Victor-Auguste-Isidor Deschamps
Encyclopedia
Victor Augustin Isidore Dechamps (born 6 December 1810 in Melle
– died 29 September 1883 in Mechelen
) was a Belgian Archbishop of Mechlin, Cardinal
and Primate of Belgium.
He and his brothers made rapid progress in science under their father's direction. One, Adolphe Deschamps
, entered on a political career. Victor pursued his ecclesiastical studies first at the seminary of Tournai
and then in the Catholic University
begun at Mechlin and afterwards transferred to Louvain
.
Ordained priest 20 December 1834, he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
in 1835, and made his vows 13 June 1836. The next four years he spent at Wittem
as prefect of students and lector in dogmatic theology
. In 1840 he began his missionary life and in 1842 was nominated rector at Liège
. He took an active part in the founding of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, which he considered his most salutary work. In the historic jubilee of Liège he had a large share both by his "Le plus beau souvenir de l'histoire de Liège", and by his preaching (1845-46).
He visited England and saw the effects of the Tractarian movement. In 1849 he was nominated consultor general of his congregation, and took up his residence at Pagani
near Naples
just when Pope Pius IX
was in exile at Gaeta
. He had several audiences with the pope and was instrumental in arranging the transfer of the superior general from Pagani to Rome. This was not effected till 1855, when Pius IX invited Father Dechamps to the first general chapter held in Rome. The question of his appointment to the See of Liège was considered in 1852, but the pope, touched by his personal appeal, did not insist. In 1865 Dechamps became Bishop of Namur, whence he was transferred in 1875 to the Archdiocese of Mechlin and made primate.
He took an active part in the formation of the Pontifical Zouaves, and persuaded General Lamoricière
to offer his services to Pius IX. He battled for Catholic schools and defended papal infallibility
before and during the Vatican Council
. Cardinal Manning
and Dechamps were indefatigable; and they became cardinals in the same consistory, 15 March 1875. Cardinal Deschamps was appointed Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme. Dechamps worked to the very end. He said Mass on 28 September 1883, and died the day following in the arms of a Redemptorist who happened to be present. He was buried, as he had desired, by the side of Joseph Passerat
at Rumilliers.
The complete works of Dechamps, revised by himself, were published in seventeen volumes at Mechlin. In presenting fourteen of the seventeen volumes to Pope Leo XIII
on 7 February 1879, the author writes: "There is one thing that consoles me, Holy Father, in sending you my poor works: they are all consecrated to the truths of our holy Faith... . Volume I is consecrated to the truths of faith; II to Our Lord Jesus Christ; V to the Blessed Virgin Mary; III and IV to the Church and St. Peter; VI to the pope and his infallibility; VII, VIII, and IX to the refutation of modern errors; X, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV to my preaching as bishop and to acts by which I governed my diocese." Of the remaining volumes, XV, "Mélanges", deals with many important questions; XVI and XVII contain letters on questions in philosophy, theology, and other subjects.
Cardinal Dechamps's brother, Adolphe, was made Prime Minister of Belgium, 4 April 1843. He was also minister of public works, and minister of foreign affairs from 30 July 1845, to 12 June 1847.
Melle
-Places:Belgium* Melle, Belgium, a gemeente in East Flanders, FlandersFrance* Melle, Deux-Sèvres, a commune in Poitou-Charentes* Mellé, Ille-et-Vilaine, a commune in BrittanyGermany* Melle, Germany, a Stadt in Osnabrück Landkreis, Lower Saxony...
– died 29 September 1883 in Mechelen
Mechelen
Mechelen Footnote: Mechelen became known in English as 'Mechlin' from which the adjective 'Mechlinian' is derived...
) was a Belgian Archbishop of Mechlin, 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...
and Primate of Belgium.
He and his brothers made rapid progress in science under their father's direction. One, Adolphe Deschamps
Adolphe Deschamps
Adolphe Deschamps was a Belgian statesman and publisher, the brother of Cardinal Victor-Auguste-Isidor Deschamps....
, entered on a political career. Victor pursued his ecclesiastical studies first at the seminary of Tournai
Tournai
Tournai is a Walloon city and municipality of Belgium located 85 kilometres southwest of Brussels, on the river Scheldt, in the province of Hainaut....
and then in the Catholic University
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...
begun at Mechlin and afterwards transferred to Louvain
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
.
Ordained priest 20 December 1834, he entered the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer
The Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer is a Roman Catholic missionary Congregation founded by Saint Alphonsus Liguori at Scala, near Amalfi, Italy for the purpose of labouring among the neglected country people in the neighbourhood of Naples.Members of the Congregation, priests and brothers,...
in 1835, and made his vows 13 June 1836. The next four years he spent at Wittem
Wittem
Wittem is a small village in the Dutch province of Limburg. It is located in the municipality of Gulpen-Wittem.Wittem was a separate municipality until 1999, when it merged with Gulpen.-External links: Map of the former municipality, around 1868....
as prefect of students and lector in dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology
Dogmatic theology is that part of theology dealing with the theoretical truths of faith concerning God and his works, especially the official theology recognized by an organized Church body, such as the Roman Catholic Church, Dutch Reformed Church, etc...
. In 1840 he began his missionary life and in 1842 was nominated rector at 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....
. He took an active part in the founding of the Confraternity of the Holy Family, which he considered his most salutary work. In the historic jubilee of Liège he had a large share both by his "Le plus beau souvenir de l'histoire de Liège", and by his preaching (1845-46).
He visited England and saw the effects of the Tractarian movement. In 1849 he was nominated consultor general of his congregation, and took up his residence at Pagani
Pagani
Pagani Automobili S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of sports cars and carbon fibre. The company was founded in 1992 by Horacio Pagani, and is based in San Cesario sul Panaro, near Modena, Italy.-History:...
near Naples
Naples
Naples is a city in Southern Italy, situated on the country's west coast by the Gulf of Naples. Lying between two notable volcanic regions, Mount Vesuvius and the Phlegraean Fields, it is the capital of the region of Campania and of the province of Naples...
just when 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...
was in exile at Gaeta
Gaeta
Gaeta is a city and comune in the province of Latina, in Lazio, central Italy. Set on a promontory stretching towards the Gulf of Gaeta, it is 120 km from Rome and 80 km from Naples....
. He had several audiences with the pope and was instrumental in arranging the transfer of the superior general from Pagani to Rome. This was not effected till 1855, when Pius IX invited Father Dechamps to the first general chapter held in Rome. The question of his appointment to the See of Liège was considered in 1852, but the pope, touched by his personal appeal, did not insist. In 1865 Dechamps became Bishop of Namur, whence he was transferred in 1875 to the Archdiocese of Mechlin and made primate.
He took an active part in the formation of the Pontifical Zouaves, and persuaded General Lamoricière
Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière
Christophe Léon Louis Juchault de Lamoricière was a French general.-Life:He was born at Nantes, and entered the Engineers in 1828. He served in the Algerian campaigns from 1830 onwards, and by 1840 he had risen to the grade of maréchal-de-camp . Three years later he was made a general of division...
to offer his services to Pius IX. He battled for Catholic schools and defended papal infallibility
Papal infallibility
Papal infallibility is a dogma of the Catholic Church which states that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error when in his official capacity he solemnly declares or promulgates to the universal Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals...
before and during the Vatican Council
Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council took place in 1869 - 1870 and was the 20th of ecumenical councils recognized by Roman Catholicism.The Second Vatican Council took place in the 1962 - 1965 and was the 21st....
. Cardinal Manning
Cardinal Manning
Cardinal Manning may refer to* Henry Edward Manning , English Roman Catholic Archbishop and Cardinal* Timothy Manning , Archbishop of Los Angeles...
and Dechamps were indefatigable; and they became cardinals in the same consistory, 15 March 1875. Cardinal Deschamps was appointed Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme. Dechamps worked to the very end. He said Mass on 28 September 1883, and died the day following in the arms of a Redemptorist who happened to be present. He was buried, as he had desired, by the side of Joseph Passerat
Joseph Passerat
Joseph Passerat was a French Redemptorist. He was beatified in 2000.-Life:He was expelled from the seminary, imprisoned, and forced to serve in the army from 1788 to 1792. Owing to his height he was made drum-major, and later quarter-master...
at Rumilliers.
The complete works of Dechamps, revised by himself, were published in seventeen volumes at Mechlin. In presenting fourteen of the seventeen volumes to Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII
Pope Leo XIII , born Vincenzo Gioacchino Raffaele Luigi Pecci to an Italian comital family, was the 256th Pope of the Roman Catholic Church, reigning from 1878 to 1903...
on 7 February 1879, the author writes: "There is one thing that consoles me, Holy Father, in sending you my poor works: they are all consecrated to the truths of our holy Faith... . Volume I is consecrated to the truths of faith; II to Our Lord Jesus Christ; V to the Blessed Virgin Mary; III and IV to the Church and St. Peter; VI to the pope and his infallibility; VII, VIII, and IX to the refutation of modern errors; X, XI, XII, XIII, and XIV to my preaching as bishop and to acts by which I governed my diocese." Of the remaining volumes, XV, "Mélanges", deals with many important questions; XVI and XVII contain letters on questions in philosophy, theology, and other subjects.
Cardinal Dechamps's brother, Adolphe, was made Prime Minister of Belgium, 4 April 1843. He was also minister of public works, and minister of foreign affairs from 30 July 1845, to 12 June 1847.