Johannes Zwijsen
Encyclopedia
Johannes Zwijsen was the first Archbishop of Utrecht after the re-establishment of the Roman Catholic hierarchy in the Netherlands
.
Zwijsen was ordained a priest on 19 January 1817. On 17 April 1842, he was consecrated Titular bishop
of Gerra
and Coadjutor of the Apostolic vicar of s-Hertogenbosch, at Church of Saint Denis in Tilburg, by baron Cornelius Ludovicus van Wijkerslooth, ordaining bishop
for the Netherlands. In 1847 he was appointed Apostolic vicar of the Dutch Mission
(Hollandse Zending), until 1848. When Pope Pius IX
, with the apostolic letter "Ex qua die", reorganized the Catholic Church of the Netherlands, Utrecht
was raised once more to an archbishopric, and Zwijsen was named the first archbishop
; as administrator he also ruled the diocese
of 's-Hertogenbosch.
He took up with great energy and caution the organization of the restored archdiocese. By numerous excellent decrees he provided for the improvement of discipline, the encouragement of orders
and of church associations and for the establishment of Catholic
schools. In 1857 opened the diocesan seminary for the training of a competent clergy. In 1858 the cathedral chapters of the archdiocese were organized and in 1864 the first provincial synod
was held. In 1868 he resigned, retaining only the direction of the diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch.
Netherlands
The Netherlands is a constituent country of the Kingdom of the Netherlands, located mainly in North-West Europe and with several islands in the Caribbean. Mainland Netherlands borders the North Sea to the north and west, Belgium to the south, and Germany to the east, and shares maritime borders...
.
Zwijsen was ordained a priest on 19 January 1817. On 17 April 1842, he was consecrated 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 Gerra
Gerra
Gerra may refer to:*Gerra , Ticino, Switzerland*Gerra , Ticino, Switzerland*Gerra , Babylonian and Akkadian god of fire* Gerra , a moth genus*Gerrha or Gerra, ancient city in Arabia...
and Coadjutor of the Apostolic vicar of s-Hertogenbosch, at Church of Saint Denis in Tilburg, by baron Cornelius Ludovicus van Wijkerslooth, ordaining bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
for the Netherlands. In 1847 he was appointed Apostolic vicar of the Dutch Mission
Dutch Mission
The Dutch Mission was from 1592 until 1853 the name of the former Catholic Church province of Utrecht in the area of the current Netherlands....
(Hollandse Zending), until 1848. When 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...
, with the apostolic letter "Ex qua die", reorganized the Catholic Church of the Netherlands, Utrecht
Utrecht (province)
Utrecht is the smallest province of the Netherlands in terms of area, and is located in the centre of the country. It is bordered by the Eemmeer in the north, Gelderland in the east, the river Rhine in the south, South Holland in the west, and North Holland in the northwest...
was raised once more to an archbishopric, and Zwijsen was named the first archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
; as administrator he also ruled the diocese
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 's-Hertogenbosch.
He took up with great energy and caution the organization of the restored archdiocese. By numerous excellent decrees he provided for the improvement of discipline, the encouragement of orders
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
and of church associations and for the establishment of 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"...
schools. In 1857 opened the diocesan seminary for the training of a competent clergy. In 1858 the cathedral chapters of the archdiocese were organized and in 1864 the first provincial synod
Synod
A synod historically is a council of a church, usually convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. In modern usage, the word often refers to the governing body of a particular church, whether its members are meeting or not...
was held. In 1868 he resigned, retaining only the direction of the diocese of 's-Hertogenbosch.