Jump to content

Archdiocese of Tours

From Catholicism Wiki
Archdiocese of Tours
Archidioecesis Turonensis
Archidiocèse de Tours
Tours Cathedral
Tours Cathedral
Location
Country France
Ecclesiastical province Tours
Statistics
Area 6,158 km2 (2,378 sq mi)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2022)
608,390 (est.)
502,000 (est.) (82.5%)
Parishes 39
Information
Denomination Catholic
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established 3rd Century (As Diocese of Tours)
5th Century (As Archdiocese of Tours)
Cathedral Cathedral of St. Gatianus in Tours
Patron saint St. Gatianus of Tours
St. Martin of Tours
Secular priests 72 (Diocesan)
23 (Religious Orders)
30 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Archbishop Vincent Jordy
Suffragans Archdiocese of Bourges
Diocese of Blois
Diocese of Chartres
Diocese of Orléans
Bishops emeritus Bernard-Nicolas Aubertin
Map
Website
diocesedetours.catholique.fr

The Archdiocese of Tours (Latin: Archidioecesis Turonensis; French: Archidiocèse de Tours) is a Latin Church archdiocese of the Catholic Church in France. The archdiocese has roots that go back to the 3rd century, while the formal erection of the diocese dates from the 5th century.

The ecclesiastical province of Tours corresponds with the late Roman province of Tertia Lugdunensis. During Breton independence the see of Dol briefly exercised metropolitical functions (mainly tenth century). In 1859 the Breton dioceses except that of Nantes were constituted into a province of Rennes. Tours kept its historic suffragans of Le Mans, Angers together with Nantes and a newly constituted Diocese of Laval. In 2002 Tours lost all connection with its historic province, all its previous suffragans depending henceforth on an expanded province of Rennes (corresponding to the Brittany and Pays de la Loire administrative regions). Tours since 2002 has become the ecclesiastical metropolis of the Centre administrative region.

In 2022, in the Archdiocese of Tours there was one priest for every 5,284 Catholics.

History

Ancient

According to Louis Duchesne, the See of Tours was probably founded in the time of Constantine; however, Gregory of Tours says it was founded in the reign of Emperor Decius by Gatianus.[1] As the city, (called "Caesarodunum"), was important as a crossing point of the Loire, it became a stop on the route to Santiago de Compostela. The fourth bishop was Brice of Tours. Stories about his tenure suggest tensions between the regular clergy and the secular priests in Tours at that time. Saint Perpetuus was bishop from 460 to 490. During his administration Christianity was further developed and consolidated in the province of Touraine. He was followed by Volusianus of Tours, a relative of Ruricius of Limoges. The first cathedral, dedicated to Saint Maurice, was built by Bishop Lidoire, sometime in the fourth century; it burned down in 561, but was restored by Gregory of Tours.

Bishop Chrotbert (Robert) is mentioned in the earliest grant of privileges to the Monastery of St. Martin in Tours,[2] made by Pope Adeodatus (672–676). The document survives only in two copies which differ significantly between them;[3] both are suspect.[4]

Medieval

In May 858, which was the third year of his pontificate, Archbishop Herardus held a diocesan synod, in which a codification was issued of the capitula ('regulations') of the diocese. The document contained 140 chapters.[5]

On 21 January 1216, Pope Innocent III confirmed an agreement entered into between the Archbishop of Tours and the Chapter of the cathedral on the election of a Dean and Provosts.[6]

After the death of Archbishop Jean de la Faye in April 1228, there appears to have been considerable difficulty in finding a new archbishop. Jean Maan, Dean of Mans, was brought to Tours, but he refused the see, or was unable to muster sufficient votes. Then the see was offered to Master Pierre de Collomedio of Champagne, a Canon of Thérouanne and Papal Legate, but, though the election was canonically carried out, he refused the offer.[7]

Revolution

The leaders of the French Revolution, as part of their program, planned to bring the religions in France under their control. The Roman Church was rich, and therefore powerful. The Revolution needed to redirect that power and acquire that wealth to finance their own projects. One device was to transfer old loyalties by breaking up the traditional units of political, social and religious organization. The property of the religious organizations was to be confiscated for the benefit of the people of France, and all clergy would become state employees, with their salaries fixed and paid by the government. The new political unit was to be the "département", of which eighty-four were planned.[8] It was determined by the Constituent Assembly that the Church was overloaded with bishops; therefore the number of dioceses needed to be reduced, from the 135 of the Ancien Régime, to 82 or 83, and that to the extent possible they were to have the same borders as the new political departments. The Diocese of Tours was therefore abolished and subsumed into a new diocese, coterminous with the new 'Departement d'Indre-et-Loire', which was to be a suffragan of the 'Metropole du Centre' (composed of the dioceses of Allier, Cher, Creuse, Indre, Indre-et-Loire, Loire-et-Cher, Nièvre and Vienne, with its center at Bourges[9]) in the "Constitutional Church".[10] The clergy were required to swear and oath to the Constitution, and under the terms of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy a new bishop was to be elected by all the voters of the département, who did not even need to be Catholics.[11] This placed them in schism with the Roman Catholic Church and the Pope. Archbishop de Conzié of Tours refused to take the oath,[12] and his bishopric was therefore declared to be vacant.

On 13 March 1791 the electors of Indre-et-Loire met in Tours in the cathedral. They were harangued by members of the Société des Amis de la Constitution, who pressed for the election of their president, a former Oratorian by the name of Ysabeau, who, however, could not muster a majority. Instead on the next day the electors chose Pierre Suzor, the curate of Ecueillé.[13] He proceeded to Paris, where he was consecrated a bishop on 10 April by Constitutional Bishops Massieu, Delcher, and Sibille.[14] His consecration was valid, but uncanonical and schismatic, and brought him excommunication. As bishop, he was at first conservative and somewhat rigorous, refusing to sanction the marriage of clergy, but later he succumbed to pressure. At the end of 1793, when Religion was abolished and replaced by Reason and the churches closed, most of the 360 clergy of Indre-et-Loire abdicated or apostasized. Religion was restored in 1795, but Suzor did not regain possession of the cathedral until 13 May 1797. Suzor suffered a stroke in 1797; the bishops of the Metropolitanate were allowed to assemble at Bourges in 1800 to find him a successor. On 1 February 1801 Hyacinthe Tardiveau accepted the position, and Suzor died on 13 April 1801, having approved of his successor. Tardiveau was never bishop, since he made his acceptance conditional upon receiving the traditional bulls from the pope, which never happened. In May 1801 First Consul Napoleon Bonaparte required the resignation of all Constitutional bishops; he was in the process of completing a concordat with the Papacy, and the Constitutional Church was an obstacle.[15]

After the Concordat went into effect, Pius VII was able to issue the appropriate bulls to restore many of the dioceses and to regulate their boundaries, most of which corresponded closely to the new 'départements'.[16] The Diocese of Tours, which was coterminous with the Department of Indre-et-Loire, had as suffragans: Le Mans, Angers, Rennes, Nantes, Quimper, Vannes, Saint-Pol, Treguier, Saint-Brieux Saint-Mâlo and Dol.

Pilgrimages

The main pilgrimage sites in the diocese besides the grottos of Marmoutier, are: Notre-Dame-la-Riche, a sanctuary erected on the site of a church dating from the third century, and where the founder St. Gatianus is venerated; Notre-Dame-de-Loches; St. Christopher and St. Giles at St-Christophe, a pilgrimage dating from the ninth century; the pilgrimage to the Oratory of the Holy Face in Tours, managed by Priests of the Holy Face canonically erected on 8 December 1876.[1][17]

Bishops

to 700

  • St. Gatianus (c. 249–301)[18]
  • St. Litorius 338–370
  • St. Martin 371–397
  • St. Bricius 397–443
  • St. Eustochius 443–460
  • St. Perpetuus 460–490
  • St. Volusianus 491–498
  • Verus (498–508)[19]
  • Licinius (508–520)[20]
  • Theodorus & Proculus (jointly) (520–521?)[21]
  • Dinfius (521?)[22]
  • Ommatius (521–525)[23]
  • Leo (526?)[24]
  • Francilio (528? or 526–528?)[25]
  • Injuriosus (529–546)[26]
  • Baudinus (546–552)[27]
  • Gunthar 552–554
  • St. Eufronius 555–573
  • St. Gregory (573–594)[28]
  • Pelagius I (595–602)[29]
  • Leupacharius (602–614)[30]
  • Agiricus (614–617)[31]
  • Gwalachus (617–618)[32]
[Valatus 618–619][33]
  • Sigilaicus 619–622[34]
  • Leobaldus 622–625[35]
  • Medegisilus (625–638)[36]
  • Latinus (638–650)[37]
  • Charegiselus (Carégisile) 650–652
  • Rigobertus 652–654[38]
  • Papolenus 654–660
  • Chrotbert 660–695
  • Pelagius II 695–700

700 to 1000

  • Evartius 700–709
  • Ibbon 709–724
  • Gontran II 724–732
  • Didon 732–733
  • Rimbert 733–752
  • Aubert 752–754
  • Ostald 754–760
  • Gravien 760–765
  • Eusebe 765–771
  • Herling 771–792
  • Joseph I 792–815
  • Landran I 815–836
  • Ursmarus 836–846
  • Landran II 846–852
  • Amalricus (852–856)[39]
  • Herardus 856–871
  • Actardus (872–875)[40]
  • Adalardus 875–890[41]
  • Herbernus 890–916
  • Robert II of Tours 916–932
  • Theotolo 932–945
  • Joseph II 946–957
  • Frotaire 957–960
  • Hardouin 960–980
  • Archambault de Sully 981–1008

1000–1300

  • Hugues de Chateaudun 1008–1023
  • Arnoul 1023–1052
  • Barthelemy de Faye 1053–1068
  • Raoul I 1072–1085
  • Raoul II 1086–1117
  • Gilbert de Maillé 1118–1125
  • Hildebert de Lavardin 1125–1134
  • Hugues d'Etampes 1134–1146
  • Engebaldus 1146–1157[42]
  • Joscius 1157–1174[43]
  • Barthelemy de Vendôme 1174–1206
  • Géoffroy de la Lande (1206 – 29 April 1208)[44]
  • Jean de la Faye (4 October 1208 – 23 April 1228)[45]
[François Cassard 1228–1229][46]
  • Juhel de Mathefelon (1229 – 20 March 1244)[47]
  • Géoffroy Marcel (13 May 1245 – 10 July 1251)[48]
  • Pierre de Lamballe (8 April 1252 – 24 October 1256)[49]
[Philippe 1256–1257]
  • Vincent de Pirmil (1257 – 19 September 1270)[50]
  • Jean de Montsoreau (16 January 1271 – 26 January 1284)[51]
  • Olivier de Craon (24 May 1284 – 24 August 1285)[52]
  • Bouchard Dain (24 April 1286 – 19 October 1290)[53]
  • Philippe de Candé (3 January 1291 – 15 February 1291)[54]
  • Renaud de Montbazon (21 November 1291 – 23 August 1312)[55]

1300–1500

  • Geoffroy de la Haye (20 February 1313 – 6 April 1323)[56]
  • Étienne de Bourgueil (16 August 1323 – 7 March 1335)[57]
  • Pierre Frétaud (14 July 1335 – 21 May 1357)
  • Philippe Blanche (3 July 1357 – 1363)
  • Simon de Renoul (25 October 1363 – 2 January 1379)
  • Seguin d'Anton (14 January 1380 – 20 June 1380) (Avignon Obedience)[58]
  • Aléaume Boistel (20 June 1380 – 1382) (Avignon Obedience)[59]
  • Guy de Roye (17 October 1382 – 8 October 1383) (Avignon Obedience)[60]
  • Seguin d'Anton (8 October 1383 – 25 March 1395) ('Perpetual Administrator', Avignon Obedience)[61]
  • Ameil du Breuil (5 November 1395 – 1 September 1414) (Avignon Obedience)[62]
  • Jacques Gélu (7 November 1414 – 30 July 1427)[63]
  • Philippe de Coëtquis (30 July 1427 – 12 July 1441)[64]
  • Jean Bernard (11 December 1441 – 28 April 1466)[65]
  • Gerard Bastet de Crussol (9 June 1466 – 13 May 1468)[66]
  • Hélie de Bourdeilles, O.Min. (16 May 1468 – 5 July 1484)[67]
  • Robert de Lenoncourt (29 July 1484 – 28 March 1509)[68]

1500–1700

  • Carlo Domenico del Carretto (5 April 1509 – 1514)[69]
  • Christophe de Brillac (3 July 1514 – 31 July 1520)[70]
  • Martin Fournier de Beaune (24 August 1520 – 1527)[71]
  • Antoine de la Barre 1528–1547[72]
  • Georges d'Armagnac (13 January 1548 – 1551)[73]
  • Etienne Poncher (6 April 1551 – 15 March 1553)[74]
  • Alessandro Farnese (28 April 1553 – 25 June 1554 (Administrator)[75]
  • Simon de Maillé de Brézé (25 June 1554 – 11 January 1597)[76]
  • François de la Guesle (7 February 1597 – 30 October 1614)[77]
  • Sebastien d'Ori Galagai (19 December 1616 – 1617)[78]
  • Bertrand d'Eschaud (26 June 1617 – 21 May 1641)[79]
  • Victor Le Bouthillier (21 May 1641 – 12 November 1670)[80]
  • Charles de Rosmadec (1671–1672)[81]
  • Michel Amelot de Gournay 1673–1687[82]
Claude de Saint George (1687–1693) (Vicar General and Administrator)[83]
  • Mathieu Isoré d'Hervault (22 December 1693 – 9 July 1716)[84]

1700–1900

  • Armand Pierre de la Croix de Castries (18 September 1719 – 23 September 1722)[85]
  • François Blouet de Camilly (20 January 1723 – 17 October 1723)[86]
  • Louis Jacques de Chapt de Rastignac (27 September 1724 – 2 August 1750)[87]
  • Bernardin de Rosset de Fleury (17 May 1751 – 2 March 1775)[88]
  • Joachim François Mamert de Conzié (29 May 1775 – 1795)[89]
  • Jean de Dieu Raymond de Boisgelin (16 April 1802 – 24 August 1804)[90]
  • Louis Mathias de Barral (1 February 1805 – 26 September 1815)[91]
  • Jean-Baptiste du Chilleau (1 October 1818 – 24 November 1824)[92]
  • Augustin Louis de Montblanc (24 November 1824 – 28 December 1841)[93]
  • Cardinal François Nicolas Madeleine Morlot (27 January 1843 – 1857)[94]
  • Joseph Hippolyte Guibert (19 March 1857 – 27 October 1871)[95]
  • Felix Pierre Fruchaud (27 October 1871 – 9 November 1874)[96]
  • Charles-Théodore Colet (21 December 1874 – 27 November 1883)[97]
  • Cardinal Guillaume René Meignan (25 March 1884 – 20 January 1896)[98]
  • René François Renou (25 June 1896 – 1913)[99]

From 1900

  • Albert Negre 1913–1931
  • Ludovico Gaillard 1931–1956
  • Louis Ferrand 1956–1980
  • Jean Marcel Honoré 1981–1997;[100] elevated to Cardinal in 2001
  • Michel Moutel 1997–1998
  • André Vingt-Trois 1999–2005;[101] appointed Archbishop of Paris (Cardinal in 2007)
  • Bernard-Nicolas Aubertin, O.Cist. (2005 - 26 October 2019)[102]
  • Vincent Jordy (4 November 2019[103] – present)

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tours is a archdiocese of the Catholic Church.[104]

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Archdiocese of Tours — (TURONENSIS.)

Comprises the Department of Indre-et-Loire, and was re-established by the Concordat of 1801 with the Dioceses of Angers, Nantes, Le Mans, Rennes, Vannes, St-Brieue, and Quimper as suffragans. The elevation to metropolitan rank of the Diocese of Rennes in 1859, with the last three dioceses as suffragans, dismembered the Province of Tours. The Diocese of Laval, created in 1855, is a suffragan of Tours. For the early ecclesiastical history of Tours we have an excellent document, the concluding chapter "De episcopis Turonicis" in Gregory of Tours's "History of the Franks", though Mgr Duchesne has shown that it requires some chronological corrections. The founder of the see was St. Gatianus; according to Gregory of Tours he was one of the seven apostles sent from Rome to Gaul in the middle of tile third century. Two grottos cut in the hill above the Loire, opposite Tours, are held to have been the first sanctuaries where St. Gatianus celebrated the Liturgy. According to Mgr Duchesne the tradition of Tours furnished Gregory with only the name of Gatianus, accompanied perhaps by the length, fifty years, of his episcopate; it was by comparison with the "Passio S. Saturnini" of Toulouse that Gregory arrived at the date 250. Mgr Duchesne considers this date rather doubtful, but admits that the Church of Tours was founded in the time of Constantine.

After St. Gatianus, according to Mgr Duchesne's chronology, came: St. Litorius, or Lidoire (337-71); the illustrious St. Martin (4 July, 372-8 Nov., 397); St. Brice (397-444), who was accused to Celestine I of immorality and absolved by the pope, but who remained absent seventeen years from the episcopal city, which was governed by the intruded Bishop Armentius; St. Eustochius (444-61); St. Perpetuus (461-91); St. Volusianus (491-98), deprived of his see by the Visigoths, exiled to Toulouse, and perhaps martyred; Verus (498-509), also deprived of his see at the command of Alaric; St. Baud (546-52), chancellor of Clotaire I; St. Euphronius (55-73), who made at Poitiers the solemn transfer of the relic of the True Cross to the monastery founded by St. Radegunde; the historian Gregory (573-94). After St. Gregory the history of the diocese for two centuries and a half is obscure and confused, but the study of various episcopal catalogues has made it possible for Mgr Duchesne to some-what clear up this period. Landramnus, bishop under Louis the Pious, was by this prince appointed missus dominicus, or royal commissary, in 825.

Among subsequent bishops were: Raoul II (1086-1117), who despite the prohibition of Hugues, legate of the Holy See, had dealings with the excommunicated Philip I, and under whose episcopate Paschal II came to Tours (1107); Hildebert de Lavardin (1125-34); Etienne de Bourgueil (1323-35), who founded the College of Tours at Paris; the jurisconsult Pierre Frétaud (1335-57); Jacques Gélu (1415-27), later Bishop of Embrun (see DIOCESE OF GAP); Philippe de Coetquis (1427-41), who, commissioned by Charles VII in 1429 to interrogate Joan of Arc, recognized her perfect sincerity, and who was made a cardinal by antipope Felix V. Hélie de Bourdeilles (1468-84), cardinal in 1483; Robert de Lenoncourt (1484-1501), afterwards Archbishop of Reims; Dominic Carette, Cardinal de Final (1509-14); Alessandro Farnese (1553-54), cardinal in 1534; De Maillé de Brézé (1554-97), who assisted the Cardinal de Lorraine at the Council of Trent and translated the homilies of St. Basil; Victor le Bouthiller (1641-70), who played an important part in the religious renaissance of the seventeenth century; Boisgelin de Cicé (1802-4), who under the old regime had been Archbishop of Aix and in 1802 was created cardinal; De Barral (1804-15); Francois Morlot (1843-57), cardinal in 1853, Archbishop of Paris at the time of his death; Joseph-Hippolyte Guibert (1857-71), cardinal in 1873, later be came Archbishop of Paris; Guillaume-René Meignan (1884-96), cardinal in 1893, known by his exegetical works.

Tours was the capital of the Third Lionize province. The ecclesiastical province of Tours must have been established under the episcopate of St. Martin. Fifty years later it was in regular operation, as is proved by, among other documents, the synodal epistles of the Councils of Angers and Vannes in 453 and 461. (Concerning the prolonged efforts of the Breton Churches to emancipate themselves from the metropolis of Tours and the assistance given to this metropolis by royalty see ARCHDIOCESE OF RENNES.) About 480 the Visigoths were masters of Tours and it was in the Island of Amboise in 504 that the interview took place as a result of which the Frank Clovis and the Visigoth Alaric shared Gaul between them. But the Arising of the Visigoths eventually roused the Catholics of Tours and when in 507 Clovis and his army entered the Visigothic kingdom Tours opened its gate to him, and he received in that city the consular insignia sent by Emperor Anastasius. The Saracens threatened Tours when Charles Martel defeated them in 732. From 853 to 903 the Northmen made frequent inroads, terminated by the victory of St. Martin le Beau. Henry II of England became Count of Touraine in the middle of the twelfth century and the English dominion was maintained at Tours until John Lackland renounced it in 1214.

In the Middle Ages Tours was composed of two cities, the Roman Caesarodunum and the Merovingian Martinopolis. The name of Tours was strictly reserved to the ancient Caesarodunum, and the territory of Tours depended on the archbishops. Martinopolis, which rose around the monastery of St-Martin, took, in the tenth century, the name of Chateauneuf and for five centuries was an independent community. Under Louis XI the two agglomerations were united in one which retained the name of Tours. The cathedral of Tours, dedicated to St. Gatianus, dates from the thirteenth, fourteenth, and fifteenth centuries. The windows, which belong to the thirteenth, are among the most beautiful in France. The towers belong to the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries. The chapter of Tours is the oldest in France. It is said that it was established by St. Baud, who gave the canons property quite distinct from that of the arch-diocese. Simon de Brion, pope from 1281 to 1285 under the name of Martin IV, was canon and treasurer of the church of St. Martin of Tours.

The prestige of the Church of Tours was very great during the Middle Ages. In a letter to Charles the Bald Adrian II designates it as the second in France. Philip Augustus in a letter to Lucius III says that he considers it one of the most beautiful jewels of his crown and that whosoever attacks this church attacks his own person. Kings John II, Charles VII, Charles VIII, and Henry III would never consent when they gave Touraine in fief that this church should be separated from the crown. It owed this prestige chiefly to the Basilica of St. Martin. This was first built by St. Perpetuus and dedicated in 472. It was there that Clovis was clothed with the purple robe and the chlamys sent him with the title of consul by the Emperor Anastasius. As early as the sixth century St. Martin's was a real religious centre. Queen Clotilde died in 545 in the vicinity of the basilica, and in the same neighbourhood St. Radegunde founded a small monastery, near which St. Gregory of Tours built the Church of the Holy Cross. Ingeltrude, daughter of Clotaire I, founded the monastery of Notre-Dame-de-l'Ecrignole, St. Monegunde that of St-Pierre-le-Puellier. When Charlemagne, before setting out to receive the imperial crown at Rome, assembled at Tours (800) the lords of his empire and divided his estates among his sons, his wife Luitgarde died there, and was buried at St-Martin. He gave the Church vast possessions in France and Normandy. Abbot Ithier, his chancellor, founded with some monks from St-Martin the monastery of Cormery. Alcuin, who succeeded Ithier in 796 and was buried in the basilica in 804, founded there a school of calligraphy to which is due the preservation of many ancient works. At this school, directed after Alcuin by Fredegisus (804-34), Adelard (834-45), and Count Vivian (845-54), were copied and illustrated the celebrated Bible of Charles the Bald and the Gospels of Lothaire preserved at the Bibliothèque Nationale of Paris, the Virgil in the library of Berne, the Arithmetic of Boetius in the library of Bamberg, and the superb Gospels preserved in the library of Tours, written throughout in gold letters on white vellum, and on which the kings of France took the oath as abbots of St-Martin. The beautiful artistic labours of the canons were disturbed by the Norman invasions.

The body of St. Martin was transported by the canons to Auxerre in 853 to safeguard it against the invasions of the Northmen. Count Ingelger had to march with 6000 men against Auxerre in 884, before the body was restored. From 845 the abbots of St-Martin were laymen, namely the dukes of France, ancestors of Hugh Capet. When, in 987, Hugh Capet became King of France he joined the dignity of Abbot of St-Martin with the Crown of France in perpetuity. The Abbey of St-Martin had as honorary canons the Dukes of Burgundy, Anjou, Brittany, Vendôme, and Nevers, the Counts of Flanders, Dunois, the Earl of Douglas in Scotland, the Lords of Preuilly and Parthenay. From Clovis, doubtless until Philip Augustus, it enjoyed the right of coinage. Blessed Hervé, treasurer of the basilica, caused it to be rebuilt about 1000. It was in the abbey rebuilt by Hervé that Philip I, King of France, in 1092 arranged to meet Bertrade de Montfort, wife of Foulques le Réchin, and carried her off to the great scandal of the kingdom. Urban II, who came to Tours in 1096, refused to remove the excommunication inflicted on Philip and Bertrade. Paschal II in 1107, Callistus 11 in 1119, Innocent II in 1130, and Alexander III in 1163 came thither to venerate the tomb of St. Martin. Richard Coeur de Lion in 1190 and John of Brienne in 1223 took there the pilgrim's staff prior to setting out on the crusade. Louis XI had great devotion to St. Martin. The day on which he learned in the basilica itself of the death of Charles the Bold he vowed to surround the tomb of the saint with a silver grating, the cost of which would today equal 2,148,000 francs. In 1522 Francis I seized this grating, despite the chapter and the people of Tours. The devastations of the Reformation and the Revolution destroyed the Basilica of St. Martin. There now remain only two large towers, but at the end of the nineteenth century Cardinal Meignan caused a new basilica to be erected on the site of the old one.

According to the legend, the Abbey of St. Julian arose around a church the building of which was ordered by Clovis after his victory of Vouille over the Visigoths. It is historically certain that there were monks from Auvergne there in the sixth century, on whom Gregory of Tours imposed the Rule of St. Benedict and to whom he gave the relics of St. Julian of Brioude. The Northmen destroyed this first monastery; it was rebuilt about 937 by St. Odo, Abbot of Cluny, and Archbishop Theotolon. The present Church of St. Julian is a beautiful monument of the thirteenth century.

The monastery of Marmoutier dates from St. Martin. Near the grottos where St. Gatianus celebrated Mass he established some cells. The cell of St. Brice is still to be seen. Another grotto, known as the grotto of the Seven Sleepers, was inhabited by seven brothers, cousins of St. Martin, who all died on the same day after a lethargy. In the ninth century the Abbey of Marmoutier was ravaged by the Northmen, and out of 140 religious only 20 escaped massacre and were sheltered by the canons of St-Martin. Marmoutier was subsequently inhabited by a small colony of canons, and in 982 the abbey, which had fallen into some disorders, was restored by St. Mayeul, Abbot of Cluny, at the instance of Eudes I, Count of Blois and of Tours, who died a monk at Marmoutier. Urban II came to Marmoutier in 1096 and dedicated the newly-built basilica. Hubaud, canon of St-Martin and brother of the heresiarch Berenger, gave to Marmoutier superb pieces of religious gold work in order to secure prayers for Berenger, who died at the priory of St-Côme, which was dependent on Marmoutier. The fortune of the abbey was considerable, a popular saying runs:

"De quelque cote que le vent vente,

Marmoutier a cens et rente."

In the eleventh century 101 priories were founded dependent on Marmoutier, ten of them in England. Hugh I, Abbot of Marmoutier from 1210 to 1226, organized the estates of Meslay and Louroux, which were models of agricultural exploitation, and began the reconstruction of the basilica. The latter undertaking was hindered by the violent attacks made by the counts of Blois on the monks of Marmoutier. In 1253 St. Louis took the abbey under his protection. In 1562 it was pillaged by the Protestants and the Revolution destroyed it almost entirely. The crosier gateway (Portail de la Crosse) which remains standing dates from the thirteenth century. The origin of the town of Loches was the monastery founded by St. Ours about the beginning of the sixth century. He installed in the bed of the Indre a hand-mill which became a place of pilgrimage. Geoffroy Grisegonelle, Count of Anjou, founded at Loches a Byzantine collegiate church to which he gave a girdle of the Blessed Virgin. Repaired in the twelfth century by the prior, Thomas Pactius, this church still exists. In the dungeon of Loches, founded about 1000 by Foulques Nerra, were imprisoned Cardinal la Balue and the historian Comines. The monastery founded by St. Mexme, disciple of St. Martin (d. shortly after 463), was the origin of a gathering of people which formed the town of Chinon. Cardinal de Richelieu was born in 1585 at the castle of Richelieu in the diocese. He transformed it into an imposing château, built around it an entire city, which took the name of Richelieu, and joined to his ducal peerage the town of Champigny. The Sainte Chapelle of Champigny was built in 1508 by the princely house of Bourbon-Montpensier to receive a thorn of the crown of Christ and one of the thirty pieces of silver paid to Judas. Urban VIII, who prior to his pontificate had said Mass there, later prevented its demolition; hence the preservation of this fine monument of the Renaissance is due to him. The church of Cande, built between 1175 and 1215 on the site where St. Martin died, is remarkable as a monument not only of religious but also of military architecture. At Tours in 1163 Alexander III excommunicated the antipope Victor and Frederick Barbarossa. It was at the Château of Chinon in 1429 that Joan of Arc first saw Charles VII and gave him confidence in her mission, and in the same year she sent to St-Catherine-de-Fierbois in the diocese to seek in the tomb of an ancient knight the sword of Charles Martel. In the fifteenth century Tours had a brilliant school of painting; unfortunately nothing remains of the paintings executed at Notre-Dame-la-Riche by Jehan Fouquet. The studio of the sculptor Michel Colomb was at Tours; his master production was the tomb of Francis II of Brittany in the cathedral of Nantes. The tomb of the children of Charles VIII in the cathedral of Tours was the collective work of Colomb and his pupils and of some Italian decorators.

There are in Touraine a great many châteaux rich in historic memories, such as Plessis-les-Tours, the residence of Louis XI, Amboise, where was hatched the plot against the Guises under King Francis II; Chenonceaux, built by Francis I, the residence of Diana of Poitiers and later of Catherine de' Medici; Langeais, where Charles VIII wedded Anne of Brittany. Of the château of Chanteloup near Amboise, where the Duc de Choiseul went into exile, there remains only the pagoda. A number of saints are honoured in a special manner or are connected with the religious history of the diocese: Sts. Maura and Brigitta, virgins (end of fourth century); St. Flodovaeus (Flovier), martyr (fifth century); St. Ursus (Ours), founder of the Abbey of Sennevieres, patron of the town of Loches, d. about 508; St. Leubatius (Leubais), Abbot of Sennevières (sixth century); St. Senoch, solitary and abbot, d. in 579; St. Leobardus (Libert), hermit of the grottos of Marmoutier, d. in 593; St. Odo, first Abbot of Cluny, d. at Tours in 942; St. Avertinus, deacon, companion in exile of St. Thomas Becket, d. in Touraine about 1189; Bl. Jeanne-Marie de Maillé, d. in 1414 after having spent her widowhood in the practice of a rigorously ascetic life near the Basilica of St. Martin. Among the natives of the diocese were: the great prose writer Rabelais (1495-1553), b. at Chinon; the philosopher Descartes (l596-1650), b. at La Haye-Descartes; the Abbé de Marolles (1600-81), b. at Genillé, celebrated for his translations, and whose collection of prints formed the basis of that of the Bibliothèque Nationale in Paris; Saint-Martin, called the unknown philosopher (1743-1803), b. at Amboise; the poet Alfred de Vigny (1797-1863), b. at Loches; Balzac (1790-1850), b. at Tours.

The chief places of pilgrimage in the diocese besides the grottos of Marmoutier, are: Notre-Dame-la-Riche, a sanctuary erected on the site of a church dating from the third century, and where the founder St. Gatianus is venerated; Notre-Dame-de-Loches; St. Christopher and St. Giles at St-Christophe, a pilgrimage dating from the ninth century; the pilgrimage to the Holy Face, established by M. Dupont, "the Holy Man of Tours", who founded the Priests of the Holy Face canonically erected on 8 December, 1876, to administer the chapel. Before the application of the law of 1901 there were in the diocese Jesuits, Lazarists, and various orders of teaching brothers. Several orders of women had their origin in the diocese the chief being: The Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin, teaching and nursing, founded in 1684 at Sainville, in the Diocese of Chartres by Mother Marie Poussepin, and in 1813 transported to La Breteche near Tours; the Sisters of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary, teaching, founded in 1805 by the Abbe Guepin, rector of Notre-Dame-la-Riche, with mother-house at Tours; the Sisters of the Third Order of Carmel, since 1824 called the Sisters of St-Martin, teaching, with its mother-house at Bourgeuil. The religious congregations were directing in the diocese at the end of the nineteenth century 5 foundling asylums, 36 infant schools, 3 special houses for sick children, 5 orphanages for boys, 7 for girls, 1 house of retreat, 1 house of refuge, 18 hospitals or hospices, 2 dispensaries, 3 houses of religious for the care of the sick in their homes, 1 home for convalescents, 5 private hospitals and retreats. In the year 1911 the Archdiocese of Tours numbered 337,916 inhabitants, 23 deaneries, 37 first class parishes, and 254 succursal parishes.

Gallia christiaina, nova, XIV (1856), 1-151, instr. 1-98; DUCHESNE, Les listes episcopales de la province de Tours (Paris, 1890); CHEVALIER, Les origines de l'eglise de Tours d'apres l'histoire (Tours, 1871); PITROU, L'episcopat tourangeau, notes biographiques (Tours, 1882) LAMBRON DE LIGNIN, Armorial des archeveques de Tours (Tours, 1858) DE LASTEYRIE, L'eglise S. Martin de Tours, etude critique sur l'histoire et Ia forme de ce monument du Ve au XIe siecle (Paris 1891) DELISLE, Memoirs sur l'ecole calligraphique de Tours au IX siecle (Paris, 1885); MARTENE, Histoire de l'abbaye de Marmoutver, ed. CHEVALIER (2 vols., Tours, 1874-75); CHANTELOU, Marmoutier cartulaire tourangeau et sceaux des abbes, ed. NOBILLAEU (Tours, 1879); CHEVALIER, Promenades pittoresques en Touraine (Tours, 1869); VITRY, Tours St less châteaux de Touraine (Paris 1905) VAUCELLES, Catalogus de lettres de Nicotas V, conc. la prov. eccl. de Tours (Paris, 1908).

References

  1. Back to citation occurrence 1.0 Back to citation occurrence 1.1 Georges Goyau. "Archdiocese of Tours." The Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 15. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1912. Retrieved: 7 May 2017.
  2. Back to citation Gallia christiana XIV, Instrumenta pp. 5–6.
  3. Back to citation P. Jaffe and S. Loewenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I (Leipzig 1885), p. 237, no. 2105: "Duo sunt tradita exemplaria, alterum ab altero discrepans, sed aequo modo suspecta."
  4. Back to citation Julius von Pflugk-Harttung (1879). Diplomatisch-historische Forschungen (in German). Berlin: Perthes. pp. 120–121.
  5. Back to citation Gallia christiana XIV, Instrumenta, pp. 39–46.
  6. Back to citation Louis George de Bréquigny (1846). Table chronologique des diplômes, chartes, titres et actes imprimés concernant l'Histoire de France (in French and Latin). Vol. Tome cinquième. Paris: L'imprimerie royale. p. 38. August Potthast, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I (Berlin 1874), p. 444 no. 5054. The printed texts have Iuellum, an incorrect expansion of J; he was Archbishop Jean.
  7. Back to citation Gallia christiana XIV, p. 104. This is according to the chronicle of Abbot Guillaume of Andres, in: Monumenta Germaniae Historica Scriptorum Tomus XXIV, p. 768.
  8. Back to citation Louis Marie Prudhomme (1793). La république française en LXXXIV départemens: dictionnaire géographique et méthodique, destiné aux administrateurs, négocians, gens d'affaires, et à ceux qui étudient la géographie de la France... (in French). Paris: L'Éditeur.
  9. Back to citation Tableau des évêques constitutionnels de France, de 1791 a 1801 (in French). Paris: chez Méquignon-Havard. 1827. p. 28.
  10. Back to citation Text of Civil Constitution of the Clergy (in English) Retrieved: 2016-09-02.
  11. Back to citation Ludovic Sciout (1872). Histoire de la constitution civile du clergé, 1790-1801 (in French). Vol. Tome I. Paris: Firmin Didot et Cie. pp. 234–238.
  12. Back to citation Conzié made his refusal in a letter of 11 February 1791, in reply to a letter from the members of the Directory of Tours of 25 January 1791. Arnault, pp. 190–192.
  13. Back to citation Arnault, pp. 205–209.
  14. Back to citation Paul Pisani (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791–1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils. pp. 107–110, 456.
  15. Back to citation Pisani, pp. 42–44.
  16. Back to citation Concordat, et recueil des bulles et brefs de N.S.P. le pape Pie VII, sur les affaires actuelles de l'église de France (in Latin and French). chez J.R. Vigneulle. 1802. pp. 24–43. (Latin, with French translation)
  17. Back to citation Diocèse de Tours, Hauts lieux spirituels, retrieved: 2017-05-07.
  18. Back to citation Gregory of Tours reports that he served for fifty years. Libri Historiarum Decem, X.31
  19. Back to citation Verus was not present at the Council of Agde in 506, but was represented by a deacon named Leo. Duchesne, p. 305 no. 10. C. Munier, Concilia Galliae, A. 314 – A. 506 (Turnholt: Brepols 1963), p. 214: Leo diaconus missus a domino meo Vero episcopo Toronice.
  20. Back to citation Licinius was present at the Council of Orléans in 511. Duchesne, p. 305 no. 11. C. De Clercq, Concilia Galliae, A. 511 – A. 695 (Turnhout: Brepols 1963), pp. 13–15.
  21. Back to citation Gregory of Tours, Libri Historiarum Decem Book X.31, says that they came from Burgundy at the bidding of Queen Clotilde, having been driven out of their dioceses, and that they ruled conjointly at Tours for two years. However, at III.17, Gregory says that Theodorus and Proculus succeeded Bishop Leo (526)
  22. Back to citation Duchesne, pp. 305–306 no. 14.
  23. Back to citation Duchesne, p. 306 no. 15.
  24. Back to citation Leo was bishop for six or seven months. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 18. Duchesne, p. 306 no. 16.
  25. Back to citation Francilio was a Senator of Tours, and had a wife named Clara. He was bishop for two months and six days (or two years and six months), and was poisoned on Christmas night. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 19. Duchesne, p. 306 no. 17.
  26. Back to citation Injuriosus attended the Council of Orange in 533, and the Council of Orange in 541. Duchesne, p. 306 no. 18. De Clercq, pp. 102, 142.
  27. Back to citation Baudinus had been (in the words of Gregory of Tours) domesticus and referendarius of King Chlothar I. Duchesne, p. 306 no. 19.
  28. Back to citation Martin Heinzelmann (2001). Gregory of Tours: History and Society in the Sixth Century. Cambridge University Press. pp. 7–34. ISBN 978-0-521-63174-7.
  29. Back to citation A letter of Pope Gregory I, dated July 596, requests Pelagius and Bishop Serenus of Marseille to assist Augustine in his mission to Britain. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 26. P. Jaffé-S. Loewenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum I (Leipzig 1885), p. 174 no. 1435. Duchesne, p. 308 no. 23.
  30. Back to citation Leupacharius: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 26. Duchesne, p. 308 no. 24.
  31. Back to citation Agiricus: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 26. Duchesne, p. 308 no. 25.
  32. Back to citation Givaldus, Guvalachus: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 27. Duchesne, p. 308 no. 26.
  33. Back to citation Valatus is the same as Guvalacus or Gwalachus. There is no name between Gwalachus and Sigilaicus in the episcopal lists of Tours.
  34. Back to citation Sigilaicus was bishop for two years and nine months. Duchesne, p. 292.
  35. Back to citation Leobaldus was bishop for six years. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 27.
  36. Back to citation Medigisilus participated in the Council of Clichy on 27 September 627, and signed charters in 632 and 638. He was bishop for eleven years. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 27–28. Duchesne, p. 292, 308 no. 29. De Clercq, p. 296.
  37. Back to citation Latinus was present at the Council of Chalons on 25 October 650. Abbot Betto signed on his behalf. Duchesne, p. 308 no. 30. De Clercq, p. 309.
  38. Back to citation Rigobertus signed a diploma of Clovis II on 22 June 654. He sat for two years. Duchesne, p. 308, no. 32.
  39. Back to citation Amalric attended the Second Council of Soissons in April 853. He was also present at the Concilium apud Bonoilum (Bonneuil) on 24 August 855. J.-D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice 1769), p. 989; Tomus XV (Venice 1770), p. 24. Duchesne, p. 311 no. 50.
  40. Back to citation Actardus had been transferred from the diocese of Nantes (attested 853-871). Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 42–43. Gams, p. 581 column 2. Duchesne, 312 no. 52.
  41. Back to citation Adalardus: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 43–45.
  42. Back to citation Engebaldus (Engebault) was a son of Geoffrey II of Vendôme. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 87–89. Gams, p. 640 column 2, gives the dates 1147–1156.
  43. Back to citation Joscius is also called Jodocus, Joscionus, Joscelinus, and Jotho (Gotho). Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 89–92.
  44. Back to citation Geoffrey de la Lande had been Archdeacon of Paris. On 18 May 1207 Pope Innocent III ordered Archbishop Geoffroy to compel King Philip II of France to return the goods of the deceased Bishop Hugo of Auxerre, which he had seized as 'regalia'. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 99–100. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  45. Back to citation Jean de la Faye: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 100–104. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  46. Back to citation François Du Chesne (1660). Histoire de tous les cardinaux François de naissance (in French). Vol. Tome I. Paris: Aux despens de l'Autheur. pp. 208–210. François Du Chesne (1660). Preuves de l'Histoire de tous les cardinaux François de naissance (in French). Paris: Aux despens de l'Autheur. p. 177. There is no other evidence for Cassard beyond the purported Will said to have been registered in a volume of the Chambre des Comptes of the Dauphiné. Du Chesne says (p. 209) he was created Cardinal of S. Martino in Monte by Gregory IX in 1227, but cf. Eubel, I, pp. 8 and 46.
  47. Back to citation Juhel de Mathefelon was transferred to the diocese of Reims on 20 March 1244. He died on 18 December 1250. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 104–108. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, pp. 419, 503.
  48. Back to citation Geoffrey Marcel: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 109–110. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  49. Back to citation Bishop-elect Pierre de Lamballe received his temporalities from Queen Blanche of France in January 1252: Louis George Oudard Feudrix de Bréquigny (1850). Table chronologique des diplômes, chartes, titres et actes imprimés concernant l'Histoire de France (in Latin and French). Paris: Imprimerie royale. pp. 213, 215. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 110–111. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  50. Back to citation Vincent de Pirmil: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 111–112. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  51. Back to citation Jean de Montsoreau: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 112–113. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  52. Back to citation Olivier de Craon: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 113–114. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  53. Back to citation Dain was elected on 20 December 1285, and set off to give his oath to the King; he sent two procurators to seek papal approval for his election. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 114–115. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  54. Back to citation Philippe was elected by compromise on 3 January 1291 and died without having been consecrated on 15 February. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 100–104. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  55. Back to citation Reginaldus had been Dean and Chancellor of the Chapter of S. Mauricius of Tours. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 115–116. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  56. Back to citation Gaufridus had been a Canon in the Cathedral of Tours. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 116–117. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  57. Back to citation Étienne: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 117–118. Gams, p. 640. Eubel, I, p. 503.
  58. Back to citation Appointed by Pope Clement VII, Seguin was named Latin Patriarch of Antioch on 20 June 1380. Gallia christiana II, p. 120. Eubel, I, pp. 94, 503.
  59. Back to citation Gallia christiana II, pp. 120–121.
  60. Back to citation Gui had been Bishop of Verdun (1375–1381), and Bishop of Dol (1381–1382). He was transferred to the diocese of Castres by Clement VII on 8 October 1383, and then to Sens on 4 August 1385, and then to Reims on 27 May 1390. He died on 8 June 1409. Gallia christiana II, p. 121. Eubel, I, pp. 173, 225, 258, 419, 448, 531.
  61. Back to citation Eubel, I, 503.
  62. Back to citation Ameil de Breuil was provided by Benedict XIII. Gallia christiana II, pp. 122–125. Eubel, I, 503.
  63. Back to citation Jacques Gélu was confirmed by John XXIII. He was transferred to the diocese of Embrun on 30 July 1427 by Pope Martin V. Eubel, I, 503.
  64. Back to citation Philippe was created a cardinal by Antipope Felix V on 12 November 1440. Gallia christiana II, pp. 126–127. Eubel, I, 503; II, p. 10 no. 16; 258 note 1.
  65. Back to citation The canons of Tours were unable to agree upon a choice for Archbishop, and therefore they referred to matter to Pope Eugenius IV, who chose ('provided') Jean Bernard, a native of Tours and a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He made his formal entry on 27 May 1442. Gallia christiana II, pp. 127–129. Eubel, II, p. 258.
  66. Back to citation Gerard was transferred to the diocese of Valence and Die on 13 May 1468. Gallia christiana II, p. 130. Eubel, II, p. 258.
  67. Back to citation Hélie de Bourdeilles had been Bishop of Perigueux (1437–1466). Gallia christiana II, pp. 130–131. Eubel, II, pp. 215, 258.
  68. Back to citation Lenoncourt was transferred to the diocese of Reims on 28 March 1509. Gallia christiana II, p. 131. Eubel, II, p. 258; III, p. 284.
  69. Back to citation The Genoese Carlo del Carretto, the Marquis of Finarii, was Bishop of Cosenza (1489–1491). His brother Federico was Grand Master of the Order of S. John of Jerusalem. From 1503 Carretto was papal Nuncio to the King of France, having been appointed titular Archbishop of Thebes for the purpose. Carretto was named a cardinal by Pope Julius II on 1 December 1505, and in 1507 Cardinal Carretto became Archbishop of Reims (1507–1509). He participated in the Conclave of March 1513 which elected Giovanni de'Medici as Pope Leo X. In 1514, either on 29 April or 3 July, he was named Bishop of Cahors. He died in Rome on 15 August 1514. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 131–132. Eubel, III, pp. 11 no. 9; 160; 284; 321. Tiziana Bernardi, "Del Carretto, Carlo Domenico", Dizionario Biografico degli Italiani Volume 36 (1988), retrieved: 2017-05-08.
  70. Back to citation Brillac: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 132. Eubel, III, p. 321.
  71. Back to citation Fournier: Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 132–133. Eubel, III, p. 321.
  72. Back to citation De la Barre: Gallia christiana XIV, p. 133. Eubel, III, p. 321.
  73. Back to citation Georges d'Armagnac had previously been Bishop of Rodez (from 1530) and Administrator of the diocese of Vabres (from 1536). He was the French Ambassador to the Pope. He was named a cardinal on 19 December 1544. He never visited Tours. He died on 10 July 1585. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 133–134. Eubel, III, pp. 28 no. 51; 288 with note 4; 321.
  74. Back to citation Poncher had previously been Bishop of Bayonne (1532–1551); he was appointed when still below the minimum canonical age. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 134. Eubel, III, pp. 128, 321.
  75. Back to citation Farnese: Eubel, III, p. 321.
  76. Back to citation Simon de Maillé had previously been Bishop of Viviers (1550–1554). Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 134–136. Eubel, III, pp. 321, 336.
  77. Back to citation Guesle was a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law). He received the grant of the pallium on 11 March 1598. Gallia christiana XIV, p. 136. Eubel, III, p. 321. Gauchat, IV, p. 350 with note 2.
  78. Back to citation A native of Florence, Galagai was the brother of Leonora Galagai, the wife of Concino Concini. He received the grant of the pallium on 30 January 1617, but he was never consecrated a bishop. After Concini's murder on 24 April 1617, he fled. Gauchat, IV, p. 350 with note 3.
  79. Back to citation Eschaud had previously been Bishop of Boulogne (1598–1617). Gallia christiana XIV, p. 137. Jean, p. 422. Gauchat, IV, p. 350 with note 4.
  80. Back to citation Bouthillier was Bishop of Boulogne (1627–1632). He had been Coadjutor of Archbishop d'Eschaud since 1 September 1631. Gallia christiana XIV, pp. 137–138. Jean, p. 422. Gauchat, IV, pp. 117 with note 3; 350 with note 5.
  81. Back to citation Rosmadec had been Bishop of Vannes (1647–1671). Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 395 with note 3; 362 with note 4.
  82. Back to citation Gournay: Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 395 with note 4.
  83. Back to citation Though nominated by Louis XIV, Saint George never received his bulls of consecration or installation, due to the rupture in relations between Louis XIV and Innocent XI. Jean, p. 422.
  84. Back to citation A native of Montpellier, D'Hervault was a doctor of theology (Paris), and a Doctor in utroque iure (Civil and Canon Law) (Paris). He had Jansenist leanings. He had been Bishop of Condom (1693). He died in Paris on 9 July 1716. Jean, pp. 423–433. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 168 with note 5; 395 with note 5.
  85. Back to citation La Croix de Castries was nominated by the King to the throne of Tours in 1717, but his bulls were not immediately issued, due to his Jansenist connections, and he could not take possession. He was granted the pallium on 2 October 1719. He was released from the diocese of Tours and transferred to the diocese of Albi on 23 September 1722. He died on 15 April 1747. L.-V.-M.-J. Jacquet-Delahaye-Avrouin (1822). Du rétablissement des églises en France, à l'occasion de la réédification projetée de celles de Saint-Martin de Tours (in French). Paris: A. Égron. p. 68. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, pp. 75 with note 5; 395 with note 6.
  86. Back to citation Blouet had previously been Bishop of Toul (1705–1723). Jean, p. 423. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 395 with note 7.
  87. Back to citation Chapt de Rastignac had previously been Bishop of Tulle (1721–1724). He was nominated Bishop of Tours by King Louis XV on 26 October 1723, and approved by the newly elected Pope Benedict XIII on 27 September 1724. He died on 2 August 1750. Jean, p. 424. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 395 with note 8; 396.
  88. Back to citation Rosset de Fleury was a doctor of theology (Paris), and had been Vicar General of Paris, and then Vicar General of Chartres. He was nominated to Tours by King Louis XV on 27 December 1750, and approved (preconised) by Pope Benedict XIV on 17 May 1751. He was nominated to the diocese of Cambrai by King Louis XVI on 24 September 1774, and therefore resigned the diocese of Tours on 2 March 1775; his transfer to the diocese of Cambrai was approved by Pope Pius VI on 3 April 1775. Jean, p. 424. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 143 with note 3; 422 with note 2.
  89. Back to citation Conzié had been Bishop of Saint-Omer (1769–1775). He was nominated to the diocese of Tours by King Louis XVI on 18 December 1774, and approved by Pope Pius VI on 29 May 1775. He emigrated during the Revolution and died in Amsterdam on 8 May 1795. Jean, pp. 424–425. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 109 with note 4. 422 with note 3.
  90. Back to citation Boisgelin was a native of Rennes, a doctor of the Sorbonne, Archdeacon of Pontoise, Bishop of Lavaur (1764–1771), and Archbishop of Aix (1771). He was elected a member of the Académie Française on 15 January 1776. He opposed the Civil Constitution of the Clergy, and emigrated to England in 1792; he resigned in 1801, in accordance with the wishes of Pope Pius VII. He was then appointed Archbishop of tours on 16 April 1802, and named a cardinal on 17 January 1803. Napoleon decorated him with the cross of a Grand Officer of the Legion of Honor. He died at Angervilliers, near Paris, on 24 August 1804. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 630–631. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 92, 433. Frédéric de Berthier de Grandry (2010). Boisgelin: l'homme du Concordat, sa vie, son oeuvre & sa famille (in French). Paris: FBG. ISBN 978-2-9513699-6-2.
  91. Back to citation A native of Grenoble and a student of Saint-Sulpice, Barral was Conclavist of Cardinal de Luynes in 1774. He had previously been Bishop of Meaux (1802–1805). He was a staunch supporter of Napoleon, who used him in his negotiations with Pope Pius VII. He was Almoner of Empress Josephine. Barral resigned the diocese of Tours on 26 September 1815, having compromised himself by officiating at the Champ de Mai during the Hundred Days, and died on 6 June 1816. G. Ogier de Baulny, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 346–347. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 631–632.
  92. Back to citation Chilleau had been Bishop of Chalons-sur-Saône (1781), but had emigrated in 1792 and resided in Switzerland, Bavaria and Austria. He refused to accept the Concordat of 1801 with Napoleon, and remained in exile until the return of the Bourbons. He resigned the diocese of Chalons in 1816. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 632. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 136 with note 4.
  93. Back to citation Montblanc had already been Coadjutor of Tours and titular Bishop of Carthage since 12 August 1821. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 632–633.
  94. Back to citation A native of Langres, and Vicar General of Dijon, Morlot had been Bishop of Orléans (1839–1843). He was named a cardinal on 7 March 1853. He was named Archbishop of Paris on 19 March 1857 by Pope Pius IX. Anselme Tilloy (1863). La vie et la mort de son Éminence le Cardinal Morlot (in French). Paris: Bourgeois de Soye. T. Cochard, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 431. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 633. P. Pisani, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 461–463.
  95. Back to citation Guibert was transferred from the diocese of Viviers, the appointment being approved by Pope Pius IX on 19 March 1857; he was installed on 28 April. He was transferred to the diocese of Paris on 27 October 1871 and installed at Notre-Dame on 27 November. Pius IX named him a cardinal on 22 December 1873. He died on 8 July 1886. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 465–467, 634. Auguste Du Saussois (1887). Le cardinal Guibert (Joseph-Hippolyte) archevêque de Paris, précédemment: évêque de Viviers et archevêque de Tours, 1802-1886 (in French). Paris: chez l'auteur.
  96. Back to citation Fruchaud was transferred from the diocese of Limoges, the appointment being approved by Pope Pius IX on 27 October 1871; he was installed at Tours on 6 December. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 634.
  97. Back to citation Colet was transferred from the diocese of Luçon by governmental decree of 25 November 1874, which was approved by Pope Leo XIII on 21 December. He was installed at Tours on 3 February 1875. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 635.
  98. Back to citation Meignan had previously taught biblical exegesis at the Sorbonne, and had been Bishop of Arras (10 September 1882), where he was a friend of Alfred Loisy. He was nominated Archbishop of Tours by the French Government on 10 January 1884, and approved (preconised) on 25 March, and installed on 27 May. He was named a cardinal by Pope Leo XIII on 17 January 1893. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., pp. 636–637. Yves-Marie Hilaire (1977). Une Chrétienté au XIXe siècle?: La vie religieuse des populations du diocèse d'Arras (1840–1914) (in French). Vol. Tome I. Villeneuve-d'Ascq: Presses Univ. Septentrion. pp. 671–684. ISBN 978-2-85939-073-0.
  99. Back to citation Renou had previously been Bishop of Amiens. He was approved by Leo XIII on 25 June 1896. and installed on 21 September. L. Bosseboeuf, in: L' épiscopat français..., p. 638.
  100. Back to citation After his retirement on 23 July 1997, and after he had passed the age of eighty, Honoré was named a cardinal on 21 February 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He was assigned the titular church of Santa Maria della Salute a Primavalle. He died in Tours on 28 February 2013.
  101. Back to citation Vingt-Trois was transferred to the diocese of Paris on 11 February 2005 by Pope John Paul II. He was named a cardinal by Pope Benedict XVI in the consistory of 24 November 2007, and assigned the titular church of San Luigi dei Francesi.
  102. Back to citation "Rinunce e Nomine, 26.10.2019" (Press release) (in Italian). Holy See Press Office. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2019.
  103. Back to citation "Resignations and appointments, 04.11.2019" (Press release). Holy See Press Office. 26 October 2019. Retrieved 4 November 2019.
  104. Back to citation Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Tours, official website

Bibliography

Reference works

Studies

47°24′N 0°41′E / 47.40°N 0.69°E

Retrieved from "https://catholicism.wiki/index.php?title=Archdiocese_of_Tours&oldid=181044"