Franz Ehrle
Encyclopedia
Franz Ehrle was a German Jesuit, Cardinal
of the Roman Catholic Church
and Archivist of the Holy Roman Church
, he was named cardinal during the consistory
of 11 December 1922, given the titulus of San Cesareo in Palatio
.
in Feldkirch
. He joined the Society of Jesus
the 29 September 1861. He followed the course of humanities at the College of Friedricksburg, Münster
and later at Maria Laach Abbey
in Germany
where he studied philosophy
(1865–1868). From 1868-1873 Ehrle was at Stella Matutina
, where he taught, English, French and Philosophy. Because of an anti-Jesuit policy that followed the publication of the Kulturkampf
in Germany, Ehrle, along with other German companions, had to carry on his studies abroad. He did his theology
at Ditton Hall, Liverpool
, England (1873–1877).
After being ordained priest on 24 September 1876 in Liverpool he did pastoral work in a home for the poor at Preston (England), before moving to Tervuren
, Belgium
(1878) where the German Jesuit periodical Stimmen aus Maria-Laach (in exile) had established its office.
. To do so he visited other European libraries too. Publications began in 1885 with the Bibliotheca Theologiae et Philosophiae Scholasticae selectae (5 volumes).
In the beginning of 1890 he began the publication of a Historia Bibliothecae Romanorum Pontificum, a comprehensive history of the Avignon
and Rome's Papal libraries.
In September of the same year (1890) he was made a member extraordinary of the Board of Councilors of the Vatican Library
from 1890 to 1895 and served as its prefect from 1895 to 1914. He resided in Münich from 1918 to 1919. He was from 1919 a faculty member of the Pontifical Biblical Institute
in Rome
from 1919 to 1922 and of the Pontifical Gregorian University
.
In 1898 (30 September-1 October), Franz Ehrle organized an international conference on the preservation of archives that was held at St Gall, Switzerland. As ca result a committee was established to:
In 1898 (30 September-1 October), Franz Ehrle organized an international conference on the preservation of manuscripts at St Gall, Switzerland. As a result a committee was established:
Ehrle published an account of the meeting and the proceedings were also published
This conference was particularly important as the first international meeting of those charged with the preservation of the historical heritage. It was not to be emulated again until the 1930s when the international museum committee of the League of Nations organized conservation conferences in Rome, Paris and Athens. Cardinal Franz Ehrle died on 31 March 1934 in Rome at the age of 88.
Cardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
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...
and Archivist of the Holy Roman Church
Vatican Secret Archives
The Vatican Secret Archives , located in Vatican City, is the central repository for all of the acts promulgated by the Holy See. The Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, having primal incumbency until death, owns the archives until the next appointed Papal successor...
, he was named cardinal during the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 11 December 1922, given the titulus of San Cesareo in Palatio
San Cesareo in Palatio
San Cesareo in Palatio or San Caesareo de Appia is a titular church in Rome, near the beginning of the Appian Way. It is dedicated to Saint Caesarius of Africa, a 2nd century deacon and martyr.-Origins:...
.
Early years and formation
Franz was the son of Franz Ehrle, a physician, and Berta von Frölich. He was educated at the Stella Matutina (Jesuit School)Stella Matutina (Jesuit school)
Stella Matutina in Feldkirch, Austria, was a Jesuit school from 1651–1773 and from 1856-1979.- Short history:The “Kolleg” began in 1649 but opened formally in 1651. In 1773, when Pope Clement XIV discontinued the order of the Society of Jesus, the school closed...
in Feldkirch
Feldkirch, Vorarlberg
- Schools :* Bundesgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Feldkirch * Bundeshandelsakademie und Bundeshandelsschule Feldkirch* Bundesoberstufenrealgymnasium und Bundesrealgymnasium Schillerstrasse...
. He joined 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...
the 29 September 1861. He followed the course of humanities at the College of Friedricksburg, Münster
Münster
Münster is an independent city in North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. It is located in the northern part of the state and is considered to be the cultural centre of the Westphalia region. It is also capital of the local government region Münsterland...
and later at Maria Laach Abbey
Maria Laach Abbey
Maria Laach Abbey is a Benedictine abbey situated on the southwestern shore of the Laacher See , near Andernach, in the Eifel region of the Rhineland-Palatinate in Germany. It is a member of the Beuronese Congregation within the Benedictine Confederation...
in Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
where he studied philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
(1865–1868). From 1868-1873 Ehrle was at Stella Matutina
Stella Matutina
The Stella Matutina was an initiatory magical order dedicated to the dissemination of the traditional teachings of the earlier Hermetic Order of the Golden Dawn. Originally, the outer order of the Stella Matutina was known as Mystic Rose or Order of the M.R. in the Outer...
, where he taught, English, French and Philosophy. Because of an anti-Jesuit policy that followed the publication of the Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
in Germany, Ehrle, along with other German companions, had to carry on his studies abroad. He did his 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...
at Ditton Hall, Liverpool
Liverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England (1873–1877).
After being ordained priest on 24 September 1876 in Liverpool he did pastoral work in a home for the poor at Preston (England), before moving to Tervuren
Tervuren
Tervuren is a municipality in the province of Flemish Brabant, in Flanders, one of the three regions of Belgium. The municipality comprises the villages of Duisburg, Tervuren, Vossem and Moorsel. On January 1, 2006, Tervuren had a total population of 20,636...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
(1878) where the German Jesuit periodical Stimmen aus Maria-Laach (in exile) had established its office.
Working in the Vatican Archives
When, in 1880, Leo XIII opened the Vatican archives, Erhle was called to Rome to do some research on the official correspondence between the Holy See and Germany during the 30 years war. The work progressed very slowly as a large number of documents were not properly catalogued. Ehrle got more and more involved, but responding to Leo XIII's call for a renewal in thomistic studies his interests shifted to gathering and cataloguing books and manuscripts on scholasticismScholasticism
Scholasticism is a method of critical thought which dominated teaching by the academics of medieval universities in Europe from about 1100–1500, and a program of employing that method in articulating and defending orthodoxy in an increasingly pluralistic context...
. To do so he visited other European libraries too. Publications began in 1885 with the Bibliotheca Theologiae et Philosophiae Scholasticae selectae (5 volumes).
In the beginning of 1890 he began the publication of a Historia Bibliothecae Romanorum Pontificum, a comprehensive history of the Avignon
Avignon
Avignon is a French commune in southeastern France in the départment of the Vaucluse bordered by the left bank of the Rhône river. Of the 94,787 inhabitants of the city on 1 January 2010, 12 000 live in the ancient town centre surrounded by its medieval ramparts.Often referred to as the...
and Rome's Papal libraries.
In September of the same year (1890) he was made a member extraordinary of the Board of Councilors of the Vatican Library
Vatican Library
The Vatican Library is the library of the Holy See, currently located in Vatican City. It is one of the oldest libraries in the world and contains one of the most significant collections of historical texts. Formally established in 1475, though in fact much older, it has 75,000 codices from...
from 1890 to 1895 and served as its prefect from 1895 to 1914. He resided in Münich from 1918 to 1919. He was from 1919 a faculty member of the Pontifical Biblical Institute
Pontifical Biblical Institute
The Pontifical Biblical Institute in Rome, Italy is an institution of the Holy See run by the Jesuits that offers instruction at the university level...
in 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...
from 1919 to 1922 and of the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
.
In 1898 (30 September-1 October), Franz Ehrle organized an international conference on the preservation of archives that was held at St Gall, Switzerland. As ca result a committee was established to:
In 1898 (30 September-1 October), Franz Ehrle organized an international conference on the preservation of manuscripts at St Gall, Switzerland. As a result a committee was established:
- to study the processes of preservation that had been suggested and to recommend those which seem appropriate,
- to publish the processes of preservation discussed at the conference,
- to liaise with libraries and technical experts.
Ehrle published an account of the meeting and the proceedings were also published
This conference was particularly important as the first international meeting of those charged with the preservation of the historical heritage. It was not to be emulated again until the 1930s when the international museum committee of the League of Nations organized conservation conferences in Rome, Paris and Athens. Cardinal Franz Ehrle died on 31 March 1934 in Rome at the age of 88.