Roman Catholic Diocese of Laval
Encyclopedia
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Laval is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite diocese
in France
. The episcopal see is Laval Cathedral, in the city of Laval
. Originally created in June 1855, the diocese was originally erected from the Diocese of Le Mans
, and corresponds to the department of Mayenne
. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Rennes
.
The current bishop is Thierry Scherrer, appointed in 2008.
ric existed at Laval for a short time during the French Revolution
; and two titular incumbents, Vilar and Dorlodot, occupied the position. In 1846 the creation of the see was decided upon, but was not carried out until after the death of Bishop Bouvier of Le Mans in 1854. A Bull of Pope Pius IX
, June 30, 1855, established the See of Laval. The apologist Emile Bougaud was consecrated Bishop of Laval in February, 1888, and died a few months later. The request of the Holy See in 1904 for the resignation of Bishop Pierre-Joseph Geay (1896-1904) was one of the reasons assigned by the French Republic for breaking with the pope and preparing the separation of Church and State.
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...
in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
. The episcopal see is Laval Cathedral, in the city of Laval
Laval, Mayenne
Laval is a commune in the Mayenne department in north-western France.It lies on the threshold of Brittany and on the border between Normandy and Anjou. Its citizens are called Lavallois.-Geography:...
. Originally created in June 1855, the diocese was originally erected from the Diocese of Le Mans
Roman Catholic Diocese of Le Mans
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Le Mans , is a Roman Catholic Latin Rite diocese of France. The diocese is a suffragan of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rennes.-Area:It comprises the entire department of Sarthe...
, and corresponds to the department of Mayenne
Mayenne
Mayenne is a department in northwest France named after the Mayenne River.-History:Mayenne is one of the original 83 departments created during the French Revolution on March 4, 1790. The northern two thirds correspond to the western part of the former province of Maine...
. The diocese is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Rennes
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rennes
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Rennes is a diocese of the Latin Rite of the Roman Catholic church in France. The diocese is coextensive with the department of Ille et Vilaine...
.
The current bishop is Thierry Scherrer, appointed in 2008.
History
A constitutional bishopConstitutional bishop
During the French Revolution, a constitutional bishop was a Roman Catholic bishop elected from among the clergy who had sworn to uphold the Civil Constitution of the Clergy between 1791 and 1801. Constitutional bishops were often priests with less or more moderate Gallican and partisan ideas, of a...
ric existed at Laval for a short time during the French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
; and two titular incumbents, Vilar and Dorlodot, occupied the position. In 1846 the creation of the see was decided upon, but was not carried out until after the death of Bishop Bouvier of Le Mans in 1854. A Bull of 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...
, June 30, 1855, established the See of Laval. The apologist Emile Bougaud was consecrated Bishop of Laval in February, 1888, and died a few months later. The request of the Holy See in 1904 for the resignation of Bishop Pierre-Joseph Geay (1896-1904) was one of the reasons assigned by the French Republic for breaking with the pope and preparing the separation of Church and State.
List of bishops
- Casimir-Alexis-Joseph Wicart - 1855-1876
- Jules-Denis-Marie-Dieudonné Le Hardy du Marais - 1876-1886
- Victor Maréchal - appointed and died 1887
- Louis-Victor-Emile BougaudLouis-Victor-Emile BougaudLouis-Victor-Emile Bougaud was a French Catholic priest, known as a writer and preacher. He became Bishop of Laval....
- 1887-1888 - Jules Cléret - 1889-1895
- Pierre-Joseph Geay - 1896-1904
- Eugène-Jacques Grellier - 1906-1936
- Joseph-Jean-Yves Marcadé - 1936-1938
- Paul-Marie-André Richaud - 1938-1950 (appointed Archbishop of Bordeaux; CardinalCardinal (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...
) - Maurice-Paul-Jules Rousseau - 1950-1962
- Charles-Marie-Jacques Guilhem - 1962-1969
- Paul-Louis CarrièrePaul-Louis CarrièrePaul-Louis Carrière was a French prelate of the Roman Catholic ChurchCarrière was born in Châlons-en-Champagne and was ordained a priest on July 8, 1931. He was appointed Coadjutor bishop of the Diocese of Laval and Titular bishop of Ladicum on November 5, 1968, and was ordained bishop on January...
- 1969-1984 - Louis-Marie BilléLouis-Marie BilléLouis Marie Billé was a French clergyman, archbishop of Lyon from 6 September 1998 and a cardinal until his death in office.- Life :...
- 1984-1995 (appointed Archbishop of Aix; Archbishop of Lyon; Cardinal) - Armand Maillard - 1996-2007
- Thierry Scherrer - 2008-