Louis Charles Casartelli
Encyclopedia
Rev Louis Charles Casartelli (14 November 1852 - 18 January 1925) was a Roman Catholic priest and was the fourth Bishop of Salford
.
, Manchester
, 14 November 1852. His parents, Joseph Louis (an optician) and Jane Henrietta Casartelli (Ronchetti), had resided in the area for some time. He was believed to have been considered an intelligent as well as pious child, something which was felt he learned from his mother.
in 1873.
In 1884 he began specialist theology studies at the University of Louvain, in Belgium, where he also specialised in Eastern languages, an interest first acquired - so he said - through a chance encounter with a book in the Manchester Free Library
. He was an avid diary keeper, often writing in several languages on the one page, and frequently using the prayer (in Latin) "0 God be merciful to me a sinner".
although in 1884 he returned once more to the University of Louvain and gained a Doctorate in Oriental Literature. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to St Bede's and in 1891 he was appointed Rector. From 1898 he lectured five times each Lent
term at Louvain
, Sanskrit
, Zend
and Pehievi becoming his speciality. He was lecturer in Iranian languages in the University of Manchester
, and was offered a position as the Katrak lecturer in Iranian studies at Oxford University but although he accepted he was unable to give the lecture due to illness.
"if the wish did not sound rather an impiety one could almost desire that Cardinal Gotti might have held me suspect of Liberalism and other dreadful things" (1 September 1903). He was consecrated in St John's Cathedral, on 21 September 1903 by Archbishop-elect Francis Bourne
, with Bishops Thomas Whiteside
and Samuel Webster Allen
as co-consecrators.
The poor Catholics of Manchester and Salford took great pride in the appointment, and when charged that nobody with any intelligence could possibly be a Catholic, would reply "Well just look at our Bishop". Bishop Casartelli was one of the first bishops in England to attempt concerted Catholic Action
. He produced a monthly journal The Federationist and never failed to make a contribution on contemporary issues. He became the founder and president of the Manchester Dante Society from 1906, Manchester Egyptian Association from 1908–10, the president of the Manchester Statistical Society
from 1898–1900 and a supporter of the Oriental, Geographical, Antiquarian and other Societies. On 18 December 1918 he was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Asiatic Society
which he declares in his diary of the day as "a most astonishing and unexpected honour."
, Manchester
.
Bishop of Salford
The Bishop of Salford is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salford in the Province of Liverpool, England.With the gradual abolition of the legal restrictions on the activities of Catholics in England and Wales in the early 19th century, Rome decided to proceed to bridge the gap of the...
.
Early life
Born of Italian parents at 2 Clarence Street, Cheetham HillCheetham Hill
Cheetham Hill is an inner city area of Manchester, England. As an electoral ward it is known as Cheetham and has a population of 12,846. It lies on the west bank of the River Irk, north-northeast of Manchester city centre and close to the boundary with the City of Salford...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, 14 November 1852. His parents, Joseph Louis (an optician) and Jane Henrietta Casartelli (Ronchetti), had resided in the area for some time. He was believed to have been considered an intelligent as well as pious child, something which was felt he learned from his mother.
Education
At the age of nine he attended Salford Catholic Grammar School and became fluent in French, German, Italian and Spanish. Whilst there he came under the influence of those two masters, Canon Augustus De Clerc and Bruno de Splenter. "Wax to receive, marble to retain,". Louis went on to study at St Cuthbert's College, Ushaw where he won a gold medal for Classics as well earning an MA degree externally from University of LondonUniversity of London
-20th century:Shortly after 6 Burlington Gardens was vacated, the University went through a period of rapid expansion. Bedford College, Royal Holloway and the London School of Economics all joined in 1900, Regent's Park College, which had affiliated in 1841 became an official divinity school of the...
in 1873.
In 1884 he began specialist theology studies at the University of Louvain, in Belgium, where he also specialised in Eastern languages, an interest first acquired - so he said - through a chance encounter with a book in the Manchester Free Library
Manchester Free Library
The Manchester Free Library opened on 2 September 1852 in Manchester, England. It was the first to be set up up under the provisions of the Public Libraries Act 1850, which allowed local authorities to impose a local tax of one penny to pay for the service...
. He was an avid diary keeper, often writing in several languages on the one page, and frequently using the prayer (in Latin) "0 God be merciful to me a sinner".
Priesthood
Louis was ordained to the priesthood on the 10 September 1876 by the then Bishop Herbert Vaughan. He was seconded to the teaching staff of St Bede's College, ManchesterSt Bede's College, Manchester
St Bede's College, Manchester is an independent Roman Catholic day school situated on Alexandra Road South in the Whalley Range area of the city, and is a member of the Headmasters' and Headmistresses' Conference....
although in 1884 he returned once more to the University of Louvain and gained a Doctorate in Oriental Literature. Upon completion of his studies, he returned to St Bede's and in 1891 he was appointed Rector. From 1898 he lectured five times each Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
term at Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Sanskrit
Sanskrit
Sanskrit , is a historical Indo-Aryan language and the primary liturgical language of Hinduism, Jainism and Buddhism.Buddhism: besides Pali, see Buddhist Hybrid Sanskrit Today, it is listed as one of the 22 scheduled languages of India and is an official language of the state of Uttarakhand...
, Zend
Zend
Zend can mean:*Zend, commentaries on the Avesta, the sacred texts of the Zoroastrian religion.**In older texts, Zend can refer to the Avestan language*Salla Zend, a character in Star Wars*Zend Technologies, a PHP-focused company...
and Pehievi becoming his speciality. He was lecturer in Iranian languages in the University of Manchester
University of Manchester
The University of Manchester is a public research university located in Manchester, United Kingdom. It is a "red brick" university and a member of the Russell Group of research-intensive British universities and the N8 Group...
, and was offered a position as the Katrak lecturer in Iranian studies at Oxford University but although he accepted he was unable to give the lecture due to illness.
Bishop
On 28 August 1903 Louis was appointed Bishop of Salford but wrote to Rome begging to decline. His appeal was rejected and he wrote to Abbot Francis Aidan Gasquet O.S.B.Order of Saint Benedict
The Order of Saint Benedict is a Roman Catholic religious order of independent monastic communities that observe the Rule of St. Benedict. Within the order, each individual community maintains its own autonomy, while the organization as a whole exists to represent their mutual interests...
"if the wish did not sound rather an impiety one could almost desire that Cardinal Gotti might have held me suspect of Liberalism and other dreadful things" (1 September 1903). He was consecrated in St John's Cathedral, on 21 September 1903 by Archbishop-elect Francis Bourne
Francis Bourne
Francis Alphonsus Bourne was an English prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Westminster from 1903 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1911.-Early life:...
, with Bishops Thomas Whiteside
Thomas Whiteside (archbishop of Liverpool)
Thomas Whiteside was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Liverpool before being elevated to Archbishop of Liverpool ....
and Samuel Webster Allen
Samuel Webster Allen
Samuel Webster Allen was an English prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the Bishop of Shrewsbury from 1897 to 1908....
as co-consecrators.
The poor Catholics of Manchester and Salford took great pride in the appointment, and when charged that nobody with any intelligence could possibly be a Catholic, would reply "Well just look at our Bishop". Bishop Casartelli was one of the first bishops in England to attempt concerted Catholic Action
Catholic Action
Catholic Action was the name of many groups of lay Catholics who were attempting to encourage a Catholic influence on society.They were especially active in the nineteenth century in historically Catholic countries that fell under anti-clerical regimes such as Spain, Italy, Bavaria, France, and...
. He produced a monthly journal The Federationist and never failed to make a contribution on contemporary issues. He became the founder and president of the Manchester Dante Society from 1906, Manchester Egyptian Association from 1908–10, the president of the Manchester Statistical Society
Manchester Statistical Society
Manchester Statistical Society is a learned society founded 1833 in Manchester, England. It claims to be "the first organisation in Britain to study social problems systematically and to collect statistics for social purposes" and in 1834 to be "the first organisation to carry out a house-to-house...
from 1898–1900 and a supporter of the Oriental, Geographical, Antiquarian and other Societies. On 18 December 1918 he was elected an Honorary Member of the Royal Asiatic Society
Royal Asiatic Society
The Royal Asiatic Society of Great Britain and Ireland was established, according to its Royal Charter of 11 August 1824, to further "the investigation of subjects connected with and for the encouragement of science, literature and the arts in relation to Asia." From its incorporation the Society...
which he declares in his diary of the day as "a most astonishing and unexpected honour."
Death
Bishop Casartelli died at Bishops House, Chapel Street, Salford on 18 January 1925, and is buried in St Joseph's Cemetery, MostonMoston, Greater Manchester
Moston is a district of Manchester, in North West England, approximately 3 miles north east of the city centre. Historically a part of Lancashire, Moston is a predominantly residential area, with a population of about 12,500 and covering approximately .-History:The name Moston may derive...
, Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
.