David Rothe
Encyclopedia
David Rothe was a Roman Catholic Bishop of Ossory, central Ireland.
, of a distinguished family. Having studied at the Irish College, Douai
, and at the University of Salamanca
, where he graduated doctor in civil and canon law, he was ordained in 1600, and proceeded to Rome. From 1601 to 1609 he was professor of theology and secretary to Archbishop Peter Lombard, and on 15 June 1609, was appointed Vice-Primate of Armagh.
He arrived in Ireland in 1610, having been made prothonotary Apostolic, and held a synod
for the Ulster Province at Drogheda
, in February, 1614, and a second synod in 1618. Though appointed Bishop of Ossory on 10 October 1618, he had, owing to the severity of the penal laws, to seek consecration in Paris, where he was consecrated early in 1620; he returned to Ireland in the winter of 1621.
In 1624 Rothe presided over a synod at Kilkenny
, and he laboured zealously during a trying period. He joined the Confederates in 1642, and welcomed the papal nuncio
, Rinuccini
, to Kilkenny, on 14 November 1645. Three years later, he refused to acknowledge the validity of the censures issued by Rinuccini, believing that the Supreme Council were acting in the best interests of the country.
Although seriously ill in 1649, he continued to minister to the plague-stricken citizens of Kilkenny. He was compelled by the Cromwellians
to leave his episcopal city on 28 March 1650, but, being robbed on the way, he was permitted to return. His remains were interred in St. Mary's Church, but there is a cenotaph
to his memory in St. Canice's Cathedral.
Other works of his except some few fragments have long since disappeared.
Life
He was born at KilkennyKilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, of a distinguished family. Having studied at the Irish College, Douai
Douai
-Main sights:Douai's ornate Gothic style belfry was begun in 1380, on the site of an earlier tower. The 80 m high structure includes an impressive carillon, consisting of 62 bells spanning 5 octaves. The originals, some dating from 1391 were removed in 1917 during World War I by the occupying...
, and at the University of Salamanca
University of Salamanca
The University of Salamanca is a Spanish higher education institution, located in the town of Salamanca, west of Madrid. It was founded in 1134 and given the Royal charter of foundation by King Alfonso IX in 1218. It is the oldest founded university in Spain and the third oldest European...
, where he graduated doctor in civil and canon law, he was ordained in 1600, and proceeded to Rome. From 1601 to 1609 he was professor of theology and secretary to Archbishop Peter Lombard, and on 15 June 1609, was appointed Vice-Primate of Armagh.
He arrived in Ireland in 1610, having been made prothonotary Apostolic, and held a synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
for the Ulster Province at Drogheda
Drogheda
Drogheda is an industrial and port town in County Louth on the east coast of Ireland, 56 km north of Dublin. It is the last bridging point on the River Boyne before it enters the Irish Sea....
, in February, 1614, and a second synod in 1618. Though appointed Bishop of Ossory on 10 October 1618, he had, owing to the severity of the penal laws, to seek consecration in Paris, where he was consecrated early in 1620; he returned to Ireland in the winter of 1621.
In 1624 Rothe presided over a synod at Kilkenny
Kilkenny
Kilkenny is a city and is the county town of the eponymous County Kilkenny in Ireland. It is situated on both banks of the River Nore in the province of Leinster, in the south-east of Ireland...
, and he laboured zealously during a trying period. He joined the Confederates in 1642, and welcomed the papal nuncio
Nuncio
Nuncio is an ecclesiastical diplomatic title, derived from the ancient Latin word, Nuntius, meaning "envoy." This article addresses this title as well as derived similar titles, all within the structure of the Roman Catholic Church...
, Rinuccini
Rinuccini
Rinuccini is a surname, and may refer to:*Giovanni Battista Rinuccini, an Italian archbishop.*Ottavio Rinuccini an Italian poet and librettist....
, to Kilkenny, on 14 November 1645. Three years later, he refused to acknowledge the validity of the censures issued by Rinuccini, believing that the Supreme Council were acting in the best interests of the country.
Although seriously ill in 1649, he continued to minister to the plague-stricken citizens of Kilkenny. He was compelled by the Cromwellians
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
to leave his episcopal city on 28 March 1650, but, being robbed on the way, he was permitted to return. His remains were interred in St. Mary's Church, but there is a cenotaph
Cenotaph
A cenotaph is an "empty tomb" or a monument erected in honour of a person or group of people whose remains are elsewhere. It can also be the initial tomb for a person who has since been interred elsewhere. The word derives from the Greek κενοτάφιον = kenotaphion...
to his memory in St. Canice's Cathedral.
Works
As early as 1616, Rothe had published the first part of his Analecta and the completed work was issued at Cologne (1617–19); a new edition was brought out by Cardinal Moran in 1884. In 1620 he published "Brigida Thaumaturga", at Paris, followed by "Hiberniae sive Antiquioris Scotiae" in 1621 at Antwerp, and "Hibernia Resurgens" at Paris, in the same year.Other works of his except some few fragments have long since disappeared.
See also
- Robert Rothe, lawyer and antiquary, 1550-1622.
- Michael Rothe, general, 1661/5-1741.
- Edward Roth first Director General of RTE, 1922-76.