Roman Catholic Diocese of Antwerp
Encyclopedia
The Diocese of Antwerp is a diocese
of the Catholic Church in Belgium. The diocese was restored in 1961. . It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels. Its see is the Cathedral of Our Lady.
, a new arrangement of the episcopal sees of the Low countries was made by Pope Paul IV
. Three archiepiscopal and fourteen episcopal sees were created, and all external jurisdiction, however ancient, abolished. Antwerp became one of the six suffragans of Mechlin, and remained such until the end of the eighteenth century.
This step did not meet with the goodwill of the merchants of the city, who feared the introduction of the Inquisition
and the costliness of an episcopal establishment, and urged the transfer of the new see to Leuven
, where it would be less offensive to the non-Catholic elements of their city. Catholic monastic interests were active, being now called on by the Pope to provide for the support of the new see. Finally, the famous theologian Franciscus Sonnius
(from Son
in Brabant
) was transferred from the diocese of Bois-le-Duc
to Antwerp in 1569 as first bishop of the new see, and governed it until his death in 1576.
Ten years of religious and political conflict elapsed before another bishop could be appointed in the person of Livinus Torrentius (Van der Beke), a Leuven theologian, graceful humanist, and diplomat. He died in 1595. The scholarly Miraeus (Le Mire) was Bishop of Antwerp from 1604 to 1611, and was succeeded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by a series of fifteen bishops, the last of whom was Cornelius Nelis, librarian of the Catholic University of Leuven
and Bishop of Antwerp from 1785 to his death in 1798.
Pope Pius VII
suppressed the see 29 November 1801, by the Bull Qui Christi Domini vices, its former Belgian territory belonging to the Archdiocese of Mechlin, the Dutch portion to the Diocese of Breda. The diocese was again restored in 1961 by Pope John XXIII
. It comprises the territory of the Belgian province of Antwerp
, minus eight municipalities
in the south which belong to Mechelen-Brussels including Bonheiden
, Duffel
, Mechelen
and Sint-Katelijne-Waver
, and the municipality of Zwijndrecht
, which belongs to the Diocese of Ghent.
The abbeys and convents of Antwerp were long very famous centres of its religious life. In the twelfth century the Canons Regular of St. Norbert (Premonstratensians) founded the abbey of St. Michael, that became later one of the principal abbeys of the Low Countries, sheltered many royal guests, and eventually excited greed and persecution by reason of its wealth. The Cathedral of Antwerp was originally a small Premonstratensian shrine known familiarly as "Our Lady of the Stump." Many other religious orders found a shelter in Antwerp, Dominicans, Franciscans (1446), Carmelites
(1494), Carthusians (1632), likewise female branches of the same. The Cistercians had two great abbeys, St. Sauveur, founded in 1451 by the devout merchant Peter Pot, and St. Bernard, about six miles from Antwerp, founded in 1233.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of the Catholic Church in Belgium. The diocese was restored in 1961. . It is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels. Its see is the Cathedral of Our Lady.
History
In the Middle Ages Antwerp was within the see of Cambrai. In 1559, at the instance of Philip II of SpainPhilip II of Spain
Philip II was King of Spain, Portugal, Naples, Sicily, and, while married to Mary I, King of England and Ireland. He was lord of the Seventeen Provinces from 1556 until 1581, holding various titles for the individual territories such as duke or count....
, a new arrangement of the episcopal sees of the Low countries was made by Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV
Pope Paul IV, C.R. , né Giovanni Pietro Carafa, was Pope from 23 May 1555 until his death.-Early life:Giovanni Pietro Carafa was born in Capriglia Irpina, near Avellino, into a prominent noble family of Naples...
. Three archiepiscopal and fourteen episcopal sees were created, and all external jurisdiction, however ancient, abolished. Antwerp became one of the six suffragans of Mechlin, and remained such until the end of the eighteenth century.
This step did not meet with the goodwill of the merchants of the city, who feared the introduction of the Inquisition
Inquisition
The Inquisition, Inquisitio Haereticae Pravitatis , was the "fight against heretics" by several institutions within the justice-system of the Roman Catholic Church. It started in the 12th century, with the introduction of torture in the persecution of heresy...
and the costliness of an episcopal establishment, and urged the transfer of the new see to Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, where it would be less offensive to the non-Catholic elements of their city. Catholic monastic interests were active, being now called on by the Pope to provide for the support of the new see. Finally, the famous theologian Franciscus Sonnius
Franciscus Sonnius
Franciscus Sonnius was a theologian during the time of the contrareformation, an advisor of the pope and the first bishop of Bois-Le-Duc and later of Antwerp. His real name was Van de Velde, but in later years he called himself after his native place, Zon in Brabant. He came from the same noble...
(from Son
Son en Breugel
Son en Breugel is a municipality in the southern Netherlands just outside of Eindhoven. 15,204 lived in this municipality as of June 1, 2005. Son en Breugel is 26,67 km² . Son en Breugel used to be two different towns 'Son' and 'Breugel'. The border between these towns is made by the stream...
in Brabant
Duchy of Brabant
The Duchy of Brabant was a historical region in the Low Countries. Its territory consisted essentially of the three modern-day Belgian provinces of Flemish Brabant, Walloon Brabant and Antwerp, the Brussels-Capital Region and most of the present-day Dutch province of North Brabant.The Flag of...
) was transferred from the diocese of Bois-le-Duc
Roman Catholic Diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch
The Roman Catholic Diocese of 's Hertogenbosch is a diocese of the Catholic church in the Netherlands. The diocese was historically called Bois-le-Duc. The modern diocese was created in 1853. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of Utrecht. It is currently led by bishop Hurkmans. Its see is St...
to Antwerp in 1569 as first bishop of the new see, and governed it until his death in 1576.
Ten years of religious and political conflict elapsed before another bishop could be appointed in the person of Livinus Torrentius (Van der Beke), a Leuven theologian, graceful humanist, and diplomat. He died in 1595. The scholarly Miraeus (Le Mire) was Bishop of Antwerp from 1604 to 1611, and was succeeded in the seventeenth and eighteenth centuries by a series of fifteen bishops, the last of whom was Cornelius Nelis, librarian of the Catholic University of Leuven
Catholic University of Leuven
The Catholic University of Leuven, or of Louvain, was the largest, oldest and most prominent university in Belgium. The university was founded in 1425 as the University of Leuven by John IV, Duke of Brabant and approved by a Papal bull by Pope Martin V.During France's occupation of Belgium in the...
and Bishop of Antwerp from 1785 to his death in 1798.
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
suppressed the see 29 November 1801, by the Bull Qui Christi Domini vices, its former Belgian territory belonging to the Archdiocese of Mechlin, the Dutch portion to the Diocese of Breda. The diocese was again restored in 1961 by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
. It comprises the territory of the Belgian province of Antwerp
Antwerp (province)
Antwerp is the northernmost province both of the Flemish Region, also called Flanders, and of Belgium. It borders on the Netherlands and the Belgian provinces of Limburg, Flemish Brabant and East Flanders. Its capital is Antwerp which comprises the Port of Antwerp...
, minus eight municipalities
Municipalities of Belgium
Belgium comprises 589 municipalities grouped into five provinces in each of two regions and into a third region, the Brussels-Capital Region, comprising 19 municipalities that do not belong to a province...
in the south which belong to Mechelen-Brussels including Bonheiden
Bonheiden
Bonheiden is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Bonheiden proper and Rijmenam. On January 1, 2006 Bonheiden had a total population of 14,510...
, Duffel
Duffel
Duffel is a municipality in the Belgian province of Antwerp.The municipality comprises only the town of Duffel proper. On January 1, 2006 Duffel had a total population of 16,019...
, Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
and Sint-Katelijne-Waver
Sint-Katelijne-Waver
Sint-Katelijne-Waver is a municipality located in the Belgian province of Antwerp. The municipality comprises the towns of Onze-Lieve-Vrouw-Waver and Sint-Katelijne-Waver proper. On January 1, 2006 Sint-Katelijne-Waver had a total population of 19,577...
, and the municipality of Zwijndrecht
Zwijndrecht, Belgium
Zwijndrecht is both a village and a municipality located in the Flemish province of Antwerp, in Belgium. As well as Zwijndrecht proper, the municipality includes the villages of Burcht. As of January 1, 2006, Zwijndrecht had a total population of 18,231....
, which belongs to the Diocese of Ghent.
The abbeys and convents of Antwerp were long very famous centres of its religious life. In the twelfth century the Canons Regular of St. Norbert (Premonstratensians) founded the abbey of St. Michael, that became later one of the principal abbeys of the Low Countries, sheltered many royal guests, and eventually excited greed and persecution by reason of its wealth. The Cathedral of Antwerp was originally a small Premonstratensian shrine known familiarly as "Our Lady of the Stump." Many other religious orders found a shelter in Antwerp, Dominicans, Franciscans (1446), Carmelites
Carmelites
The Order of the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel or Carmelites is a Catholic religious order perhaps founded in the 12th century on Mount Carmel, hence its name. However, historical records about its origin remain uncertain...
(1494), Carthusians (1632), likewise female branches of the same. The Cistercians had two great abbeys, St. Sauveur, founded in 1451 by the devout merchant Peter Pot, and St. Bernard, about six miles from Antwerp, founded in 1233.
1559–1798
- 1559 – 1568: vacant
- 1569 – 1576: Franciscus SonniusFranciscus SonniusFranciscus Sonnius was a theologian during the time of the contrareformation, an advisor of the pope and the first bishop of Bois-Le-Duc and later of Antwerp. His real name was Van de Velde, but in later years he called himself after his native place, Zon in Brabant. He came from the same noble...
(Frans van der Velde) - 1576 – 1586: vacant
- 1586 – 1595: Laevinus Torrentius (Liévin van der Beken)
- 1597 – 1601: Willem de Berghes
- 1603 – 1611: Johannes Miraeus (Le Mire)
- 1611 – 1633: Johannes Malderus (Jan van Malderen)
- 1634 – 1651: Gaspard Nemius (Gaspard Van Den Bosch)
- 1652 – 1676: Ambrosius (ook Marius) Capello
- 1677 – 1678: Aubertus van den Eede
- 1679 – 1699: Joannes Ferdinandus Van Beughem
- 1700 – 1706: Reginaldus Cools
- 1707 – 1727: Peter Josef de Francken-Sierstorff
- 1727 – 1742: Carolus d'Espinoza
- 1742 – 1744: Guilielmus Philippus de Herzelles
- 1746 – 1746: Josephus Werbrouck
- 1749 – 1758: Dominicus de Gentis
- 1758 – 1775: Hendrik Gabriel van Gameren
- 1776 – 1784: Jacob Thomas Jozef Wellens
- 1785 – 1798: Cornelius Franciscus Nelis
1961 – current
- 1962 – 1977: Jules Victor Daem
- 1977 – 1980: Godfried Danneels
- 1980 – 2009: Paul Van den BerghePaul Van den BerghePaul Van den Berghe is a Belgium Bishop in the Roman Catholic Church.Van den Berghe's obtained a degree in Thomist philosophy and was ordained a priest on June 15, 1957...
- 2009 – current: Johan BonnyJohan BonnyJohan Jozef Bonny is the 22nd Bishop of Antwerpen, Belgium.- Biography :Johan Bonny was born in Moere in 1955. He is the oldest of five children from a farmer's family. He is the son of Gustaaf Bonny and Marie-Jeanne Lootens. He went through primary school in Eernegem and Moere...