Paul Peter Massad
Encyclopedia
Paul I Peter Massad (or Boulos Boutros Massaad, Mas'ad), was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1854 until his death in 1890.
, in the Keserwan District
, Lebanon
on February 15, 1806.
He studied in the seminary
of 'Ain-Ourakat and later in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained seven years.
Returned in Lebanon, he became secretary of Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish, who ordained him priest
on June 13, 1830.
Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
consecrated Paul Peter Massad titular bishop
of Tarsus
on March 28, 1841, and appointed him own spiritual vicar. After Patriarch Joseph Ragi El Khazen
's death, Paul Peter Massad was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on November 12, 1854 and confirmed on March 23, 1855 by Pope Pius IX
.
Paul Peter Massad was patriarch during one of the more difficult period for the Maronites. The 1858 rebellion of the peasants in the Keserwan
was a internal conflict that weakened the Maronite society, and it led to the 1860 Lebanon conflict
in which the Druze
s, with the support of the Ottoman Empire
and Great Britain
, massacred several thousands of Christians. During these events, Massad tried to relieve the sufferances of his nation, but he couldn't prevent the bloody war.
In 1867 Paul Peter Massad traveled to Rome, the second Maronite Patriach after Jeremy el-Amchiti (died 1230), and later he went to France where he met Napoleon III, asking for financial and political help for the Christians of Lebanon. He did not personally participated to First Vatican Council
in 1870, but he delegated the archbishop of Tyre, Pierre Boustani.
From a religious point of view, Massad fully established the Maronite Church within the Roman framework while maintaining many of its own typical elements. He died on April 18, 1890 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
, Lebanon.
Life
Paul Peter Massad was born in the village of AshqoutAshqout
Ashqout is an old Lebanese settlement located in the Keserwan District in the Mount Lebanon Governorate of Lebanon. The population is Maronite Catholic. It is the birthplace of Ahmad Faris Shidyaq and the Maronite Patriarch Paul Peter Massad ....
, in the Keserwan District
Keserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
, Lebanon
Lebanon
Lebanon , officially the Republic of LebanonRepublic of Lebanon is the most common term used by Lebanese government agencies. The term Lebanese Republic, a literal translation of the official Arabic and French names that is not used in today's world. Arabic is the most common language spoken among...
on February 15, 1806.
He studied in the seminary
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of 'Ain-Ourakat and later in Rome in the College of the Propaganda where he remained seven years.
Returned in Lebanon, he became secretary of Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish, who ordained him priest
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....
on June 13, 1830.
Patriarch Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph Peter Hobaish
Joseph VIII Peter Hobaish , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1823 until his death in 1845.-Life:...
consecrated Paul Peter Massad 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 Tarsus
Tarsus, Mersin
Tarsus is a historic city in south-central Turkey, 20 km inland from the Mediterranean Sea. It is part of the Adana-Mersin Metropolitan Area, the fourth-largest metropolitan area in Turkey with a population of 2.75 million...
on March 28, 1841, and appointed him own spiritual vicar. After Patriarch Joseph Ragi El Khazen
Joseph Ragi El Khazen
Joseph IX Ragi El Khazen , , was the Maronite Patriarch of Antioch from 1845 until his death in 1854.-Life:...
's death, Paul Peter Massad was elected patriarch of Antioch of the Maronites on November 12, 1854 and confirmed on March 23, 1855 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...
.
Paul Peter Massad was patriarch during one of the more difficult period for the Maronites. The 1858 rebellion of the peasants in the Keserwan
Keserwan District
Keserwan is a district in the Mount Lebanon Governorate , Lebanon, to the northeast of the Lebanon's capital Beirut...
was a internal conflict that weakened the Maronite society, and it led to the 1860 Lebanon conflict
1860 Lebanon conflict
The 1860 Lebanon conflict was the culmination of a peasant uprising which began in the north of Lebanon as a rebellion of Maronite peasants against their Druze overlords. It soon spread to the south of the country where the rebellion changed its character, with Druze turning against the Maronite...
in which the Druze
Druze
The Druze are an esoteric, monotheistic religious community, found primarily in Syria, Lebanon, Israel, and Jordan, which emerged during the 11th century from Ismailism. The Druze have an eclectic set of beliefs that incorporate several elements from Abrahamic religions, Gnosticism, Neoplatonism...
s, with the support of the Ottoman Empire
Ottoman Empire
The Ottoman EmpireIt was usually referred to as the "Ottoman Empire", the "Turkish Empire", the "Ottoman Caliphate" or more commonly "Turkey" by its contemporaries...
and Great Britain
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
, massacred several thousands of Christians. During these events, Massad tried to relieve the sufferances of his nation, but he couldn't prevent the bloody war.
In 1867 Paul Peter Massad traveled to Rome, the second Maronite Patriach after Jeremy el-Amchiti (died 1230), and later he went to France where he met Napoleon III, asking for financial and political help for the Christians of Lebanon. He did not personally participated to 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...
in 1870, but he delegated the archbishop of Tyre, Pierre Boustani.
From a religious point of view, Massad fully established the Maronite Church within the Roman framework while maintaining many of its own typical elements. He died on April 18, 1890 in the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate in Bkerké
Bkerké
Bkerké is the See of the Maronite Catholic Patriarchate, located 650 m above the bay of Jounieh in Lebanon....
, Lebanon.