Marie-Dominique-Auguste Sibour
Encyclopedia
Marie-Dominique-Auguste Sibour (born at Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux
, Drôme
, France, 4 August 1792; died in Paris, 3 January 1857) was a French Catholic Archbishop of Paris
.
After his ordination to the priesthood at Rome in 1818, he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Paris. He was named canon of the cathedral of Nîmes
in 1822, became known as a preacher, and contributed to L'Avenir
. In 1837, during a vacancy, he was chosen administrator of the Diocese of Nîmes, and two years later was raised to the episcopal See of Digne.
His administration was marked by his encouragement of ecclesiastical studies, a practical desire to increase the importance of the functions exercised by his cathedral chapter, and an observance of canonical forms in ecclesiastical trials. The same principles actuated him in his rule of the Archdiocese of Paris, to which he was called largely because of his prompt adhesion to the new government after the Revolution of 1848. Sibour was part of the ministerial commission which prepared the draft project for the Falloux Laws
on education, which highly increased the clergy's influence in schools.
He held in 1849 a provincial council in Paris, and in 1850 a diocesan synod
. In 1853 he officiated at the marriage of Napoleon III, who had named him senator the previous year.
Although in his answer to Pope Pius IX
he declared the definition of the Immaculate Conception
inopportune, he was present at the promulgation of the Decree and shortly afterwards solemnly published it in his own diocese. The benevolent co-operation of the imperial government enabled him to provide for the needs of the poor churches in his diocese and to organize several new parishes. He also aimed at introducing the Roman Rite
in Paris and was progressing favorably in this direction, when he was assassinated by an interdicted priest named Jean-Louis Verger, who openly admitted to the crime.
Archbishop Sibour may be the only cleric murdered in modern times due to his assassin's views on papal doctrine. Verger was an opponent of the newly created doctrine of immaculate conception
as well as celibacy
for the clergy. However he was a continuous troublemaker, frequently complaining of the jobs he was assigned to (most of which his temper made it impossible to succeed at). The trial became (in his mind) a sounding board for his notions. He was found guilty the day of the trial (17 January 1857) and sentenced to death. To the end Verger had convinced himself that the Emperor Napoleon III would pardon him. When he was executed at La Roquette
Prison on 30 January 1857 he was in a state of panic and fear at the failure of the pardon to come.
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux
Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux is a commune in the Drôme department in southeastern France.-Population:-See also:*Saint-Paul-Trois-Châteaux Cathedral*Tricastin*Communes of the Drôme department-External links:*...
, Drôme
Drôme
Drôme , a department in southeastern France, takes its name from the Drôme River.-History:The French National Constituent Assembly set up Drôme as one of the original 83 departments of France on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution...
, France, 4 August 1792; died in Paris, 3 January 1857) was a French Catholic Archbishop of Paris
Archbishop of Paris
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Paris is one of twenty-three archdioceses of the Roman Catholic Church in France. The original diocese is traditionally thought to have been created in the 3rd century by St. Denis and corresponded with the Civitas Parisiorum; it was elevated to an archdiocese on...
.
After his ordination to the priesthood at Rome in 1818, he was assigned to the Archdiocese of Paris. He was named canon of the cathedral of Nîmes
Nîmes
Nîmes is the capital of the Gard department in the Languedoc-Roussillon region in southern France. Nîmes has a rich history, dating back to the Roman Empire, and is a popular tourist destination.-History:...
in 1822, became known as a preacher, and contributed to L'Avenir
L'Avenir
L'Avenir is a daily newspaper published in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The company is part of the Groupe L'Avenir, a media group of the DRC. The content of the paper is primarily French, and includes content written in Lingala and Swahili...
. In 1837, during a vacancy, he was chosen administrator of the Diocese of Nîmes, and two years later was raised to the episcopal See of Digne.
His administration was marked by his encouragement of ecclesiastical studies, a practical desire to increase the importance of the functions exercised by his cathedral chapter, and an observance of canonical forms in ecclesiastical trials. The same principles actuated him in his rule of the Archdiocese of Paris, to which he was called largely because of his prompt adhesion to the new government after the Revolution of 1848. Sibour was part of the ministerial commission which prepared the draft project for the Falloux Laws
Falloux Laws
The Falloux Laws were voted during the French Second Republic and promulgated on 15 March 1850 and in 1851, following the presidential election of Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte in December 1848 and the May 1849 legislative elections that gave a majority to the conservative Parti de l'Ordre. Named for...
on education, which highly increased the clergy's influence in schools.
He held in 1849 a provincial council in Paris, and in 1850 a diocesan synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
. In 1853 he officiated at the marriage of Napoleon III, who had named him senator the previous year.
Although in his answer to Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
he declared the definition of the Immaculate Conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
inopportune, he was present at the promulgation of the Decree and shortly afterwards solemnly published it in his own diocese. The benevolent co-operation of the imperial government enabled him to provide for the needs of the poor churches in his diocese and to organize several new parishes. He also aimed at introducing the Roman Rite
Roman Rite
The Roman Rite is the liturgical rite used in the Diocese of Rome in the Catholic Church. It is by far the most widespread of the Latin liturgical rites used within the Western or Latin autonomous particular Church, the particular Church that itself is also called the Latin Rite, and that is one of...
in Paris and was progressing favorably in this direction, when he was assassinated by an interdicted priest named Jean-Louis Verger, who openly admitted to the crime.
Archbishop Sibour may be the only cleric murdered in modern times due to his assassin's views on papal doctrine. Verger was an opponent of the newly created doctrine of immaculate conception
Immaculate Conception
The Immaculate Conception of Mary is a dogma of the Roman Catholic Church, according to which the Virgin Mary was conceived without any stain of original sin. It is one of the four dogmata in Roman Catholic Mariology...
as well as celibacy
Celibacy
Celibacy is a personal commitment to avoiding sexual relations, in particular a vow from marriage. Typically celibacy involves avoiding all romantic relationships of any kind. An individual may choose celibacy for religious reasons, such as is the case for priests in some religions, for reasons of...
for the clergy. However he was a continuous troublemaker, frequently complaining of the jobs he was assigned to (most of which his temper made it impossible to succeed at). The trial became (in his mind) a sounding board for his notions. He was found guilty the day of the trial (17 January 1857) and sentenced to death. To the end Verger had convinced himself that the Emperor Napoleon III would pardon him. When he was executed at La Roquette
La Roquette
La Roquette is a commune in the Eure department in northern France.-Population:-References:*...
Prison on 30 January 1857 he was in a state of panic and fear at the failure of the pardon to come.