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Diocese of Blois

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Diocese of Blois
Dioecesis Blesensis
Diocèse de Blois
Blois Cathedral
Blois Cathedral
Location
Country France
Ecclesiastical province Tours
Metropolitan Archdiocese of Tours
Statistics
Area 6,422 km2 (2,480 sq mi)
Population
Total
Catholics 		(as of 2022)
343,000 (est.)
187,000 (est._
Parishes 293
Information
Denomination Catholic
Sui iuris church Latin Church
Rite Roman Rite
Established 1 July 1697
Cathedral Cathedral of St. Louis in Blois
Patron saint St. Louis IX of France
Secular priests 50 (Diocesan)
16 (Religious Orders)
16 Permanent Deacons
Current leadership
Pope Leo XIV
Bishop Francis Bestion
Metropolitan Archbishop Vincent Jordy
Bishops emeritus Maurice de Germiny
Map
Website
Website of the Diocese

The Diocese of Blois (Latin: Dioecesis Blesensis; French: Diocèse de Blois) is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in France. The diocese lies in western France, and encompasses the department of Loir-et-Cher. Since 2002 it has been a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Tours. The episcopal seat is currently vacant since the appointment of Jean-Pierre Batut to Toulouse as auxiliary bishop on 26 June 2023.

In 2022, in the Diocese of Blois, there was one priest for every 2,833 Catholics.

History

On 1 July 1697 Pope Innocent XII, at the request of King Louis XIV of France, canonically erected the diocese of Blois from territory of the Diocese of Chartres.[1] The Archdeacon of Blois had up to that time been a dignity in the diocese of Chartres.[2] The diocese was created in order to combat the considerable Huguenot influence in the southern part of the Diocese of Chartres.[3] Since the new diocese had need of a cathedral, the parish Church of Saint Solenne was chosen; the church had been severely damaged in a fire in 1678, and it was in the last stages of reconstruction in 1697. It was renamed the Cathedral of Saint Louis.

With a new cathedral, a new Cathedral Chapter was required. The canons of the Collegiate Church of Saint Salvator, whose church had been sacked and destroyed by the Huguenots in the previous century and only gradually rebuilt, were transferred to the new Cathedral of Saint Louis. The dignities were the Dean, the Precentor, the Subdean, the Provost, the Treasurer and the Prior of S. Solenne. Twelve additional Canons were instituted, to be named alternately by the King and the Bishop. In addition thirty-two chaplains were created, one of whom would administer the Church of Saint Salvator. The benefices which had been in the gift of the Collegiate Chapter of S. Salvator continued to be under the control of the Canons, who also named the Canons who were to preside at S. Salvator on certain days.[4] To support the Canons of the Cathedral of Saint Louis, the income of two monasteries and five priories was redirected by papal bull.[5] Even so, since the number of twelve Canons was thought to be too small for a cathedral, the Chapter of the Hospital of S. James (founded in 1346) was also transferred to the Chapter of Saint Louis by the first bishop, David-Nicolas de Berthier, with the consent of all parties.[6] In 1753 there were eighteen Canons.[7] All cathedral chapters were dissolved by order of the Constituent Assembly and the Legislative Assembly by virtue of the Civil Constitution of the Clergy in 1791. On 2 July 1699 Bishop de Berthier created two Archdeacons, who were added to the dignities of the Cathedral Chapter.[8]

At the beginning of the Revolution, the Constituent Assembly decided that the number of dioceses in France was excessive, and that approximately fifty of them could be eliminated. Those which survived would have their boundaries changed to coincide with new political subdivisions of France, called 'départements'. This was contrary to Canon Law. Blois belonged to the Department of Loire-et-Cher in the Constitutional Church erected by the National Constituent Assembly and its successor the Legislative Assembly.[9] On 18 February the electors of the department elected Henri Gregoire as Bishop of Loire-et-Cher, who liked to call himself Bishop of Blois, even though the legitimate Bishop of Blois, Alexandre-François de Mazières de Thémines was alive and in exile. Religion was abolished during the Reign of Terror, and the Constitutional Church along with it. When religion was restored in 1795, Gregoire made considerable efforts to revive what was left of the Constitutional Church; he held a diocesan synod in September 1800.[10]

The Concordat of 1801 gave Loir-et-Cher to the Diocese of Orléans, and the Diocese of Blois was canonically suppressed by Pope Pius VII. When Pius called for the resignations of all the bishops of France,[11] Constitutional and non-juring both, Bishop de Thémines refused, and entered into schism himself.[12] On 27 July 1817 the Diocese of Blois was canonically re-established by Pius VII,[13] though difficulties between the Vatican and French National Assembly retarded the full implementation of the new Concordat. Before the French Revolution, the Diocese of Blois was less extensive than at present, almost the entire arrondissement of Romorantin having been subject to the Bishopric of Orléans, and the Bas-Vendômois to the Bishop of Le Mans previous to 1817.

Bishop Alexandre de Lauzières-Thémines, who was bishop of Blois from 1776 until he went into exile in 1790, dying in Bruxelles in 1829, was one of the most obstinate enemies of the Concordat.[14] Pope Pius VII appointed a new bishop of Blois in 1823.

Bishops

See also

Canonical status and jurisdiction

Roman Catholic Diocese of Blois is a diocese of the catholic church of the Catholic Church.[29]

From the 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia

Diocese of Blois, (Blesensis), coextensive with the civil department of Loir-et-Cher and a suffragan of Paris. On 1 July, 1697, Innocent XII canonically erected the Bishopric of Blois, that territory having theretofore been dependent on the Diocese of Chartres. Prior to the Revolution, the Diocese of Blois was less extensive than at present, almost the entire arrondissement of Romorantin being subject to the Bishopric of Orléans, and the Bas-Vendômois to that of Mans. The Concordat of 1802 gave Loir-et-Cher to the Diocese of Orléans, and in 1822 the Diocese of Blois was re-established. Monseigneur de Thémines, who was Bishop of Blois in 1776 and died in exile in 1829, was one of the most obstinate enemies of the Concordat. St. Solennius, Bishop of Chartres under Clovis, is a patron of Blois; his relics were preserved by a miracle.

Owing to the proximity of the monasteries of Micy and Marmoutier, Blois counts among its saints a number of monks; Lubinus, Bishop of Chartres in the sixth century; Laumerus, Abbot of Corbion in the Diocese of Chartres (d. About 590), whose body was transported to Blois, at the time of the Norman invasions, by fugitive monks, who founded in that city the Abbey of St. Laumer; St. Deodatus, the anchorite, also called St. Dié (sixth century), who assured Clovis of the victory at Vouillé (507); the solitaries Victor and Leonardus; and Aigulphus (seventh century), a native of Blois and Abbot of Lérins, who was assassinated. Peter of Blois, who came from the Abbey of St. Laumer, was conspicuous in the twelfth century for his defence of St. Thomas Becket and for encouraging devotion to the Blessed virgin. The Venerable Charles of Blois, killed in 1364 at the Battle of Auray, was the son of Guy, count of Blois. The Benedictines had several great abbeys in this diocese, one at Selles-sur-Cher, begun as early as the sixth century by the hermit, St. Eusinus, and another at Pontlevoy, now a college. The monastery of the Blessed Trinity at Vendôme, dedicated in 1040, was also quite celebrated. The Oratorians Jean Morin and Jerôme Viguier, learned ecclesiastics of the seventeenth century, were natives of Blois.

At the close of year 1905, the Diocese of Blois had a population of 275,538; 28 pastorates, 266 mission churches, and 8 curacies with subventions from the State. According to the latest statistics, the following institutions are to be found in the diocese: 48 infant schools conducted by sisters; 2 orphanages where farming is taught, conducted by the Frères de St. Francois Régis and the Soeurs du Protectorat de St. Joseph; 7 girls' orphanages conducted by sisters; 1 house of refuge for young women, conducted by the Religieuses de Notre Dame de la Charité; 5 patronages at Blois; 1 patronage at Romorantin; 8 hospitals and hospices conducted by sisters; 5 houses of retreat conducted by sisters; 5 communities of sisters who care for the sick in their homes; and 9 homes for the aged conducted by sisters.

In 1900 the following congregations were represented in the diocese; the Capuchins at Blois and Premonstratensians at Authon. Among the local congregations are the Sisters of Our Lady of Providence, with mother-house at Blois, who have charge of orphan asylums. The most frequented place of pilgrimage is Notre Dame de Villethion at Saint Amand. Others are Notre Dame de Nanteuil at Montrichard, Notre Dame des Aydes at Blois, and Notre Dame des Blanches at Pontlevoy, a sanctuary built at the end of the tenth century by Gilduin, opponent of Foulques Nerra.

Gallia christiana (1744), VIII, 1343-1407; Instrumenta, 412 - 478; DUPRE, Notice sur les saints de Blois (Blois,1860); CHEVALIER, Topobibl., 421, 422.

References

  1. Back to citation Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 122 note 1. Bullarum, diplomatum et privilegiorum sanctorum romanorum pontificum Taurinensis editio Tomus XX (Turin: A. Vecco 1870), pp. 791-799. Jules Gallerand, "L'érection de l'évêché de Blois (1697)", Revue d'histoire de l'Église de France 42 (1956), 175-228.
  2. Back to citation "Benefices dependans du diocese de Chartres". Pouillé général contenant les bénéfices de l'archevêché de Paris (in French). Paris: Gervais Alliot. 1648. pp. 2, 86–87.
  3. Back to citation Joseph Bergin (2004). Crown, Church, and Episcopate Under Louis XIV. New Haven CT USA: Yale University Press. p. 44. ISBN 978-0-300-10356-4.
  4. Back to citation Gallia christiana VIII, pp. 1346-1347.
  5. Back to citation Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 122 note 1.
  6. Back to citation Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1347; and Instrumenta, pp. 457-473.
  7. Back to citation Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 125 note 1.
  8. Back to citation Gallia christiana VIII, Instrumenta, pp. 457-473.
  9. Back to citation Tableau des évêques constitutionnels de France, de 1791 a 1801 (in French). Paris: chez Méquignon-Havard. 1827. pp. 29–31.
  10. Back to citation Henri Gregoire (1800). Actes de synode diocesain tenu dans l'eglise cathedrale de Blois le 2. 3. et 4. Sept. de l'an 1800 précédés d'une lettre pastorale pour la publication des Actes du Synode (in French). Blois.
  11. Back to citation Pius VI; Pius VII (1821). Collectio (per epitomen facta,) Bullarum, Brevium, Allocutionum, Epistolarumque,... Pii VI., contra constitutionem civilem Cleri Gallicani, ejusque authores et fautores; item, Concordatorum inter... Pium VII. et Gubernium Rei publicae, in Galliis, atque alia varia regimina, post modum in hac regione, sibi succedentia; tum expostulationum... apud... Pium Papam VII., Contra varia Acta, ad Ecclesiam Gallicanam, spectantia, a triginta et octo Episcopis, Archiepiscop. et Cardinal. antiquae Ecclesiae Gallicanae, subscriptarum, etc. 6 Avril, 1803 (in Latin). London: Cox & Baylis. pp. 79–91.
  12. Back to citation Jean, p. 295.
  13. Back to citation Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 125 note 1.
  14. Back to citation Bishop Alexandre de Lauzières de Thémines was indeed one of the staunchest opponents of the concordat. He did not resign, as ordered by the Pope, and was forced into exile, never managing to return to France (he died in Brussels in 1829). He was indeed one of the pre-revolutionary bishops who refused the "invitation" to resign following the Concordat of 1801, and in fact the only one who refused to recognize its legitimacy even after the Restoration, when even the last surviving anti-concordatarian bishops formally agreed to resign (1816). Because of this, he was forced to remain in exile. Many of the bishops deposed by the revolution had, in fact, endorsed the Expostulations canoniques of Jean-René Asseline (Bishop of Boulogne, formerly a renowned theologian of the Sorbonne) in 1803, which had been published the previous year. These writings essentially denied that the Pope could depose legitimate and blameless bishops at will (and solely for political interests). Alexandre de Lauzières de Thémines (1803). Traduction de la lettre de Mr de Thémines, évêque de Blois, à Notre Saint Père le pape Pie VII, du 1er août 1802 (in French).
  15. Back to citation Berthier was a native of the diocese of Vabres. He held a licenciate in theology (Paris), and was Vicar General of Chartres, and Abbot of Belleperche (1674–1719). He was nominated first bishop of Blois by Louis XIV on 22 March 1693. He was consecrated bishop by the Cardinal de Noailles, Archbishop of Paris, on 15 September 1697. His solemn entry into Blois and his enthronement took place on 26 June 1698. Claude de Vic; Joseph Vaissete; Ernest Roschach (1872). Histoire générale de Languedoc (in French). Vol. Tome IV. Toulouse: E. Privat. p. 629. Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1344. Jean, p. 293. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 22 note 2.
  16. Back to citation Caumartin had previously been Dean of Tours, and when the See fell vacant he acted as Vicar General. He was then named Bishop of Vannes (1718–1720). He died on 30 August 1733. Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1344-1345. Jean, pp. 293-294. Ritzler-Sefrin, V, p. 22 note 3; 408 with note 5; VI, p. 125. Jules Gallerand (1998). Jean-François Lefèvre de Caumartin (1720-1733): deuxième évêque de Blois (in French). Blois: Association pour le Tricentenaire du diocèse de Blois. ISBN 978-2-911980-03-9.
  17. Back to citation Phélypeaux was nominated by King Louis XV on 23 May 1734, but he died on 24 June, at the age of 28. Gallia christiana VIII, p. 1345. Jean, pp. 295. Gams, p. 518, column 2.
  18. Back to citation Uzès was the son of Alexandre, Comte d'Amboise. He held a licenciate in Civil and Canon Law (Paris), and was Vicar General of Saint-Brieuc. He was nominated Bishop of Blois by King Louis XV on 27 June 1734, and approved (preconised) by Pope Clement XII on 17 November 1734. He was consecrated in Paris on 9 January 1735 by Archbishop Charles de Vintimille. He was transferred to the Diocese of Toulouse on 26 September 1753. He died on 30 April 1758. Jean, p. 295. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, pp. 125 with note 2; 404 with note 3.
  19. Back to citation A native of Limoges, De May was a doctor of theology (Paris) and a royal Aumonier as well as Vicar General of Cahors. He was nominated Bishop of Blois by King Louis XV on 15 August 1753, and approved by Pope Benedict XIV on 10 December. He was consecrated in Paris by Archbishop Christophe de Beaumont du Repaire on 30 December 1753. He died on 22 July 1776. Jean, p. 295. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 125 with note 3.
  20. Back to citation Thémines: Jean, pp. 294-295. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 125 with note 4. He never renounced his right to be the legitimate bishop and died in 1829.
  21. Back to citation Paul Pisani (1907). Répertoire biographique de l'épiscopat constitutionnel (1791-1802) (in French). Paris: A. Picard et fils. pp. 110–117.
  22. Back to citation Born in Orange in 1756, Sausin was a doctor of the Sorbonne, and had been Vicar General of Lisieux before the Revolution. He emigrated, and returned in 1815. Appointed by King Louis XVIII on 12 February 1823, he received papal approval on 16 May, and was consecrated in Paris by Archbishop Archbishop Pierre de Bausset-Roquefort on 20 July 1823. He was installed at Blois on 23 August. He died in Blois on 5 March 1844 at the age of 88. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 138-139.
  23. Back to citation Born in Aouste (Drôme) in 1794, Fabre-des-Essarts had been Vicar General of Bishop Sausin for sixteen years. He received papal approval on 17 June 1844, and was consecrated in Blois on 25 July by Bishop Alexandre Devie of Belley. He built an orphanage and installed the Jesuits in the major seminary. He died in Blois on 20 October 1850. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 139-140. M. A. Des Essarts (1890). Monseigneur Marie-Auguste Fabre des Essarts, évêque de Blois (in French). Paris-Auteuil: Imp. des Apprentis-Orphelins.
  24. Back to citation Pallu(c) du Parc was born in Poitiers in 1804. He completed his clerical studies at Saint-Sulpice in Paris, and became a teacher in the seminary in La Rochelle, and then superior of the institution. He was named Bishop of Blois by governmental decree of 15 December 1850, and received papal approval on 17 February 1851. He was consecrated a bishop in La Rochelle on 1 May 1851 by Bishop Clément Villecourt of La Rochelle. He participated in the First Vatican Council. He died on 31 March 1877. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 139-140.
  25. Back to citation Laborde was born at Saint-Nazaire in 1826, and completed his clerical studies at Saint-Sulpice in Paris. He was Vicar General of the Bishop of Nantes, and served in the Franco-Prussian War. He was nominated Bishop of Blois on 9 June 1877, and preconised (approved) by Pope Pius IX on 25 June. He was consecrated a bishop on 24 August in Nantes at S. Symphorien, where he had been parish priest, by Archbishop Charles Colet of Tours. He died on 18 May 1907. E. Develle, in L'épiscopat français..., pp. 140-141. Eglise à Lyon (in French). Lyon: Archevêché de Lyon. 1907. p. 718. Frédéric Boulliau (1907). Mgr Laborde, évêque de Blois: 1826-1907 (in French). Blois: Impr. C. Migault.
  26. Back to citation Mélisson was born in Parigné-l'Eveque (Sarthe) in 1842. He had been director of the major seminary in Le Mans, and was Archpriest of the Cathedral of Le Mans. He was preconised (approved) on 10 October 1907 by Pope Pius X. He resigned on 9 February 1925 to return to Le Mans. He died in 1927. Almanach catholique français (in French). Paris: Bloud & Gay. 1920. p. 75.
  27. Back to citation Audollent was a native of Paris. He was named Archdeacon of Sainte-Geneviève in 1921.
  28. Back to citation Bishop Batut holds a doctorate in the history of religions (Sorbonne), and a doctorate in theology (Institut Catholique, Paris). From 2009 to 2014 Bishop Batut had been Auxiliary Bishop of Lyon. Diocèse de Blois, Mgr Batut, retrieved: 2017-05-12.
  29. Back to citation Roman Catholic Diocese of Blois, official website

Bibliography

Reference works

Studies

47°35′19″N 1°20′09″E / 47.58861°N 1.33583°E

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