Melchior von Diepenbrock
Encyclopedia
Melchior, Freiherr von Diepenbrock (b. 6 January 1798, at Bocholt
in Westphalia
; d. at the castle of Johannesberg
in Jauernig, 20 January 1853) was a German Catholic Prince-Bishop of Breslau and Cardinal
.
and took part in the campaign against France in 1815 as an officer of the militia. Upon his return he was much attracted by the personality of Johann Michael Sailer
, a friend of the family, at that time professor at the University of Landshut in Bavaria, and studied public finance at that institution. When Sailer was made Bishop of Ratisbon, Diepenbrock followed him there, took up the study of theology, and was ordained priest 27 December 1823.
In 1835 he was made dean of the cathedral and vicar-general by the successor of Bishop Sailer. His knowledge of modern languages and his administrative ability, together with his understanding of the interior life and his ascetical character, paved the way for his elevation to the episcopal See of Breslau, to which he was elected 15 January 1845. He at first declined the honor, but finally accepted out of obedience to the mandate of Pope Gregory XVI
.
From the beginning of his reign he was called to face difficult problems and momentous political events. There was famine in Upper Silesia. The Revolution of 1848 showed him one of the most loyal supporters of government, law, and order. The pastoral letter which he issued on this occasion was, by order of the king, read in all the Protestant churches of the realm. He devoted his energies to the training of the clergy, opened a preparatory seminary, and improved the conditions of the higher seminary. He was a watchful guardian of ecclesiastical discipline and, when necessary, employed severe measures to enforce it. He reintroduced retreats for the priests and missions for the people.
In 1849 he was appointed Apostolic delegat
e for the Prussian army
. He was created cardinal in the consistory
of 20 September 1850, and received the purple 4 November. This event gave occasion to one of the most magnificent public demonstrations ever witnessed in Germany. It was soon followed by the cardinal's death from disease.
His will bequeathed his estate to his diocese. In personal appearance he was of dignified presence, but pleasant and affable to all.
In 1879, his great nephew, Melchior Hubert Von Diepenbrock, immigrated to America, married the daughter of wealthy Sacramento merchant Anthony Coolot (one of the early financiers of the Trans-Contintental Railroad), and raised 10 children. The family lived for several years in the San Francisco Bay Area, but departed The City after the Great Earthquake of 1906 to settle in Sacramento. Diepenbrock attempted a number of business ventures in Sacramento, most notably the Diepenbrock Theater, an alfalfa farm and a dairy farm.
His children included San Francisco doctor Anthony Bernard Diepenbrock.
Noted Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock
is related to this American branch of the family: he was Melchior Hubert Von Diepenbrock's first cousin.
Bocholt, Germany
Bocholt is a city in the north-west of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany, part of the district Borken. It is situated 4 km south of the border with the Netherlands.-Geography:...
in Westphalia
Westphalia
Westphalia is a region in Germany, centred on the cities of Arnsberg, Bielefeld, Dortmund, Minden and Münster.Westphalia is roughly the region between the rivers Rhine and Weser, located north and south of the Ruhr River. No exact definition of borders can be given, because the name "Westphalia"...
; d. at the castle of Johannesberg
Jánský vrch
Jánský vrch is a castle located in the Jeseník District, which lies in the Olomouc Region of the Czech Republic. The castle Jánský Vrch stands on a hill above the town of Javorník in the north-western edge of Czech Silesia, a territory historically known as Sudetenland.-History:The castle is...
in Jauernig, 20 January 1853) was a German Catholic Prince-Bishop of Breslau and Cardinal
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...
.
Life
He attended the military academy at BonnBonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
and took part in the campaign against France in 1815 as an officer of the militia. Upon his return he was much attracted by the personality of Johann Michael Sailer
Johann Michael Sailer
Johann Michael Sailer was a German Jesuit professor of theology and Bishop of Ratisbon.-Biography:Sailer was born at Aresing in Upper Bavaria on 17 October 1751 as the son of a poor shoemaker. Until his tenth year he attended the primary school in his native place; after this he was a pupil in the...
, a friend of the family, at that time professor at the University of Landshut in Bavaria, and studied public finance at that institution. When Sailer was made Bishop of Ratisbon, Diepenbrock followed him there, took up the study of theology, and was ordained priest 27 December 1823.
In 1835 he was made dean of the cathedral and vicar-general by the successor of Bishop Sailer. His knowledge of modern languages and his administrative ability, together with his understanding of the interior life and his ascetical character, paved the way for his elevation to the episcopal See of Breslau, to which he was elected 15 January 1845. He at first declined the honor, but finally accepted out of obedience to the mandate of Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI
Pope Gregory XVI , born Bartolomeo Alberto Cappellari, named Mauro as a member of the religious order of the Camaldolese, was Pope of the Catholic Church from 1831 to 1846...
.
From the beginning of his reign he was called to face difficult problems and momentous political events. There was famine in Upper Silesia. The Revolution of 1848 showed him one of the most loyal supporters of government, law, and order. The pastoral letter which he issued on this occasion was, by order of the king, read in all the Protestant churches of the realm. He devoted his energies to the training of the clergy, opened a preparatory seminary, and improved the conditions of the higher seminary. He was a watchful guardian of ecclesiastical discipline and, when necessary, employed severe measures to enforce it. He reintroduced retreats for the priests and missions for the people.
In 1849 he was appointed Apostolic delegat
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
e for the Prussian army
Prussian Army
The Royal Prussian Army was the army of the Kingdom of Prussia. It was vital to the development of Brandenburg-Prussia as a European power.The Prussian Army had its roots in the meager mercenary forces of Brandenburg during the Thirty Years' War...
. He was created cardinal in the consistory
Consistory
-Antiquity:Originally, the Latin word consistorium meant simply 'sitting together', just as the Greek synedrion ....
of 20 September 1850, and received the purple 4 November. This event gave occasion to one of the most magnificent public demonstrations ever witnessed in Germany. It was soon followed by the cardinal's death from disease.
His will bequeathed his estate to his diocese. In personal appearance he was of dignified presence, but pleasant and affable to all.
In 1879, his great nephew, Melchior Hubert Von Diepenbrock, immigrated to America, married the daughter of wealthy Sacramento merchant Anthony Coolot (one of the early financiers of the Trans-Contintental Railroad), and raised 10 children. The family lived for several years in the San Francisco Bay Area, but departed The City after the Great Earthquake of 1906 to settle in Sacramento. Diepenbrock attempted a number of business ventures in Sacramento, most notably the Diepenbrock Theater, an alfalfa farm and a dairy farm.
His children included San Francisco doctor Anthony Bernard Diepenbrock.
Noted Dutch composer Alphons Diepenbrock
Alphons Diepenbrock
Alphonsus Johannes Maria Diepenbrock was a Dutch composer, essayist and classicist.-Life and work:...
is related to this American branch of the family: he was Melchior Hubert Von Diepenbrock's first cousin.
Works
He was a noted preacher and poet. His principal publications are: "Spiritual Bouquet, Gathered in Spanish and German Gardens of Poesy" (Sulzbach, 1826); "Life and Writings of Heinrich Suso" (Ratisbon, 1829); "Sermons" (Ratisbon, 1841); "Pastoral Letters" (Munster, 1853); "Personal Letters" (Frankfort, 1860).External links
- Melchior Diepenbrock - Encyclopedia of Revolutions of 1848