Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose

Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose (French pronunciation: [ɑ̃ʁi maʁi ɡastɔ̃ bwanɔʁmɑ̃ bɔnʃoz]; 30 May 1800 – 28 October 1883)[1] was a French Catholic and senator.[2][3] He was the last surviving cardinal to have been born in the 18th century.


Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose
Archbishop of Rouen
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
ArchdioceseRouen
SeeRouen
Appointed18 March 1858
Term ended28 October 1883
PredecessorLouis-Marie-Edmont Blanquart de Bailleul
SuccessorLéon-Benoît-Charles Thomas
Other post(s)Cardinal-Priest of San Clemente (1864-83)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination21 December 1833
by Jean-François-Marie Le Pappe de Trévern
Consecration30 January 1848
by Antonio Francesco Orioli
Created cardinal11 December 1863
by Pope Pius IX
RankCardinal-Priest
Personal details
Born
Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose

30 May 1800
Died28 October 1883(1883-10-28) (aged 83)
Rouen, French Third Republic
BuriedRouen Cathedral
ParentsLouis Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose
Sara Maria Schas
MottoFide ac virtute
Coat of armsHenri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose's coat of arms

Biography

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Bonnechose was born in Paris. Entering the magistracy, he became attorney-general for the district of Besançon in 1830, but having received holy orders at Strasburg, under the episcopate of Jean François Marie Lepappe de Trevern, he was made professor of sacred eloquence in the school of higher studies founded at Besançon by Cardinal de Rohan.[2]

After the death of de Rohan, he went to Rome to settle the differences between Bishop de Trevern and himself, due to philosophical opinions found in his work, "Philosophy of Christianity", for which Bonnechose had written an introduction. In 1844 he was named by Rome superior of the community of St. Louis. In 1847 he became Bishop of Carcassonne. He was transferred on 4 November 1854 to the see of Évreux and in 1854 raised to the archiepiscopal see of Rouen.[2]

Created cardinal in 1863,[4] he became ex-officio senator of the empire. The cardinal showed himself a warm advocate of the temporal power of the popes, and firmly protested against the withdrawal of the French army from the Pontifical States.[2]

In 1870, he went to Versailles, the headquarters of the German armies, to entreat Wilhelm I of Prussia to reduce the war contribution imposed on the city of Rouen. Under the republican government he uniformly opposed the laws and measures passed against religious congregations and their schools, but endeavored to inspire his clergy to deference and conciliation in their relations with the civil authorities.[2]

His best known work is "Introduction a la philosophie du Christianisme" (1835), two octavo volumes.

References

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  • Guerin, Dict. des dict. (Paris, 1892)
  • Larousse, Dict. Univ. du XIX siecle (Paris 1867)

Notes

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  1. ^ Biographical Dictionary: Consistory of December 11, 1863 (XIV)
  2. ^ a b c d e   One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed. (1907). "Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand de Bonnechose". Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 2. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  3. ^ "Henri-Marie-Gaston Boisnormand Cardinal de Bonnechose". Catholic Hierarchy.[permanent dead link]
  4. ^ Cardinals Created by Pius IX (1861-8)