Katholische Academische Verbindung Lovania Leuven
Encyclopedia
Katholische Academische Verbindung (K.A.V.) Lovania Leuven is a Catholic academic fraternity, founded in 1896 at the Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
, Leuven
, Belgium
. It is a German Studentenverbindung
and is an affiliated member of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
. Her motto
is Semper Excelsius! (Der Geist lebt in uns allen!). Its official coulours (Couleur
) are green, white and red.
in 1797 after the French revolution
aries occupied the country. After the defeat of the revolutionaries the university was refounded in 1834 and was able to attract quite a number of Catholic students from Germany
, Austria
and Switzerland
who were fleeing the Kulturkampf
.
At first a Swiss Catholic student fraternity was founded, Helvetia Lovaniensis. It existed from 1872 to 1875. It was succeeded by an all German Catholic student fraternity, Tungria Lovaniensis, that existed from 1877 until 1879. In 1888 a regional student fraternity was founded by students from Luxemburg. Only the last fraternity survived. Out of the ashes of the demise of the Swiss and German fraternities, a new fraternity was founded.
This event was triggered by a public allocution of Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Armand Thiéry, a professor in thomistic
philosophy at the university, on student life at Germanic universities on January 21, 1896. During his student years in Bonn
, Thiéry had become a member of the prestigious student fraternity K.D.St. V. Bavaria Bonn, the oldest Catholic student fraternity in the world. This speech motivated a number of Germanic students to such an extent that they decided to establish a fraternity that same evening. It was called Lovania, which is Latin for Leuven (Louvain). The fraternity quickly expanded and Prof. Thiéry became honorary president. Lovania continued to blossom until the outbreak of the First World War. In 1914 the fraternity was suspended due to the commencement of fighting. At that moment the fraternity already had more than 160 active and inactive members. Numerous members died on both sides of the war.
In post war Belgium it was impossible to re-establish a German student fraternity in 1918. Promising efforts were made during 1927 and 1928 but failed after a short period of time. The Second World War made a quick re-establishment even more impossible. It took until 1996 until the political situation was stable enough to reconstitute the fraternity. At that moment many students who belonged to fraternities were members of the Cartellverband
and studied in Louvain. The idea then arose to re-establish the fraternity. The last surviving member gave his blessing to this undertaking and on April 19, 1996 the reactivation became a reality. In 1999 the friendly affiliation to the Cartellverband was formally re-established. Today the fraternity flourishes and has 97 members to date, originating from Flanders
, the Netherlands
, Germany
, Austria
, Switzerland
, Poland
, the United Kingdom
, Ireland
and the United States
.
Lovania is founded upon three guiding principles:
The members of Lovania do not practice academic fencing
(Mensur) because it is forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. Academic fencing is common with the more secular student fraternities that already existed in Germanic countries. Due to this restriction, Catholic students had to organize themselves in separate fraternities. Lovania only accepts men into the organization.
(the power to implement laws) and judiciary
(the power to judge and apply punishment when laws are broken) body. All full members make up the legislative body, which elects the executive body. The legislative body also functions as a judiciary body. In this case it assumes the function of an honorary senate.
bordered with a golden thread and a green kepi
, the historical military cap as worn during the American Civil War
.
During official ceremonies and special occasions, the praesidium wears a dress uniform
, a traditional Polish military uniform called a Vollwichs
which consists mainly of a bekiesza
.
Katholieke Universiteit Leuven
The Katholieke Universiteit Leuven is a Dutch-speaking university in Flanders, Belgium.It is located at the centre of the historic town of Leuven, and is a prominent part of the city, home to the university since 1425...
, Leuven
Leuven
Leuven is the capital of the province of Flemish Brabant in the Flemish Region, Belgium...
, Belgium
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
. It is a German Studentenverbindung
Studentenverbindung
A Studentenverbindung is a student corporation in a German-speaking country somewhat comparable to fraternities in the US or Canada, but mostly older and going back to other kinds of...
and is an affiliated member of the Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
. Her motto
Motto
A motto is a phrase meant to formally summarize the general motivation or intention of a social group or organization. A motto may be in any language, but Latin is the most used. The local language is usual in the mottoes of governments...
is Semper Excelsius! (Der Geist lebt in uns allen!). Its official coulours (Couleur
Couleur
Couleur is the expression used in European Studentenverbindungen for the headgears and ribbons worn by members of these student societies....
) are green, white and red.
History
The Catholic university of Louvain, founded in 1425, was closed down during the occupation of the Low CountriesLow Countries
The Low Countries are the historical lands around the low-lying delta of the Rhine, Scheldt, and Meuse rivers, including the modern countries of Belgium, the Netherlands, Luxembourg and parts of northern France and western Germany....
in 1797 after the French revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
aries occupied the country. After the defeat of the revolutionaries the university was refounded in 1834 and was able to attract quite a number of Catholic students from Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
and Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
who were fleeing the Kulturkampf
Kulturkampf
The German term refers to German policies in relation to secularity and the influence of the Roman Catholic Church, enacted from 1871 to 1878 by the Prime Minister of Prussia, Otto von Bismarck. The Kulturkampf did not extend to the other German states such as Bavaria...
.
At first a Swiss Catholic student fraternity was founded, Helvetia Lovaniensis. It existed from 1872 to 1875. It was succeeded by an all German Catholic student fraternity, Tungria Lovaniensis, that existed from 1877 until 1879. In 1888 a regional student fraternity was founded by students from Luxemburg. Only the last fraternity survived. Out of the ashes of the demise of the Swiss and German fraternities, a new fraternity was founded.
This event was triggered by a public allocution of Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Armand Thiéry, a professor in thomistic
Thomism
Thomism is the philosophical school that arose as a legacy of the work and thought of St. Thomas Aquinas, philosopher, theologian, and Doctor of the Church. In philosophy, his commentaries on Aristotle are his most lasting contribution...
philosophy at the university, on student life at Germanic universities on January 21, 1896. During his student years in Bonn
Bonn
Bonn is the 19th largest city in Germany. Located in the Cologne/Bonn Region, about 25 kilometres south of Cologne on the river Rhine in the State of North Rhine-Westphalia, it was the capital of West Germany from 1949 to 1990 and the official seat of government of united Germany from 1990 to 1999....
, Thiéry had become a member of the prestigious student fraternity K.D.St. V. Bavaria Bonn, the oldest Catholic student fraternity in the world. This speech motivated a number of Germanic students to such an extent that they decided to establish a fraternity that same evening. It was called Lovania, which is Latin for Leuven (Louvain). The fraternity quickly expanded and Prof. Thiéry became honorary president. Lovania continued to blossom until the outbreak of the First World War. In 1914 the fraternity was suspended due to the commencement of fighting. At that moment the fraternity already had more than 160 active and inactive members. Numerous members died on both sides of the war.
In post war Belgium it was impossible to re-establish a German student fraternity in 1918. Promising efforts were made during 1927 and 1928 but failed after a short period of time. The Second World War made a quick re-establishment even more impossible. It took until 1996 until the political situation was stable enough to reconstitute the fraternity. At that moment many students who belonged to fraternities were members of the Cartellverband
Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen
The Cartellverband der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindungen or Cartellverband is a German umbrella organization of Catholic male student fraternities .-Foundation:...
and studied in Louvain. The idea then arose to re-establish the fraternity. The last surviving member gave his blessing to this undertaking and on April 19, 1996 the reactivation became a reality. In 1999 the friendly affiliation to the Cartellverband was formally re-established. Today the fraternity flourishes and has 97 members to date, originating from Flanders
Flanders
Flanders is the community of the Flemings but also one of the institutions in Belgium, and a geographical region located in parts of present-day Belgium, France and the Netherlands. "Flanders" can also refer to the northern part of Belgium that contains Brussels, Bruges, Ghent and Antwerp...
, the Netherlands
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...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, Poland
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
, the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
and the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Principles
- religio: the fraternity and all its members publicly adhere to the Roman Catholic faith
- scientia: the pursuit of an academic education of all of its members
- amicitia: a lifelong friendship between all the members of the fraternity as long as they live whilst demonstrating a strong esprit de corps
The members of Lovania do not practice academic fencing
Academic fencing
Academic fencing or Mensur is the traditional kind of fencing practiced by some student corporations in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and to a minor extent in Kosovo, Estonia, Latvia, Poland and Flanders.- Technique :Modern academic fencing, the "mensur," is neither a duel nor a sport...
(Mensur) because it is forbidden by the Roman Catholic Church. Academic fencing is common with the more secular student fraternities that already existed in Germanic countries. Due to this restriction, Catholic students had to organize themselves in separate fraternities. Lovania only accepts men into the organization.
Structures
The fraternity has a legislative (the power to make laws), executiveExecutive (government)
Executive branch of Government is the part of government that has sole authority and responsibility for the daily administration of the state bureaucracy. The division of power into separate branches of government is central to the idea of the separation of powers.In many countries, the term...
(the power to implement laws) and judiciary
Judiciary
The judiciary is the system of courts that interprets and applies the law in the name of the state. The judiciary also provides a mechanism for the resolution of disputes...
(the power to judge and apply punishment when laws are broken) body. All full members make up the legislative body, which elects the executive body. The legislative body also functions as a judiciary body. In this case it assumes the function of an honorary senate.
Traditions
The official dress symbols, that are worn by each member, consist of a vertical green-white-red tribandTriband (flag)
The triband is one of the most common designs of flag, and is the design of some 30% of all current national flags.As the name suggests, the main feature of the design of a triband is three parallel bands of colour. Many non-vexillologists use the term tricolour to describe these flags, but...
bordered with a golden thread and a green kepi
Kepi
The kepi is a cap with a flat circular top and a visor or peak . Etymologically, the word is a borrowing of the French képi, itself a respelling of the Alemannic Käppi: a diminutive form of Kappe, meaning "cap"....
, the historical military cap as worn during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
.
During official ceremonies and special occasions, the praesidium wears a dress uniform
Dress uniform
Dress uniform , is the most formal military uniform, typically worn at ceremonies, official receptions, and other special occasions; with order insignias and full size medals...
, a traditional Polish military uniform called a Vollwichs
Couleur
Couleur is the expression used in European Studentenverbindungen for the headgears and ribbons worn by members of these student societies....
which consists mainly of a bekiesza
Bekiesza
Bekiesza is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Cyców, within Łęczna County, Lublin Voivodeship, in eastern Poland. It lies approximately east of Cyców, east of Łęczna, and east of the regional capital Lublin.-References:...
.
alive
- Prof. Dr. Dr. John Dudley, former professor at the priestly seminary at WigratzbadWigratzbadWigratzbad is a hamlet in the Lindau district of Bavaria, Germany. The village is 1 mile north of the town of Opfenbach, and south of Hergatz. It is situated on the ancient frontier of Bavaria and Swabia, a short distance from Germany's borders with Austria and Switzerland.-Marian apparitions:The...
en 's-Hertogenbosch and currently visiting professor at Divine Word CollegeDivine Word CollegeDivine Word College is an undergraduate Roman Catholic seminary that educates young men for missionary vocations as priests and Brothers in the Society of the Divine Word...
in Iowa - Stephen Klimczuk former director and board member of the World Economic Forum Geneva, Switzerland
- Prof. Dr. Mr. Matthias StormeMatthias StormeMatthias Edward Storme is a Belgian lawyer, academic and conservative philosopher.- Family life :Storme was born and raised in a Catholic family in the Belgian city of Ghent. His father Marcel Storme Matthias Edward Storme (born Ghent, 1959) is a Belgian lawyer, academic and conservative...
(6. juni 1959), professor at the Catholic University of Leuven and the Universiteit Antwerpen, member of the Bar of Brussels
deceased
- Prof. Dr. Prosper Vicount PoulletProsper PoulletProsper Antoine Marie Joseph, Viscount Poullet was a Belgian politician.Born in Leuven, Poullet studied law at the Catholic University of Leuven and was later a professor at the university. He was of member of K.A.V...
(December 9, 1871 - December 23, 1935) former prime minister of Belgium and Minister of State - Pierre PrümPierre PrümPierre Prüm was a Luxembourgian politician and jurist. He was the 14th Prime Minister of Luxembourg, serving for a year, from March 20, 1925 until July 16, 1926.-Early life:...
(July 9, 1886 – February 1 1950) former prime minister of Luxemburg - Alexander Count von KolowratAlexander KolowratCount Alexander Joseph von Kolowrat-Krakowsky , better known as "Sascha", was an Austrian film producer of Bohemian descent...
(January 29, 1886 – December 4, 1927) founder of the Austrian movie industry - Mon De Goeyse (October 1, 1907 - December 21, 1998), Flemish student leader, author of the clubcodex
- Prof. Dr. Albert Carnoy (November 7, 1878 - January 12, 1961), Belgian minister of internal affairs and health
- Mgr. Charles Cartuyvels (February 27, 1835), vice-rector of the Catholic University of Louvain
- Mr. Georges Baron HolvoetGeorges HolvoetBaron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet Baron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet Baron Georges Josephus Lamoraldus Maria Gislemus Holvoet (Antwerp, 16 August 1874 – Elsene, 23 April 1967 was a Belgian lawyer and Roman Catholic politician...
(August 16, 1874 - April 23, 1964), governor of the (Belgian) province of Antwerpen and chef de cabinet of the Prince-regent Charles of Belgium - Paul Lebeau (June 29, 1908 - October 18, 1982) Flemish author
- Prof. Dr. Albert Michotte (1881 - 1965), experimental psychologist
- Etienne Baron Orban de Xivry (February 18, 1885 - July 23, 1953), Belgische senator
- Jef van den Eynde (December 21, 1879 - April 12, 1929), Flemish student leader
- Prof. Dr. Adam van Kan (July 18, 1877 - June 6, 1944), Dutch scientist
- Prof. Dr. Dr. Dr. Ir Can. Armand Thiéry (6. augustus 1868 - 12. januari 1955), priest and founder of the fraternity
- Mr. Charles Baron WoesteCharles WoesteCharles, Count Woeste was a Belgian Roman Catholic politician of German descent.He was born in Brussels, the son of Edouard Woeste, who was of Prussian descent and who became a naturalized Belgian on 15 January 1841. Edouard Woeste was consul for Prussia from 1843 to 1853, and married Constance...
(February 26, 1837 - April 5, 1922), Belgian Minister of State
Literature
- Wehr, Florian, Geschichte des CV, 2. Auflage, Berlin, 1900
- Thiéry Armand, Chansonnier des étudiants Belges publié par la Studentenverbindung Lovania, Breitkopf et Härtel, Brüssel, 1901
- Lovania - 10 Jahre deutschsprechenden Studententums in Löwen 1895-1905, Leuven, 1906
- 15. Vereinsjahr - Academische Studenten Verbindung Lovania 1895-1910, Leuven, 1910
- Wils J., Les étudiants des régions comprises dans la Nation germanique de l'Université de Louvain, 2, Leuven, 1910
- Katholische Academische Studentenverbindung Lovania - Jahresbericht 1910-1912, Druck. F. Giele, Leuven, 1912
- Wolf Otto, Geschichte der katholischen deutschen Studentenverbindung Bavaria 1844-1914, Bonn, 1914
- Contzen Hans, Lovania - Zwanzig Jahre deutschsprechenden Studententums in Belgien, Studentenbibliothek 24), Mönchengladbach, 1916
- Schulze, Friedrich, Ssymank, Paul, Das deutsche Studententum von den ältesten Zeiten bis zur Gegenwart, 1932, Verlag für Hochschulkunde, München (Nachdruck), ISBN 3923621906
- Doergé Robert., 75 Jahre katholische deutsche Studentenverbindung Franconia an der Rheinisch-Westfälischen technischen Hochschule Aachen 1898-1973, Aachen, 1974
- de Bruyne, Arthur (Ed.), Bijdragen tot de geschiedenis van een generatie - Een liber amicorum voor mr. Willem Melis, Rinda, 1977, Kemzeke
- de Goeyse Mon., O Vrij-Studentenheerlijkheid, Leuvense Universitaire Pers, Leuven, 1987, ISBN 90-6186-251-5
- Schieweck-Mauk S., Lexikon der CV- und ÖCV-Verbindungen, Gemeinschaft für deutsche Studentengeschichte, Würzburg, 1997, ISBN 3894980400
- Bodman, Ernst-Michael, 100 Jahre K.D.St.-V. Franconia Aachen, Aachen, 1999
- Uytterhoeven R., Nostalgia Lovaniensis, Universitaire Pers Leuven, Leuven, 2000, ISBN 9058670651
- Vos Louis, Weets Wilfried, (Ed.), Vlaamse vaandels, rode petten, Uitgeverij Pelckmans, Kapellen, 2002, ISBN 9028932046
- Hartmann, Gerhard, Für Gott und Vaterland - Geschichte und Wirken des CV in Österreich, Lahn-Verlag, Wien, 2006, ISBN 3784033628
- Huys, Jan, Van de Weyer Stefan, De studentikoze erfenis van Rodenbach, Acco Drukkerij, Leuven, 2006