Mathias Lambrecht (1539–1602) was the third bishop of Bruges.

Mathias Lambrecht
Bishop of Bruges
Engraved portrait of Lambrecht from Antonius Sanderus, Flandria Illustrata (1641)
ProvinceMechelen
DioceseBruges
SeeSt. Donatian's Cathedral
Installed15 August 1596
PredecessorRemi Drieux
SuccessorCharles Philippe de Rodoan
Orders
Consecration28 July 1596
Personal details
Born1539
Died1 June 1602
Bruges, County of Flanders, Spanish Netherlands
BuriedSt. Donatian's Cathedral
DenominationRoman Catholic
Alma materLeuven University

Life

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Lambrecht was born at Sint-Laureins in the Brugse Vrije around 1539. On 7 January 1569 he graduated Licentiate of Sacred Theology at Leuven University. Thereafter he taught theology at Park Abbey and was appointed a canon of Bruges cathedral, where he became penitentiary in 1571 and archdeacon in 1588, as well as rural dean of the deanery of Damme.[1]

During the disturbances of the Dutch Revolt he took refuge in Walloon Flanders, first at Douai and later at Saint-Omer. He returned to Bruges after the city returned to Habsburg rule in 1584.[1]

After the death of Remi Drieux, the second bishop of Bruges, Lambrecht was appointed his successor. He was consecrated bishop in Leuven on 28 July 1596 by Mathias Hovius, archbishop of Mechelen, and was installed in Bruges on 15 August 1596. He died on 1 June 1602, and was buried in the choir of his cathedral.[1]

Writings

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Mathias Lambrecht, Historia Ecclesiastica. Antwerp: H. Verdussen, 1609.

Drafts of his letters to cardinals Borghese, Mattei and Baronius, written on 15 February 1602, were published in 1941.[2] His books include:

  • D'leven, doot, ende lijden der Heyligen (2 vols., Leuven, Jan Bogaert, 1590)[3]
  • Historia Ecclesiastica. Oft een kerckelijcke historie (Antwerp, Hieronymus Verdussen, 1595); dedicated to the city government of Bruges.[4]
  • Un traité de l'Antéchrist (1602)

References

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  1. ^ a b c Paul Bergmans, "Lambrecht, Mathias", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 11 (Brussels, 1891), 209-210
  2. ^ Joseph M. Desmet, "Onuitgegeven brieven van Mathias Lambrecht Bisschop van Brugge (1596–1602) aan de Kardinalen Cam. Borghèse, Hier. Mathei en Caes. Baronius", Bulletin van het Belgisch Historisch Instituut te Rome, 21 (1941), pp. 51-70.
  3. ^ 1610 edition available on Google Books.
  4. ^ Available on Google Books.
  5. ^ Available on Google Books.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Bruges
1596–1602
Succeeded by