Mathias Hovius born Matthijs Van Hove, was from 1569 until 1620 the third primate

Primate (religion)

Primate is a title or rank bestowed on some bishops in certain Christian churches. Depending on the particular tradition, it can denote either jurisdictional authority or ceremonial precedence ....

 of the Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels. As archbishop, Hovius presided over implementing the Catholic Reformation in the Spanish Netherlands

Southern Netherlands

Southern Netherlands were a part of the Low Countries controlled by Spain , Austria and annexed by France...

.

Early career

Hovius studied theology and philosophy at the Old University of Leuven

Old University of Leuven

The Old University of Leuven is the name historians give to the university, or studium generale, founded in Leuven, Brabant , in 1425, and closed in 1797, a week after the cession to the French Republic of the Austrian Netherlands and the principality of Liège by the Treaty of Campo Formio.When...

, and was ordained priest in 1566, the year iconoclasm

Iconoclasm

Iconoclasm is the deliberate destruction of religious icons and other symbols or monuments, usually with religious or political motives. It is a frequent component of major political or religious changes...

 broke out in 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...

. While pastor at Saints Peter and Paul's Church in Mechelen, Hovius witnessed the Spanish conquest of the city in 1572 during the Eighty Years' War.

Vicar-General

Hovius was appointed vicar-general of the archdiocese of Mechelen upon the death of Archbishop Johannes Hauchin in 1589.

Archbishop

In 1596, Hovius was consecrated the third archbishop of Mechelen. Among his accomplishments were the founding of a seminary and the creation of a catechism

Catechism

A catechism , i.e. to indoctrinate) is a summary or exposition of doctrine, traditionally used in Christian religious teaching from New Testament times to the present...

 with help from the Jesuits. The Mechelen Catechism remained a standard in Catholic religious education in Belgium until well into the twentieth century.

In 1609. Hovius convened a provincial council in Mechelen to implement the decrees of the Council of Trent

Council of Trent

The Council of Trent was the 16th-century Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. It is considered to be one of the Church's most important councils. It convened in Trent between December 13, 1545, and December 4, 1563 in twenty-five sessions for three periods...

 in the archdiocese. He was supported in his efforts by Albert and Isabella

Infanta Isabella Clara Eugenia of Spain

Isabella Clara Eugenia of Austria was sovereign of the Spanish Netherlands in the Low Countries and the north of modern France, together with her husband Albert. In some sources, she is referred to as Clara Isabella Eugenia...

 of Austria, Governors-General of the Spanish Netherlands.

Archbishop Hovius died in 1620 during a canonical visitation

Canonical Visitation

A canonical visitation is the act of an ecclesiastical superior who in the discharge of his office visits persons or places with a view of maintaining faith and discipline, and of correcting abuses by the application of proper remedies.-Catholic usage:...

 to Affligem Abbey

Affligem Abbey

Affligem Abbey is a Benedictine monastery in the municipality of Affligem, Flemish Brabant, Belgium, twelve miles to the north-west of Brussels...

.