Henry J. Althoff
Encyclopedia
Henry J. Althoff was an American
prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Belleville
from 1914 until his death in 1947.
, Illinois
, to Frederick and Theresa (née Poelker) Althoff. He completed his classical
and philosophical
studies at St. Joseph College in Teutopolis
(A.B.
, 1898) and at St. Francis Solanus College
in Quincy
(M.A.
, 1899). He then studied theology
at the University of Innsbruck in Austria
, where Althoff was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Simon Aichner on July 26, 1902. Upon his return to the United States
, he served as a curate
in Damiansville
until 1903, when he was transferred to East St. Louis
. He served as pastor
of Okawville
and Nashville
from 1905 to 1914.
On December 4, 1913, Althoff was appointed the second Bishop of Belleville
by Pope Pius X
. He received his episcopal
consecration
on February 24, 1914 from Archbishop James Edward Quigley
, with Bishops Peter Muldoon
and Paul Peter Rhode
serving as co-consecrators
. In 1937 he forbade church gambling
in the diocese and encouraged Catholics to support their churches by direct contribution rather than parish parties and festivals. He was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
on April 15, 1939. Althoff remained as bishop for thirty-three years, until his death at age 73.
Althoff Catholic High School
in Belleville is named in his honor.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
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...
. He served as Bishop of Belleville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern Illinois region of the United States. It comprises the southern counties of the state of Illinois and is administered from the City of Belleville. The prelate is a...
from 1914 until his death in 1947.
Biography
Henry Althoff was born in AvistonAviston, Illinois
Aviston is a village in Clinton County, Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the village had a population of 1,945 with a 58.0% increase from the 2000 census.-Geography:Aviston is located at ....
, Illinois
Illinois
Illinois is the fifth-most populous state of the United States of America, and is often noted for being a microcosm of the entire country. With Chicago in the northeast, small industrial cities and great agricultural productivity in central and northern Illinois, and natural resources like coal,...
, to Frederick and Theresa (née Poelker) Althoff. He completed his classical
Classics
Classics is the branch of the Humanities comprising the languages, literature, philosophy, history, art, archaeology and other culture of the ancient Mediterranean world ; especially Ancient Greece and Ancient Rome during Classical Antiquity Classics (sometimes encompassing Classical Studies or...
and philosophical
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...
studies at St. Joseph College in Teutopolis
Teutopolis, Illinois
Teutopolis is a village in Effingham County, Illinois.-Geography:Teutopolis is located at .According to the United States Census Bureau, the village has a total area of , all of it land.-History:...
(A.B.
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
, 1898) and at St. Francis Solanus College
Quincy University
Quincy University a private liberal arts Catholic university in the Franciscan tradition. It is located in Quincy, Illinois and currently enrolls around 1,300 students.-History:...
in Quincy
Quincy, Illinois
Quincy, known as Illinois' "Gem City," is a river city along the Mississippi River and the county seat of Adams County. As of the 2010 census the city held a population of 40,633. The city anchors its own micropolitan area and is the economic and regional hub of West-central Illinois, catering a...
(M.A.
Master of Arts (postgraduate)
A Master of Arts from the Latin Magister Artium, is a type of Master's degree awarded by universities in many countries. The M.A. is usually contrasted with the M.S. or M.Sc. degrees...
, 1899). He then studied 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 the University of Innsbruck in Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, where Althoff 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....
to the priesthood
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....
by Bishop Simon Aichner on July 26, 1902. Upon his return to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he served as a curate
Curate
A curate is a person who is invested with the care or cure of souls of a parish. In this sense "curate" correctly means a parish priest but in English-speaking countries a curate is an assistant to the parish priest...
in Damiansville
Damiansville, Illinois
Damiansville is a village in Clinton County, Illinois, United States. The population was 368 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Damiansville is located at ....
until 1903, when he was transferred to East St. Louis
East St. Louis, Illinois
East St. Louis is a city located in St. Clair County, Illinois, USA, directly across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, Missouri in the Metro-East region of Southern Illinois. As of the 2010 census, the city had a total population of 27,006, less than one-third of its peak of 82,366 in 1950...
. He served as pastor
Pastor
The word pastor usually refers to an ordained leader of a Christian congregation. When used as an ecclesiastical styling or title, this role may be abbreviated to "Pr." or often "Ps"....
of Okawville
Okawville, Illinois
Okawville is a village in Washington County, Illinois, United States. The population was 1,434 at the 2010 census.-Geography:Okawville is located at...
and Nashville
Nashville, Illinois
Nashville is a city in Washington County, Illinois, in the United States. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 3,258. It is the county seat of Washington County.-Geography:Nashville is located at ....
from 1905 to 1914.
On December 4, 1913, Althoff was appointed the second Bishop of Belleville
Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville is an ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the southern Illinois region of the United States. It comprises the southern counties of the state of Illinois and is administered from the City of Belleville. The prelate is a...
by Pope Pius X
Pope Pius X
Pope Saint Pius X , born Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto, was the 257th Pope of the Catholic Church, serving from 1903 to 1914. He was the first pope since Pope Pius V to be canonized. Pius X rejected modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices and orthodox...
. He received his episcopal
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
consecration
Consecration
Consecration is the solemn dedication to a special purpose or service, usually religious. The word "consecration" literally means "to associate with the sacred". Persons, places, or things can be consecrated, and the term is used in various ways by different groups...
on February 24, 1914 from Archbishop James Edward Quigley
James Edward Quigley
James Edward Quigley was a Canadian-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Buffalo, New York and Archbishop of Chicago .-Biography:...
, with Bishops Peter Muldoon
Peter Muldoon
Peter J. Muldoon was born in Columbia, California to Irish immigrants John and Catherine Muldoon. He was educated at St. Mary's College in St. Mary, Kentucky and St. Mary's Seminary, Baltimore, Maryland and ordained a Catholic priest for the Archdiocese of Chicago in 1886...
and Paul Peter Rhode
Paul Peter Rhode
Paul Peter Rhode was a Polish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Green Bay from 1915 until his death in 1945.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. In 1937 he forbade church gambling
Gambling
Gambling is the wagering of money or something of material value on an event with an uncertain outcome with the primary intent of winning additional money and/or material goods...
in the diocese and encouraged Catholics to support their churches by direct contribution rather than parish parties and festivals. He was named an Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne
Assistant at the Pontifical Throne is an ecclesiastical title in the Roman Catholic Church. It signifies a prelate belonging to the papal chapel, who stands near the throne of the Pope at solemn functions....
on April 15, 1939. Althoff remained as bishop for thirty-three years, until his death at age 73.
Althoff Catholic High School
Althoff Catholic High School
Althoff Catholic High School is a secondary education, Roman Catholic, private school, in Belleville, Illinois, in the Roman Catholic Diocese of Belleville....
in Belleville is named in his honor.