Ambrose Maréchal
Encyclopedia
Most Reverend Ambrose Maréchal, S.S.
(August 28, 1764 – January 29, 1828) was the third Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland.
Motto: Auspice Maria; "Under the protection of Mary."
Ambrose Maréchal was born at Ingré
near Orléans
, France
, on August 28, 1764. He studied for the legal profession, but later entered the Sulpician seminary at Orléans, where he received tonsure
towards the close of 1787.
France was in such a chaotic condition that he left Paris
for Bordeaux
, where he was ordained in 1792. On the day of his ordination, and at the risk of his life, accompanied by Abbés Richard, Martignon, and Cicquard he sailed for America
and arrived at Baltimore on June 24, 1792 where he offered his first Mass.
Father Maréchal was sent on the mission in St. Mary's County, and later to Bohemia on the eastern shore of Maryland. In 1799, he was teaching theology at St. Mary's College
, Baltimore and in 1801 he was on the staff of Georgetown College
.
Later, he returned to St. Mary's, which was then in the hands of the Sulpicians, of which order he was a member. Civil government having been restored in France under Napoleon, Father Maréchal was summoned by his superiors to teach at Saint-Flour, Lyon
, Aix
and Marseilles. His pupils at Marseilles presented him with the marble altar which now stands in the Baltimore Basilica
and Louis XVIII also testified his regard by presenting him with several paintings, which also remain in Baltimore Cathedral.
In 1812 he was teaching in Baltimore and in 1816 he was nominated Bishop of Philadelphia but at his request the nomination was withdrawn and on July 24, 1817, he was appointed coadjutor to Archbishop Francis Neale
of Baltimore, and Titular of Stauropolis. The Brief of appointment had not reached Baltimore when Archbishop Neale died, and the Titular of Stauropolis was consecrated Archbishop of Baltimore by Bishop Cheverus of Boston, on December 14, 1817.
He soon had to face serious dissensions over the claim by the laity to a voice in the appointment of clergy; he induced his flock to yield, and established the right of the ordinary to make all such appointments. The building of the Baltimore Basilica, the first Catholic Cathedral built in the United States, which had been begun under Archbishop John Carroll
in 1806, was now resumed and completed and was dedicated to the service of God on May 31, 1821, under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Also in 1821, Archbishop Maréchal went to Rome on business of his diocese, and in connection with the White Marsh plantation which the Archbishop claimed as Diocesan property, but which had been devised to the Jesuits on February 17, 1728, and was claimed by them as property of the Society to be employed in the interests of the Church of Maryland. The archbishop secured from Rome a Bull in his favour.
In 1826 Archbishop Maréchal made a journey to Canada
, and on his return fell ill. His coadjutor, Rev. James Whitfield
, who succeeded him as Archbishop, had not yet been consecrated when death came. His writings consist almost entirely of letters and documents scholarly in style and are to be found in "The History of the Society of Jesus in North America" by Hughes.
Archbishop Maréchal's body is interred in the Baltimore Basilica's crypt, and his heart is in the chapel behind Elizabeth Ann Seton
's house in downtown Baltimore.
Society of Saint-Sulpice
The Society of Saint-Sulpice is a Catholic Society of Apostolic Life named for Eglise Saint-Sulpice, Paris, in turn named for St. Sulpitius the Pious. Typically, priests become members of the Society of St. Sulpice only after ordination and some years of pastoral work. Uniquely, Sulpicians retain...
(August 28, 1764 – January 29, 1828) was the third Archbishop of Baltimore, Maryland.
Motto: Auspice Maria; "Under the protection of Mary."
Ambrose Maréchal was born at Ingré
Ingré
Ingré is a commune in the Loiret department in north-central France....
near Orléans
Orléans
-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
, 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...
, on August 28, 1764. He studied for the legal profession, but later entered the Sulpician seminary at Orléans, where he received tonsure
Tonsure
Tonsure is the traditional practice of Christian churches of cutting or shaving the hair from the scalp of clerics, monastics, and, in the Eastern Orthodox Church, all baptized members...
towards the close of 1787.
France was in such a chaotic condition that he left Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for Bordeaux
Bordeaux
Bordeaux is a port city on the Garonne River in the Gironde department in southwestern France.The Bordeaux-Arcachon-Libourne metropolitan area, has a population of 1,010,000 and constitutes the sixth-largest urban area in France. It is the capital of the Aquitaine region, as well as the prefecture...
, where he was ordained in 1792. On the day of his ordination, and at the risk of his life, accompanied by Abbés Richard, Martignon, and Cicquard he sailed for America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and arrived at Baltimore on June 24, 1792 where he offered his first Mass.
Father Maréchal was sent on the mission in St. Mary's County, and later to Bohemia on the eastern shore of Maryland. In 1799, he was teaching theology at St. Mary's College
St. Mary's Seminary and University
St. Mary's Seminary and University is a Roman Catholic seminary in Baltimore, Maryland; it was the first seminary founded in the United States of America.-History:...
, Baltimore and in 1801 he was on the staff of Georgetown College
Georgetown University
Georgetown University is a private, Jesuit, research university whose main campus is in the Georgetown neighborhood of Washington, D.C. Founded in 1789, it is the oldest Catholic university in the United States...
.
Later, he returned to St. Mary's, which was then in the hands of the Sulpicians, of which order he was a member. Civil government having been restored in France under Napoleon, Father Maréchal was summoned by his superiors to teach at Saint-Flour, Lyon
Lyon
Lyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Aix
Aix-en-Provence
Aix , or Aix-en-Provence to distinguish it from other cities built over hot springs, is a city-commune in southern France, some north of Marseille. It is in the region of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, in the département of Bouches-du-Rhône, of which it is a subprefecture. The population of Aix is...
and Marseilles. His pupils at Marseilles presented him with the marble altar which now stands in the Baltimore Basilica
Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary, also called the Baltimore Basilica, was the first Roman Catholic cathedral built in the United States, and was the first major religious building constructed in the nation after the adoption of the U.S. Constitution...
and Louis XVIII also testified his regard by presenting him with several paintings, which also remain in Baltimore Cathedral.
In 1812 he was teaching in Baltimore and in 1816 he was nominated Bishop of Philadelphia but at his request the nomination was withdrawn and on July 24, 1817, he was appointed coadjutor to Archbishop Francis Neale
Francis Neale
http://cdm164001.cdmhost.com/cdm4/item_viewer.php?CISOROOT=/p15036coll5&CISOPTR=1016&CISOBOX=1&REC=3Father Francis Ignatius Neale, S.J., was an American Roman Catholic priest of the Jesuit Order who became President of Georgetown College on two occasions and who was a leader of the Jesuit Mission...
of Baltimore, and Titular of Stauropolis. The Brief of appointment had not reached Baltimore when Archbishop Neale died, and the Titular of Stauropolis was consecrated Archbishop of Baltimore by Bishop Cheverus of Boston, on December 14, 1817.
He soon had to face serious dissensions over the claim by the laity to a voice in the appointment of clergy; he induced his flock to yield, and established the right of the ordinary to make all such appointments. The building of the Baltimore Basilica, the first Catholic Cathedral built in the United States, which had been begun under Archbishop John Carroll
John Carroll (bishop)
John Carroll, was the first Roman Catholic bishop and archbishop in the United States — serving as the ordinary of the Archdiocese of Baltimore. He is also known as the founder of Georgetown University, the oldest Catholic university in the United States, and St...
in 1806, was now resumed and completed and was dedicated to the service of God on May 31, 1821, under the title of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Also in 1821, Archbishop Maréchal went to Rome on business of his diocese, and in connection with the White Marsh plantation which the Archbishop claimed as Diocesan property, but which had been devised to the Jesuits on February 17, 1728, and was claimed by them as property of the Society to be employed in the interests of the Church of Maryland. The archbishop secured from Rome a Bull in his favour.
In 1826 Archbishop Maréchal made a journey to Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, and on his return fell ill. His coadjutor, Rev. James Whitfield
James Whitfield (bishop)
James Whitfield was an English-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Baltimore from 1828 until his death in 1834.-Biography:...
, who succeeded him as Archbishop, had not yet been consecrated when death came. His writings consist almost entirely of letters and documents scholarly in style and are to be found in "The History of the Society of Jesus in North America" by Hughes.
Archbishop Maréchal's body is interred in the Baltimore Basilica's crypt, and his heart is in the chapel behind Elizabeth Ann Seton
Elizabeth Ann Seton
Saint Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton was the first native-born citizen of the United States to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church . She established Catholic communities in Emmitsburg, Maryland....
's house in downtown Baltimore.