Thomas Joseph Shahan
Encyclopedia
Thomas Joseph Shahan was an American
Roman Catholic
theologian and educator, born at Manchester, New Hampshire
, educated at Montreal College (1872) at the Pontifical North American College
, and at the Propaganda
in Rome.
He studied at the Roman Seminary (J.U.L., 1889) and at the University of Berlin (S.T.D., 1891), then served as professor of Church law
and patrology
at The Catholic University of America
(1891–1909) and as rector of the university (1909–1928). It was under his rectorship that African American students were barred from the university. He was also president of the Catholic Educational Association in 1909-14 and of the National Conference of Catholic Charities in 1910-14. In 1914 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Baltimore
, and ordained titular bishop
of Germanicopolis
on 15 November that year.
Professor Shahan was an editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia
(published in 1913), editor in chief of The Catholic Historical Review from its foundation in 1915 until 1928, and one of the editors of Universal Knowledge: A Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Arts and Sciences, History and Biography, Law, Literature, Religions, Nations, Races, Customs and Institutions (New York: Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1927).
Bishop Shahan founded the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
in Washington, D.C.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Roman Catholic
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...
theologian and educator, born at Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester, New Hampshire
Manchester is the largest city in the U.S. state of New Hampshire, the tenth largest city in New England, and the largest city in northern New England, an area comprising the states of Maine, New Hampshire, and Vermont. It is in Hillsborough County along the banks of the Merrimack River, which...
, educated at Montreal College (1872) at the Pontifical North American College
Pontifical North American College
The Pontifical North American College is a Roman Catholic educational institution in Rome, Italy educating seminarians for the dioceses in the United States and providing a residence for American priests studying in Rome. It was founded in 1859 by Blessed Pope Pius IX and was granted pontifical...
, and at the Propaganda
Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples
The Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples in Rome is the congregation of the Roman Curia responsible for missionary work and related activities...
in Rome.
He studied at the Roman Seminary (J.U.L., 1889) and at the University of Berlin (S.T.D., 1891), then served as professor of Church law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
and patrology
Patristics
Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian writers, known as the Church Fathers. The names derive from the Latin pater . The period is generally considered to run from the end of New Testament times or end of the Apostolic Age Patristics or Patrology is the study of Early Christian...
at The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America
The Catholic University of America is a private university located in Washington, D.C. in the United States. It is a pontifical university of the Catholic Church in the United States and the only institution of higher education founded by the U.S. Catholic bishops...
(1891–1909) and as rector of the university (1909–1928). It was under his rectorship that African American students were barred from the university. He was also president of the Catholic Educational Association in 1909-14 and of the National Conference of Catholic Charities in 1910-14. In 1914 he was appointed auxiliary bishop of Baltimore
Baltimore
Baltimore is the largest independent city in the United States and the largest city and cultural center of the US state of Maryland. The city is located in central Maryland along the tidal portion of the Patapsco River, an arm of the Chesapeake Bay. Baltimore is sometimes referred to as Baltimore...
, and ordained titular bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Germanicopolis
Ermenek
Ermenek is a town and district of Karaman Province in the Central Anatolia region of Turkey. According to 2000 census, population of the district is 42,643 of which 15,509 live in the town of Ermenek.-Name:...
on 15 November that year.
Professor Shahan was an editor of the Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
(published in 1913), editor in chief of The Catholic Historical Review from its foundation in 1915 until 1928, and one of the editors of Universal Knowledge: A Dictionary and Encyclopedia of Arts and Sciences, History and Biography, Law, Literature, Religions, Nations, Races, Customs and Institutions (New York: Universal Knowledge Foundation, 1927).
Bishop Shahan founded the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception is a prominent Latin Rite Catholic basilica located in Washington, D.C., honoring the Blessed Virgin Mary as Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception, the Patroness of the United States...
in Washington, D.C.
As author
- The Blessed Virgin in the Catacombs (1892)
- Giovanni Batista de Rossi (1900)
- The Beginnings of Christianity (1903)
- The Middle Ages (1904)
- The House of God and Other Addresses and Studies (1905)
- St. Patrick in History (1905)
As translator
- Otto BardenhewerOtto BardenhewerBertram Otto Bardenhewer was a German Catholic patrologist. His Geschichte der altkirchlichen Literatur is a standard work, re-issued in 2008...
, Patrology: The Lives and Works of the Fathers of the Church; translated from the second edition by Thomas J. Shahan. Freiburg im Breisgau and St. Louis, Missouri: B. HerderHerder publishersVerlag Herder is a publishing company started by the Herders, a German family. The company focuses primarily on Catholic topics of ecclesiology, Christian mysticism, women's studies, and the development of younger Catholic theologians.-Bartholomäus Herder:...
, 1908.