Micheál Ó Mordha
Encyclopedia
Micheál Ó Mordha, Irish
priest
, philosopher and educationalist, c.1639-1723.
at a young age to be educated in Nantes
and Paris
, where he taught philosophy
and rhetoric
at the Collège des Grassins. He was proposed for the position of rector
at the University of Paris
in June 1677 by a faction who wished to replace the then rector, Nicholas Pieres, but felt compelled to decline the offer.
Returning to Ireland in the early 1680s, he was ordained in 1684. Archbishop of Dublin
, Patrick Russell (1683–92) appointed him vicar-general of the Diocese of Dublin.
of Trinity College, Dublin
, in 1689, Ó Mordha became the college's first (and to day, only) Roman Catholic provost. He acquired the post via the influence of Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (1630–1691), to whom he was chaplain
and confessor
. The Catholic Encyclopedia
states "The college was seized by the Jacobites, the chapel was made a powder magazine, one portion of the building was turned into a barrack, and another into a gaol for persons suspected of disaffection to the royal cause. .. He {Ó Mordha} upheld the rights of the college, secured it from further pillage, and endeavoured to mitigate the treatment of the prisoners. With the librarian, Father McCarthy, he prevented the soldiery from burning the library, and by preserving its precious collections rendered an incalculable service to letters."
However, a sermon which Ó Mordha delivered in Christ Church cathedral
concerning King James's ecclesiastical policies so offended the king that he was obliged to resign the post in 1690; after this, he returned to Paris. He moved to Rome
in 1691 when King James arrived in Paris, after fleeing Dublin in the wake of the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of the Boyne
.
of Books. He came to the attention and favour of the successive Pope
s, Innocent XII (1691–1700) and Clement XI (1700–1721). When Cardinal Barbarigo established his college at Montefiascone
, he appointed Ó Mordha as rector and professor of philosophy and Greek
. The college attracted men of learning, and received from Innocent XII an annual grant of two thousand crowns.
, and professor of philosophy, Greek, and Hebrew in the Collège de France
.
on Louis XIV. Ó Mordha joined Dr. Farrelly (Fealy) in purchasing a house near the Irish College for poor Irish students. Blind for some years he had to employ an amanuensis
, who took advantage of his master's affliction to steal and sell many hundred volumes of his choice library. What remained Ó Mordha bequeathed to the Irish College.
He died in the Collège de Navarre, and was buried in the vault under the chapel of the Irish College.
Irish people
The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha...
priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
, philosopher and educationalist, c.1639-1723.
Early life
Ó Mordha - generally referred to as Moore or Moor in contempoary documents - was born in Dublin about 1639. He left IrelandIreland
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...
at a young age to be educated in Nantes
Nantes
Nantes is a city in western France, located on the Loire River, from the Atlantic coast. The city is the 6th largest in France, while its metropolitan area ranks 8th with over 800,000 inhabitants....
and 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...
, where he taught philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and rhetoric
Rhetoric
Rhetoric is the art of discourse, an art that aims to improve the facility of speakers or writers who attempt to inform, persuade, or motivate particular audiences in specific situations. As a subject of formal study and a productive civic practice, rhetoric has played a central role in the Western...
at the Collège des Grassins. He was proposed for the position of rector
Rector
The word rector has a number of different meanings; it is widely used to refer to an academic, religious or political administrator...
at the University of Paris
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
in June 1677 by a faction who wished to replace the then rector, Nicholas Pieres, but felt compelled to decline the offer.
Returning to Ireland in the early 1680s, he was ordained in 1684. Archbishop of Dublin
Archbishop of Dublin
The Archbishop of Dublin may refer to:* Archbishop of Dublin – an article which lists of pre- and post-Reformation archbishops.* Archbishop of Dublin – the title of the senior cleric who presides over the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Dublin....
, Patrick Russell (1683–92) appointed him vicar-general of the Diocese of Dublin.
Provost of Trinity College
Upon the flight of the provostProvost (education)
A provost is the senior academic administrator at many institutions of higher education in the United States, Canada and Australia, the equivalent of a pro-vice-chancellor at some institutions in the United Kingdom and Ireland....
of Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin
Trinity College, Dublin , formally known as the College of the Holy and Undivided Trinity of Queen Elizabeth near Dublin, was founded in 1592 by letters patent from Queen Elizabeth I as the "mother of a university", Extracts from Letters Patent of Elizabeth I, 1592: "...we...found and...
, in 1689, Ó Mordha became the college's first (and to day, only) Roman Catholic provost. He acquired the post via the influence of Richard Talbot, 1st Earl of Tyrconnell (1630–1691), to whom he was chaplain
Chaplain
Traditionally, a chaplain is a minister in a specialized setting such as a priest, pastor, rabbi, or imam or lay representative of a religion attached to a secular institution such as a hospital, prison, military unit, police department, university, or private chapel...
and confessor
Confessor
-Confessor of the Faith:Its oldest use is to indicate a saint who has suffered persecution and torture for the faith, but not to the point of death. The term is still used in this way in the East. In Latin Christianity it has come to signify any saint, as well as those who have been declared...
. The Catholic Encyclopedia
Catholic Encyclopedia
The Catholic Encyclopedia, also referred to as the Old Catholic Encyclopedia and the Original Catholic Encyclopedia, is an English-language encyclopedia published in the United States. The first volume appeared in March 1907 and the last three volumes appeared in 1912, followed by a master index...
states "The college was seized by the Jacobites, the chapel was made a powder magazine, one portion of the building was turned into a barrack, and another into a gaol for persons suspected of disaffection to the royal cause. .. He {Ó Mordha} upheld the rights of the college, secured it from further pillage, and endeavoured to mitigate the treatment of the prisoners. With the librarian, Father McCarthy, he prevented the soldiery from burning the library, and by preserving its precious collections rendered an incalculable service to letters."
However, a sermon which Ó Mordha delivered in Christ Church cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral
Christ Church Cathedral is the name of many Anglican cathedrals around the world, and may refer to:-Canada:*Christ Church Cathedral , New Brunswick*Christ Church Cathedral , Quebec*Christ Church Cathedral , Ontario...
concerning King James's ecclesiastical policies so offended the king that he was obliged to resign the post in 1690; after this, he returned to Paris. He moved 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...
in 1691 when King James arrived in Paris, after fleeing Dublin in the wake of the Jacobite defeat at the Battle of the Boyne
Battle of the Boyne
The Battle of the Boyne was fought in 1690 between two rival claimants of the English, Scottish and Irish thronesthe Catholic King James and the Protestant King William across the River Boyne near Drogheda on the east coast of Ireland...
.
In Rome
While in Rome, Ó Mordha became CensorCensor
Censor may refer to:*Censorship, the control of speech and other forms of human expression*Roman censor, a magistrate for maintaining the census, supervising public morality, etc*Cato Censor , Roman statesman...
of Books. He came to the attention and favour of the successive Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
s, Innocent XII (1691–1700) and Clement XI (1700–1721). When Cardinal Barbarigo established his college at Montefiascone
Montefiascone
Montefiascone is a town and comune of the province of Viterbo, Italy, located on a hill on the southeast side of Lake Bolsena, 95 km north of GRA .-History:...
, he appointed Ó Mordha as rector and professor of philosophy and Greek
Greek language
Greek is an independent branch of the Indo-European family of languages. Native to the southern Balkans, it has the longest documented history of any Indo-European language, spanning 34 centuries of written records. Its writing system has been the Greek alphabet for the majority of its history;...
. The college attracted men of learning, and received from Innocent XII an annual grant of two thousand crowns.
Rector of the University of Paris
After the death of James II in 1701, Ó Mordha returned to France, where - through Cardinal de Noailles - he was appointed Rector of the University of Paris. He remains the only Irishman to hold the post, serving from 10 October 1701 to 9 October 1702. He was also made principal of the Collège de NavarreCollège de Navarre
The College of Navarre was one of the colleges of the historic University of Paris, rivaling the Sorbonne and renowned for its library. It was founded by Queen Joan I of Navarre in 1305, who provided for three departments, the arts with 20 students, philosophy with 30 and theology with 20...
, and professor of philosophy, Greek, and Hebrew in the Collège de France
Collège de France
The Collège de France is a higher education and research establishment located in Paris, France, in the 5th arrondissement, or Latin Quarter, across the street from the historical campus of La Sorbonne at the intersection of Rue Saint-Jacques and Rue des Écoles...
.
Final years
In 1702 he delivered the annual panegyricPanegyric
A panegyric is a formal public speech, or written verse, delivered in high praise of a person or thing, a generally highly studied and discriminating eulogy, not expected to be critical. It is derived from the Greek πανηγυρικός meaning "a speech fit for a general assembly"...
on Louis XIV. Ó Mordha joined Dr. Farrelly (Fealy) in purchasing a house near the Irish College for poor Irish students. Blind for some years he had to employ an amanuensis
Amanuensis
Amanuensis is a Latin word adopted in various languages, including English, for certain persons performing a function by hand, either writing down the words of another or performing manual labour...
, who took advantage of his master's affliction to steal and sell many hundred volumes of his choice library. What remained Ó Mordha bequeathed to the Irish College.
He died in the Collège de Navarre, and was buried in the vault under the chapel of the Irish College.
Bibilography
- De Existentia Dei, et Humanae Mentis Immortalitate, secundum Cartesii et Aristotelis Doctrinam, Paris, 1692.
- Hortatio ad Studium Linguae Graecae et Hebraicae, Montefiascone, 1700.
- Vera Sciendi Methodus, Paris, 1716.
External links
- http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/10553a.htm
- http://www.jstor.org/pss/30070962
- http://www.fourcourtspress.ie/product.php?intProductID=352
- http://www.irishineurope.com/front