Diocese of Ypres
Encyclopedia
The former Roman Catholic Diocese
of Ypres
, in present-day Belgium
, existed from 1559 to 1801. Its seat was Saint Martin's Cathedral
in Ypres
.
besieged the city of Thérouanne, then a French enclave in the Holy Roman Empire
, in revenge for a defeat by the French at Metz
. After he captured the city he razed the city. In 1557, as a result of the war damage to its see, the diocese was abolished. This led to a reform of sees at the Council of Trent
and the bishopric of Thérouanne was split between the Diocese of Saint-Omer, the Diocese of Boulogne and the Diocese of Ypres. With this, Saint Martin's Church was elevated to cathedral status, as it became the see of the new diocese.
After the Concordat of 1801
between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII
, Ypres was incorporated into the Diocese of Ghent, and Saint Martin's lost its status as a cathedral.
Cornelius Jansen
, the father of the theological movement Jansenism
, was Bishop of Ypres from 1635 to 1638.
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
of Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
, in present-day Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
, existed from 1559 to 1801. Its seat was Saint Martin's Cathedral
Saint Martin's Cathedral
Saint Martin's Cathedral or Saint Martin's Church is a church in the Belgian city of Ypres. It was a cathedral and the seat of the former diocese of Ypres from 1561 to 1801. Although no longer a technically a cathedral, it is still often referred to as one, as is the case with many proto-cathedrals...
in Ypres
Ypres
Ypres is a Belgian municipality located in the Flemish province of West Flanders. The municipality comprises the city of Ypres and the villages of Boezinge, Brielen, Dikkebus, Elverdinge, Hollebeke, Sint-Jan, Vlamertinge, Voormezele, Zillebeke, and Zuidschote...
.
History
The diocese was originally part of the Diocese of Thérouanne, which had been established in the 7th or 8th century. In 1553 Charles VCharles V, Holy Roman Emperor
Charles V was ruler of the Holy Roman Empire from 1519 and, as Charles I, of the Spanish Empire from 1516 until his voluntary retirement and abdication in favor of his younger brother Ferdinand I and his son Philip II in 1556.As...
besieged the city of Thérouanne, then a French enclave in the Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, in revenge for a defeat by the French at Metz
Metz
Metz is a city in the northeast of France located at the confluence of the Moselle and the Seille rivers.Metz is the capital of the Lorraine region and prefecture of the Moselle department. Located near the tripoint along the junction of France, Germany, and Luxembourg, Metz forms a central place...
. After he captured the city he razed the city. In 1557, as a result of the war damage to its see, the diocese was abolished. This led to a reform of sees at 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...
and the bishopric of Thérouanne was split between the Diocese of Saint-Omer, the Diocese of Boulogne and the Diocese of Ypres. With this, Saint Martin's Church was elevated to cathedral status, as it became the see of the new diocese.
After the Concordat of 1801
Concordat of 1801
The Concordat of 1801 was an agreement between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII, signed on 15 July 1801. It solidified the Roman Catholic Church as the majority church of France and brought back most of its civil status....
between Napoleon and Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII
Pope Pius VII , born Barnaba Niccolò Maria Luigi Chiaramonti, was a monk, theologian and bishop, who reigned as Pope from 14 March 1800 to 20 August 1823.-Early life:...
, Ypres was incorporated into the Diocese of Ghent, and Saint Martin's lost its status as a cathedral.
Cornelius Jansen
Cornelius Jansen
Corneille Janssens, commonly known by the Latinized name Cornelius Jansen or Jansenius, was Catholic bishop of Ypres and the father of a theological movement known as Jansenism.-Biography:...
, the father of the theological movement Jansenism
Jansenism
Jansenism was a Christian theological movement, primarily in France, that emphasized original sin, human depravity, the necessity of divine grace, and predestination. The movement originated from the posthumously published work of the Dutch theologian Cornelius Otto Jansen, who died in 1638...
, was Bishop of Ypres from 1635 to 1638.
Bishops
- Martin Bauwens (Rythovius) 1561-1583
- Pierre Simons 1584-1605
- Charles Maes 1607-1610, also bishop of GhentBishop of GhentThe Bishop of Ghent is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gent, which comprises the entire province of East Flanders as well as the Antwerp municipalities of Zwijndrecht and Burcht. The current Bishop of Ghent is Mgr...
- Jean de Visscher 1611-1613
- Antoine de Haynin 1614-1626
- Georges Chamberlain 1627-1634
- Corneille Janssens (Jansenius)1635-1638
- Josse Bouckaert 1641-1646
- Josse Croy 1647
- Marcus Ambroise Capello 1647 (also bishop of Antwerp)
- N. 1647
- Jean-François de Robles 1654-1659
- Martin Prats 1665-1671
- Henri de Halmale 1672-1676
- Guillaume HerincxGuillaume HerincxGuillaume Herincx , was a Belgian Franciscan theologian. He became bishop of Ypres.-Life:He was born at Helmond, North Brabant...
(F.M) 1677-1678 - Jacques de Lière 1679 (not confirmed by the Pope)
- Martin de Ratabon 1693-1713, (also bishop of Viviers)
- Ch.-Fr.-Guy de Laval-Montmorency 06/05/1713-26/08/1713
- Jean-Baptiste de Smet 1718-1732 (also bishop of GhentBishop of GhentThe Bishop of Ghent is the Ordinary of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Gent, which comprises the entire province of East Flanders as well as the Antwerp municipalities of Zwijndrecht and Burcht. The current Bishop of Ghent is Mgr...
) - Guillaume Delvaux 1732-1761
- Félix-Jo.-Hubert de Wavrans 1762-1784
- Charles-Alexandre D'Arberg 1786-1801, died 1809, last bishop
Titular bishops and archbishops
- Joseph Mees 1969-2001, archbishop, (Apostolic Nuncio to South AfricaApostolic Nuncio to South AfricaThe Apostolic Nuncio to South Africa is the principal representative of the Pope to the Government of South Africa.-Apostolic Nuncios to South Africa:*Bernard Gijlswijk, O.P. *Martin Lucas, S.V.D...
1985-1987) - Gustaaf Joos 2003-2003, archbishop, (CardinalCardinal (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...
- Deacon of S. Pier Damiani ai Monti di S. Paolo) - Jacques André Blaquart 2006-2010, bishop (auxiliary bishop of Bordeaux , Bishop of Orléans)
- Jean Kockerols 2011-, bishop (auxiliary bishop of Malines-Brussels)