Johann Baptist von Anzer
Encyclopedia
Johann Baptist Anzer, later von Anzer, SVD
(16 May 1851–24 November 1903) was a member of the Society of the Divine Word, popularly known as the Divine Word Missionaries, and Catholic
bishop of the German Mission to China in Shandong Province.
, Oberpfalz, Bavaria
, the son of a farmer and butcher. After an education in the Regensburg
Lyceum he entered the newly founded missionary order of the Divine Word Missionaries in 1875, and was ordained a priest in the following year. In 1879 he was sent to the mission field of China
together with Fr. Josef Freinademetz, later Saint Josef. Anzer was in charge of the mission school in Hong Kong
until 1882, when he was apoointed to lead the mission in the south of Shandong Province. In 1885 Anzer was appointed Vicar apostolic of Southern Shantung and in 1886 Titular Bishop
of Thelepte
by Pope Pius IX
.
In 1890 he removed his mission from the diplomatic protection of France
, which for some decades previously had exercised the right of diplomatic protectionover all all missions in China regardless of their nationality, and placed it under that of the German Reich.
Although based in the mission headquarters in Yangchow, Anzer was a tireless traveller and writer in the cause of spreading knowledge of the mission, and indefatigable in the establishment of strong churches, schools and welfare institutions (children's homes,old people's homes and so on) throughout the mission's territory.
He was also convinced of the need for an indigenous priesthood, and began the construction of a seminary
. Josef Freinademetz was entrusted with the training of the oldest students. The seminary was soon moved from Puoli to the larger town of Jining
, the commercial centre of the province. the first two Chinese students were ordained in 1896. A retreat house was acquired, and an annual retreat for all missionaries was introduced.
On 1 November 1897 the SVD missionaries Richard Henle and Franz Xaver Nies were murdered by Chinese. Anzer happened to be on a visit to Europe at the time, and hurried to Berlin
, where he persuaded Kaiser Wilhelm II to send two warships to the Jiaozhou Bay
(Kiautschou) on the south-east coast of Shandong where the Germans exploited the murders as a pretext for the establishment of a German mandate. The centre of the mission now moved to Tsingtao (Qingdao
).
In 1897 he was ennobled as von Anzer by the King of Bavaria
.
Anzer's effectiveness as a missionary in Shandong and the German colonisation of parts of the province threatened to increase social tensions there. It is unclear whether this was a significant factor in the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion
in 1900. Although the Rebellion was anti-Christian, it was not focussed on the areas within Anzer's own mission field.
Anzer died in 1903 while on a visit to Rome
for consultations after complaints had been received from a number of his priests.
Divine Word Missionaries
The Society of the Divine Word , popularly called the Divine Word Missionaries, and sometimes the Steyler Missionaries, is a missionary religious congregation in the Latin Church, one of the 23 sui iuris churches which make up the Catholic Church. As of 2006 it consisted of 6,102 members composed...
(16 May 1851–24 November 1903) was a member of the Society of the Divine Word, popularly known as the Divine Word Missionaries, and Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
bishop of the German Mission to China in Shandong Province.
Life
Anzer was born in Weinrieth near TännesbergTännesberg
Tännesberg is a municipality in the district of Neustadt in Bavaria in Germany....
, Oberpfalz, Bavaria
Bavaria
Bavaria, formally the Free State of Bavaria is a state of Germany, located in the southeast of Germany. With an area of , it is the largest state by area, forming almost 20% of the total land area of Germany...
, the son of a farmer and butcher. After an education in the Regensburg
Regensburg
Regensburg is a city in Bavaria, Germany, located at the confluence of the Danube and Regen rivers, at the northernmost bend in the Danube. To the east lies the Bavarian Forest. Regensburg is the capital of the Bavarian administrative region Upper Palatinate...
Lyceum he entered the newly founded missionary order of the Divine Word Missionaries in 1875, and was ordained a priest in the following year. In 1879 he was sent to the mission field of China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
together with Fr. Josef Freinademetz, later Saint Josef. Anzer was in charge of the mission school in Hong Kong
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
until 1882, when he was apoointed to lead the mission in the south of Shandong Province. In 1885 Anzer was appointed Vicar apostolic of Southern Shantung and in 1886 Titular Bishop
Titular bishop
A titular bishop in various churches is a bishop who is not in charge of a diocese.By definition a bishop is an "overseer" of a community of the faithful, so when a priest is ordained a bishop the tradition of the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches is that he be ordained for a specific place...
of Thelepte
Thelepte
Thélepte is a Roman ruin in western Tunisia, 5 km from the modern town of Fériana, near the border with Algeria. It is located at around . The best preserved building is a church....
by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
.
In 1890 he removed his mission from the diplomatic protection of 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...
, which for some decades previously had exercised the right of diplomatic protectionover all all missions in China regardless of their nationality, and placed it under that of the German Reich.
Although based in the mission headquarters in Yangchow, Anzer was a tireless traveller and writer in the cause of spreading knowledge of the mission, and indefatigable in the establishment of strong churches, schools and welfare institutions (children's homes,old people's homes and so on) throughout the mission's territory.
He was also convinced of the need for an indigenous priesthood, and began the construction of a seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
. Josef Freinademetz was entrusted with the training of the oldest students. The seminary was soon moved from Puoli to the larger town of Jining
Jining, Shandong
Jining is a prefecture-level city in southwestern Shandong province, People's Republic of China. It borders Heze to the southwest, Zaozhuang to the southeast, Tai'an to the northeast, and the provinces of Henan and Jiangsu to the northwest and south respectively...
, the commercial centre of the province. the first two Chinese students were ordained in 1896. A retreat house was acquired, and an annual retreat for all missionaries was introduced.
On 1 November 1897 the SVD missionaries Richard Henle and Franz Xaver Nies were murdered by Chinese. Anzer happened to be on a visit to Europe at the time, and hurried to Berlin
Berlin
Berlin is the capital city of Germany and is one of the 16 states of Germany. With a population of 3.45 million people, Berlin is Germany's largest city. It is the second most populous city proper and the seventh most populous urban area in the European Union...
, where he persuaded Kaiser Wilhelm II to send two warships to the Jiaozhou Bay
Jiaozhou Bay
The Jiaozhou Bay is a sea gulf located in Qingdao Prefecture of Shandong Province. It was a German colonial concession from 1898 until 1914....
(Kiautschou) on the south-east coast of Shandong where the Germans exploited the murders as a pretext for the establishment of a German mandate. The centre of the mission now moved to Tsingtao (Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
).
In 1897 he was ennobled as von Anzer by the King of Bavaria
King of Bavaria
King of Bavaria was a title held by the hereditary Wittelsbach rulers of Bavaria in the state known as the Kingdom of Bavaria from 1805 until 1918, when the kingdom was abolished...
.
Anzer's effectiveness as a missionary in Shandong and the German colonisation of parts of the province threatened to increase social tensions there. It is unclear whether this was a significant factor in the outbreak of the Boxer Rebellion
Boxer Rebellion
The Boxer Rebellion, also called the Boxer Uprising by some historians or the Righteous Harmony Society Movement in northern China, was a proto-nationalist movement by the "Righteous Harmony Society" , or "Righteous Fists of Harmony" or "Society of Righteous and Harmonious Fists" , in China between...
in 1900. Although the Rebellion was anti-Christian, it was not focussed on the areas within Anzer's own mission field.
Anzer died in 1903 while on a visit to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
for consultations after complaints had been received from a number of his priests.
External links
Further reading
- Grunder, H., 1932: Christliche Mission und deutscher Imperialismus. Eine politische Geschichte ihrer Beziehungen während der Kolonialzeit (1884-1914) unter besonderer Berücksichtigung Afrikas und Chinas
- Hartwich, R., 1983: Steyler Missionare in China, vol. 1, Missionarische Erschliessung Sudshantungs, 1879-1903
- Horbach, P., 1987: Bischof v. Anzers China-Mission in ihren Beziehungen zur Politik, 1901
- Rivinius, K. J., 1987: Weltlicher Schutz und Mission