Seminary priest
Encyclopedia
Seminary priests were Roman Catholic priests who were trained in English
seminaries or houses of study on the European Continent after the introduction of laws forbidding Roman Catholicism in Britain. Such Seminaries included that at Douay
, from 1568, and others at Rome
from 1579, Valladolid
from 1589, Seville
from 1592, St Omer
(later at Bruges
and Liège
) from 1593, and Lisbon
from 1628. The English College at Douai was transferred to Rheims during the years 1578–1593.
The term "seminary priest" distinguishes these men especially from those trained at an earlier period in England. In particular, those ordained in the time of Queen Mary I
are often called "Marian Priests
". These latter priests and others ordained at a still earlier period were not "seminary priests" in any sense because in the Roman Catholic Church
of their day the system of training priests in seminaries had not yet been introduced. The institution of seminaries followed the Council of Trent
. The first of the seminary priests to die for his faith
was Saint Cuthbert Mayne
and for this he is sometimes referred to by the title of "protomartyr of the seminary priests".
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
seminaries or houses of study on the European Continent after the introduction of laws forbidding Roman Catholicism in Britain. Such Seminaries included that at Douay
English College, Douai
The English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
, from 1568, and others at Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
from 1579, Valladolid
Valladolid
Valladolid is a historic city and municipality in north-central Spain, situated at the confluence of the Pisuerga and Esgueva rivers, and located within three wine-making regions: Ribera del Duero, Rueda and Cigales...
from 1589, Seville
Seville
Seville is the artistic, historic, cultural, and financial capital of southern Spain. It is the capital of the autonomous community of Andalusia and of the province of Seville. It is situated on the plain of the River Guadalquivir, with an average elevation of above sea level...
from 1592, St Omer
Colleges of St Omer, Bruges and Liège
The Colleges of St Omer, Bruges and Liège were successive expatriate institutions for the Catholic education of English students and were run by the Jesuits....
(later at Bruges
Bruges
Bruges is the capital and largest city of the province of West Flanders in the Flemish Region of Belgium. It is located in the northwest of the country....
and Liège
Liège
Liège is a major city and municipality of Belgium located in the province of Liège, of which it is the economic capital, in Wallonia, the French-speaking region of Belgium....
) from 1593, and Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
from 1628. The English College at Douai was transferred to Rheims during the years 1578–1593.
The term "seminary priest" distinguishes these men especially from those trained at an earlier period in England. In particular, those ordained in the time of Queen Mary I
Mary I of England
Mary I was queen regnant of England and Ireland from July 1553 until her death.She was the only surviving child born of the ill-fated marriage of Henry VIII and his first wife Catherine of Aragon. Her younger half-brother, Edward VI, succeeded Henry in 1547...
are often called "Marian Priests
Marian Priests
Marian Priests is a term is applied to those English Roman Catholic priests who were ordained in or before the reign of the Catholic Queen Mary and who survived into the reign of her Anglican successor, Queen Elizabeth I....
". These latter priests and others ordained at a still earlier period were not "seminary priests" in any sense because in the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
of their day the system of training priests in seminaries had not yet been introduced. The institution of seminaries followed the Council of Trent
Council of Trent
The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...
. The first of the seminary priests to die for his faith
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
was Saint Cuthbert Mayne
Cuthbert Mayne
'Saint Cuthbert Mayne was an English Roman Catholic priest and martyr of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation.- Early life :...
and for this he is sometimes referred to by the title of "protomartyr of the seminary priests".
See also
- Colleges of St Omer, Bruges and LiègeColleges of St Omer, Bruges and LiègeThe Colleges of St Omer, Bruges and Liège were successive expatriate institutions for the Catholic education of English students and were run by the Jesuits....
- English College, DouaiEnglish College, DouaiThe English College, Douai was a Catholic seminary associated with the University of Douai . It was established in about 1561, and was suppressed in 1793...
- English College, ValladolidEnglish College, ValladolidThe Royal English and Welsh College, Valladolid, under the patronage of St Alban, was founded in 1589 during the protestant reformation for the training of Catholic priests for the English and Welsh Mission....