of reason in order to reform society and advance knowledge. It promoted intellectual interchange and opposed intolerance and abuses in church and state...
.
Biography
A member of the noble house associated with Bürresheim Castle, Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim was born in KoblenzKoblenz
Koblenz is a German city situated on both banks of the Rhine at its confluence with the Moselle, where the Deutsches Eck and its monument are situated.As Koblenz was one of the military posts established by Drusus about 8 BC, the...
on November 12, 1707. From 1752 onward, he was associated with Anton Heinrich Friedrich von Stadion, the Grand Steward of the electoral
Prince-elector
The Prince-electors of the Holy Roman Empire were the members of the electoral college of the Holy Roman Empire, having the function of electing the Roman king or, from the middle of the 16th century onwards, directly the Holy Roman Emperor.The heir-apparent to a prince-elector was known as an...
court of Archbishop of Mainz Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein
Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein
Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein was the Prince-Bishop of Worms, Archbishop of Mainz and Elector of Mainz.He was a relative of Lothar Franz von Schönborn, a prior Archbishop-Elector of Mainz. On April 22, 1743 he was selected as a compromise candidate for Archbishop...
. Anton Heinrich Friedrich von Stadion was associated with the introduction of Enlightenment-inspired reforms in the Archbishopric of Mainz
Archbishopric of Mainz
The Archbishopric of Mainz or Electorate of Mainz was an influential ecclesiastic and secular prince-bishopric in the Holy Roman Empire between 780–82 and 1802. In the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy, the Archbishop of Mainz was the primas Germaniae, the substitute of the Pope north of the Alps...
.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
as a priest
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
in Mainz
Mainz
Mainz under the Holy Roman Empire, and previously was a Roman fort city which commanded the west bank of the Rhine and formed part of the northernmost frontier of the Roman Empire...
on October 5, 1758, becoming the dean of Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral
Mainz Cathedral or St. Martin's Cathedral is located near the historical center and pedestrianized market square of the city of Mainz, Germany...
. Following the death of Johann Friedrich Karl von Ostein on June 4, 1763, the cathedral chapter
Cathedral chapter
In accordance with canon law, a cathedral chapter is a college of clerics formed to advise a bishop and, in the case of a vacancy of the episcopal see in some countries, to govern the diocese in his stead. These councils are made up of canons and dignitaries; in the Roman Catholic church their...
of Mainz Cathedral elected Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim as Archbishop of Mainz on July 5, 1763. Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII
Pope Clement XIII , born Carlo della Torre di Rezzonico, was Pope from 16 July 1758 to 2 February 1769....
confirmed his appointment on October 22, 1763. He was subsequently consecrated as a bishop
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...
by Christoph Nebel, Auxiliary Bishop
Auxiliary bishop
An auxiliary bishop, in the Roman Catholic Church, is an additional bishop assigned to a diocese because the diocesan bishop is unable to perform his functions, the diocese is so extensive that it requires more than one bishop to administer, or the diocese is attached to a royal or imperial office...
of Mainz, on November 13, 1763. The cathedral chapter of Worms Cathedral
Worms Cathedral
Cathedral of St Peter is a church in Worms, southern Germany. It was the seat of the Catholic Prince-Bishopric of Worms until its extinction in 1800.It is a basilica with four round towers, two large domes, and a choir at each end...
elected him Bishop of Worms on March 1, 1768, with Clement XIII confirming this appointment on May 16, 1768.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim introduced several reforms during his time as Archbishop of Mainz. The number of holidays was reduced. Schools and monasteries in the archbishopric were modernized to reflect the latest in Enlightenment thinking. Education was removed from the care of the church, and an independent teacher's academy opened on May 1, 1771. In 1773, Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV
Pope Clement XIV , born Giovanni Vincenzo Antonio Ganganelli, was Pope from 1769 to 1774. At the time of his election, he was the only Franciscan friar in the College of Cardinals.-Early life:...
issued the papal brief
Papal brief
The Papal Brief is a formal document emanating from the Pope, in a somewhat simpler and more modern form than a Papal Bull.-History:The introduction of briefs, which occurred at the beginning of the pontificate of Pope Eugenius IV , was clearly prompted for the same desire for greater simplicity...
Dominus ac Redemptor
Dominus ac Redemptor
Dominus ac Redemptor is the papal brief promulgated on 21 July 1773 by which Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society of Jesus.-Circumstances:...
, resulting in the Suppression of the Society of Jesus and as a result, the Society of Jesus
Society of Jesus
The Society of Jesus is a Catholic male religious order that follows the teachings of the Catholic Church. The members are called Jesuits, and are also known colloquially as "God's Army" and as "The Company," these being references to founder Ignatius of Loyola's military background and a...
, which had run Mainz's system of higher education, was expelled from the Archbishopric of Mainz.
Emmerich Joseph von Breidbach zu Bürresheim died in Mainz on June 11, 1774 and is buried in Mainz Cathedral.