Knut Ansgar Nelson
Encyclopedia
Knut Ansgar Nelson was a Danish
-born convert to Roman Catholicism who served as bishop of Stockholm
from 1957 to 1962.
, Denmark
, but travelled to the United States
in 1925. He became a Catholic while working in Salem, Massachusetts
and studying medieval art. In May 1931 he entered Portsmouth Priory
, Rhode Island
, making his solemn profession in 1935. He was ordained a priest on 22 May 1937.
During his early years in the monastery he taught classics
in what was then still Portsmouth Priory School
. After his retirement he provided philosophy seminars in the novitiate and for the more advanced students in the school.
On 11 August 1947 he was appointed coadjutor
Vicar Apostolic of Sweden, as titular bishop
of Bilta (Tunisia), and consecrated bishop by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, on 8 September the same year, at a ceremony in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence
, Rhode Island.
In 1951 he visited Duane Garrison Hunt
in Salt Lake City, and on that occasion was interviewed about the impact of Soviet policy on the state of Christianity in Scandinavia.
When Stockholm became an independent diocese in 1953, Nelson became coadjutor bishop. He succeeded to the bishopric on 1 October 1957, resigning on 2 July 1962. After his retirement he served as a chaplain to nuns in Switzerland for five years before returning to Portsmouth Abbey
.
Nelson died in Newport Hospital
, Newport, Rhode Island
on 31 March 1990.
was established as the "Bishop Ansgar Nelson O.S.B. Memorial Fund".
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
-born convert to Roman Catholicism who served as bishop of Stockholm
Roman Catholic diocese of Stockholm
-External links:** at the Catholic-Hierarchy.org website....
from 1957 to 1962.
Life
Nelson was born in 1906 in FrederiksværkFrederiksværk
Frederiksværk is a town with a population of 12,257 in Halsnæs Municipality on Zealand in Region Hovedstaden in Denmark.-History:A French cannon founder, Peyrembert, received permission to build a cannon factory here...
, Denmark
Denmark
Denmark is a Scandinavian country in Northern Europe. The countries of Denmark and Greenland, as well as the Faroe Islands, constitute the Kingdom of Denmark . It is the southernmost of the Nordic countries, southwest of Sweden and south of Norway, and bordered to the south by Germany. Denmark...
, but travelled to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1925. He became a Catholic while working in Salem, Massachusetts
Salem, Massachusetts
Salem is a city in Essex County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 40,407 at the 2000 census. It and Lawrence are the county seats of Essex County...
and studying medieval art. In May 1931 he entered Portsmouth Priory
Portsmouth Abbey
Portsmouth Abbey is a monastery of the Roman Catholic English Benedictine Congregation in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The Abbey was founded on 18th October, 1918 by the Bostonian, Dom Leonard Sargent, as a priory of Downside Abbey. Its monks run the Portsmouth Abbey School....
, Rhode Island
Rhode Island
The state of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, more commonly referred to as Rhode Island , is a state in the New England region of the United States. It is the smallest U.S. state by area...
, making his solemn profession in 1935. He was ordained a priest on 22 May 1937.
During his early years in the monastery he taught classics
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...
in what was then still Portsmouth Priory School
Portsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth Abbey School is a private, coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12, located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Founded by the Benedictine monks of Portsmouth Abbey in 1926 as Portsmouth Priory School, the school offered a classical education to boys...
. After his retirement he provided philosophy seminars in the novitiate and for the more advanced students in the school.
On 11 August 1947 he was appointed coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
Vicar Apostolic of Sweden, as titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Bilta (Tunisia), and consecrated bishop by Amleto Giovanni Cicognani, Apostolic Delegate to the United States, on 8 September the same year, at a ceremony in the Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence
Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Providence
The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul is a Roman Catholic cathedral at 30 Fenner Street in the Cathedral Square neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island, United States. It is the mother church of the Diocese of Providence...
, Rhode Island.
In 1951 he visited Duane Garrison Hunt
Duane Garrison Hunt
Duane Garrison Hunt was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Salt Lake City from 1937 until his death in 1960.-Early life and education:...
in Salt Lake City, and on that occasion was interviewed about the impact of Soviet policy on the state of Christianity in Scandinavia.
When Stockholm became an independent diocese in 1953, Nelson became coadjutor bishop. He succeeded to the bishopric on 1 October 1957, resigning on 2 July 1962. After his retirement he served as a chaplain to nuns in Switzerland for five years before returning to Portsmouth Abbey
Portsmouth Abbey
Portsmouth Abbey is a monastery of the Roman Catholic English Benedictine Congregation in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. The Abbey was founded on 18th October, 1918 by the Bostonian, Dom Leonard Sargent, as a priory of Downside Abbey. Its monks run the Portsmouth Abbey School....
.
Nelson died in Newport Hospital
Newport Hospital
Newport Hospital is a private, not-for-profit hospital located in Newport, Rhode Island. Together with The Miriam Hospital and Rhode Island Hospital, Newport Hospital is a member of the Lifespan health system.-History:...
, Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
on 31 March 1990.
Commemoration
In 1996 a scholarship endowment at Portsmouth Abbey SchoolPortsmouth Abbey School
Portsmouth Abbey School is a private, coeducational boarding and day school for grades 9 through 12, located in Portsmouth, Rhode Island. Founded by the Benedictine monks of Portsmouth Abbey in 1926 as Portsmouth Priory School, the school offered a classical education to boys...
was established as the "Bishop Ansgar Nelson O.S.B. Memorial Fund".