Louis De Goesbriand
Encyclopedia
Louis Joseph Mary Theodore De Goesbriand (August 4, 1816—November 3, 1899) was a French
-born prelate
of the Roman Catholic Church
. He served as Bishop of Burlington
in the United States
from 1853 until his death in 1899.
, Finistère
, and studied at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris
. He was ordained
to the priesthood
by Bishop Joseph Rosati
, C.M., on July 13, 1840. After arriving in the United States
, he did pastoral work in the Diocese of Cincinnati
, Ohio
, from 1840 to 1847 and then in the Diocese of Cleveland
(where he served as vicar general
) until 1853.
of the newly-erected Diocese of Burlington
, Vermont
, by Pope Pius IX
. He received his episcopal consecration
on the following October 30 from Archbishop Gaetano Bedini
, with Bishops John McCloskey and Louis Amadeus Rappe
serving as co-consecrators
. He began his new diocese with five priests, ten churches, and about 20,000 Catholics.
in January to secure priests from Ireland
and his native France, and held the first diocesan synod
during the following October. There were at least 50 priests and 30 new parishes in the Burlington Diocese by the end of his episcopate. He also attended the Plenary Councils of Baltimore
(1866, 1884) and the First Vatican Council
(1869–1870). In 1893, he trusted the active administration of the diocese to his coadjutor
, Bishop John Stephen Michaud
. Between 1891 and 1897, De Goesbriand translated the works of Pierre Chaignon
, S.J. from French to English, including Meditations for the Use of the Secular Clergy and The Sacrifice of the Mass Worthily Celebrated.
.
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...
-born prelate
Prelate
A prelate is a high-ranking member of the clergy who is an ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin prælatus, the past participle of præferre, which means "carry before", "be set above or over" or "prefer"; hence, a prelate is one set over others.-Related...
of the Roman Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
. He served as Bishop of Burlington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
from 1853 until his death in 1899.
Early career
De Goesbriand was born in Saint-UrbainSaint-Urbain, Finistère
Saint-Urbain is a commune in the Finistère department in Bretagne in northwestern France.-Population:Inhabitants of Saint-Urbain are called Saint-Urbannais.-References:** -External links:* *...
, Finistère
Finistère
Finistère is a département of France, in the extreme west of Brittany.-History:The name Finistère derives from the Latin Finis Terræ, meaning end of the earth, and may be compared with Land's End on the opposite side of the English Channel...
, and studied at the Seminary of Saint-Sulpice in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. He was ordained
Holy Orders
The term Holy Orders is used by many Christian churches to refer to ordination or to those individuals ordained for a special role or ministry....
to the priesthood
Priesthood (Catholic Church)
The ministerial orders of the Catholic Church include the orders of bishops, deacons and presbyters, which in Latin is sacerdos. The ordained priesthood and common priesthood are different in function and essence....
by Bishop Joseph Rosati
Joseph Rosati
Joseph Rosati was a U.S. Catholic bishop. He served as the first Bishop of the Diocese of Saint Louis between 1826 and 1843....
, C.M., on July 13, 1840. After arriving in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, he did pastoral work in the Diocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
, Ohio
Ohio
Ohio is a Midwestern state in the United States. The 34th largest state by area in the U.S.,it is the 7th‑most populous with over 11.5 million residents, containing several major American cities and seven metropolitan areas with populations of 500,000 or more.The state's capital is Columbus...
, from 1840 to 1847 and then in the Diocese of Cleveland
Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland is a Roman Catholic diocese in Ohio. It was erected on April 23, 1847 by Pope Pius IX. The diocese lost territory in 1910 when the Diocese of Toledo was erected by Pope Pius X, and in 1943 when the Diocese of Youngstown was erected by Pope Pius XII...
(where he served as vicar general
Vicar general
A vicar general is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ordinary executive power over the entire diocese and, thus, is the highest official in a diocese or other particular...
) until 1853.
Elevation
On July 29, 1853, De Goesbriand was appointed the first BishopOrdinary
In those hierarchically organised churches of Western Christianity which have an ecclesiastical law system, an ordinary is an officer of the church who by reason of office has ordinary power to execute the church's laws...
of the newly-erected Diocese of Burlington
Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington
The Roman Catholic Diocese of Burlington is a diocese of the Roman Catholic Church in the New England region of the United States, comprising the entire state of Vermont...
, Vermont
Vermont
Vermont is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state ranks 43rd in land area, , and 45th in total area. Its population according to the 2010 census, 630,337, is the second smallest in the country, larger only than Wyoming. It is the only New England...
, 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...
. He received his episcopal consecration
Bishop (Catholic Church)
In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
on the following October 30 from Archbishop Gaetano Bedini
Gaetano Bedini
Gaetano Bedini was an Italian ecclesiastic, Cardinal and diplomat of the Catholic Church.- Biography :Bedini was born in Senigallia into the peasant Bedini family of Ostra, the son of Alessandro Pellegrino and Marianna Spadoni.Last of 7 sons, Bedini was destined by his father to be a priest...
, with Bishops John McCloskey and Louis Amadeus Rappe
Louis Amadeus Rappe
Louis Amadeus Rappe was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Cleveland from 1847 to 1870.-Biography:...
serving as co-consecrators
Consecrator
Consecrator is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church to designate a bishop who ordains a priest to the episcopal state. The term is often used in Eastern Rite Churches and in Anglican communities. The term "Principal Consecrator" is used to designate the primary bishop who ordains a new bishop...
. He began his new diocese with five priests, ten churches, and about 20,000 Catholics.
Career as Bishop
In 1855, he went to EuropeEurope
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in January to secure priests from 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 his native France, and held the first diocesan 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...
during the following October. There were at least 50 priests and 30 new parishes in the Burlington Diocese by the end of his episcopate. He also attended the Plenary Councils of Baltimore
Plenary Councils of Baltimore
The Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three national meetings of Roman Catholic bishops in the 19th century in Baltimore, Maryland.During the early history of the Roman Catholic Church in the United States all of the dioceses were part of one ecclesiastical province under the Archbishop of Baltimore...
(1866, 1884) and the First Vatican Council
First Vatican Council
The First Vatican Council was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This twentieth ecumenical council of the Roman Catholic Church, held three centuries after the Council of Trent, opened on 8 December 1869 and adjourned...
(1869–1870). In 1893, he trusted the active administration of the diocese to his coadjutor
Coadjutor bishop
A coadjutor bishop is a bishop in the Roman Catholic or Anglican churches who is designated to assist the diocesan bishop in the administration of the diocese, almost as co-bishop of the diocese...
, Bishop John Stephen Michaud
John Stephen Michaud
John Stephen Michaud was an American prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Burlington from 1899 until his death in 1908....
. Between 1891 and 1897, De Goesbriand translated the works of Pierre Chaignon
Pierre Chaignon
Pierre Chaignon, S.J. was a French Jesuit priest and spiritual writer.-Life:Pierre Chaignon was born in Saint-Pierre-la-Cour, Mayenne, France, on October 8, 1791....
, S.J. from French to English, including Meditations for the Use of the Secular Clergy and The Sacrifice of the Mass Worthily Celebrated.
Death
De Goesbriand later died at St. Joseph's Orphan Home age 83, as the oldest bishop in the United States. He is buried at Resurrection Park in South BurlingtonSouth Burlington, Vermont
-Economy:CommutAir, a regional airline, is headquartered in the city, by the airport. The Magic Hat Brewing Company, one of the United States's larger craft breweries, is located here.One measure of economic activity is retail sales...
.