Joseph Hergenröther facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Joseph Hergenröther |
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| Archivist of the Vatican Secret Archives | |
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| Church | Roman Catholic Church |
| Appointed | 9 June 1879 |
| Reign ended | 3 October 1890 |
| Predecessor | Jean Baptiste François Pitra |
| Successor | Luigi Tripepi |
| Other posts |
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| Orders | |
| Ordination | 28 March 1848 |
| Created Cardinal | 12 May 1879 |
| Rank | Cardinal-Deacon |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Joseph Hergenröther |
| Born | 15 September 1824 Würzburg, German Confederation |
| Died | 3 October 1890 (aged 66) Bregenz, Austria-Hungary |
| Parents | Johann Jacob Hergenröther Eva Maria Horsch |
| Previous post | Cardinal-Deacon of San Nicola in Carcere (1879–88) |
| Alma mater | University of Würzburg University of Münich |
Joseph Hergenröther (born September 15, 1824, died October 3, 1890) was an important German historian of the Church. He was also an expert in canon law, which is the law of the Catholic Church. He became the very first Cardinal-Prefect of the Vatican Archives.
Contents
Biography
Early Life and Education
Joseph Hergenröther was born in Würzburg, a city in Germany. His father, Johann Jacob Hergenröther, was a professor of medicine at the University of Würzburg. In 1842, Joseph finished his high school studies with great success. He then went to the University of Würzburg. There, he studied philosophy for two years and also some theology. Even when he was young, he showed an interest in history. He wrote a dramatic poem called Papst Gregor VII (Pope Gregory VII) in 1841.
In 1844, Bishop von Stahl helped him go to the Collegium Germanicum et Hungaricum in Rome. This was a special college for German students. Joseph studied theology there with many famous teachers. However, political problems in 1848 meant he couldn't finish his studies in Rome. He became a priest on March 28, 1848. He then returned to Würzburg to continue his studies.
Becoming a Professor
In 1849, Joseph became a chaplain in Zellingen. He also earned his doctorate in theology from the University of Munich. His paper was about the Holy Trinity, a key Christian belief. Because of his excellent work, the University of Munich offered him a job as a theology instructor. He accepted and dedicated himself to teaching. In 1852, he was invited back to Würzburg as a professor of canon law and church history. Three years later, in 1855, he became a full professor. He also taught patrology, which is the study of early Christian writers. Würzburg was lucky to have many great theologians like him at that time.
Hergenröther was often chosen to be the dean of his faculty. He also served on the University Senate. However, after 1871, he no longer held the Senate position. This was because he disagreed with another scholar, Ignaz von Döllinger. For a similar reason, he was never chosen to be the university's rector (head).
Research on Church History
Until 1869, Hergenröther focused on teaching and writing. He mainly studied early Christian and Byzantine (Eastern Roman Empire) church history. He was very interested in Photius and the reasons behind the Greek Schism. This was a major split between the Eastern and Western Christian Churches. He spent many years researching in libraries to find and study Photius's writings. This research led to his important work, Photius Patriarch von Constantinopel, sein Leben, seine Schriften, und das griechische Schisma. This huge work (3 volumes) was published between 1867 and 1869. It is considered a classic because of his deep knowledge and fair approach. In these books, Hergenröther explained in great detail how the Byzantine Church developed. He also showed how the split with the Western Church happened over centuries.
Defending the Catholic Church
As a professor of canon law, Hergenröther wrote many important essays. These included topics like the laws for different Christian traditions within the Catholic Church. He also wrote about the relationship between Spain and the Pope. He also wrote about current events, like the situation of the Papal States after the French Revolution. He also discussed the importance of the Pope's power. He contributed regularly to Catholic newspapers and magazines. He also often spoke at meetings of German Catholic groups. He wanted to help Catholics develop a strong faith and live Christian lives.
The Vatican Council and Papal Infallibility
In 1868, Hergenröther was asked to help prepare for the First Vatican Council. This was a very important meeting of Catholic bishops from around the world. He moved to Rome to work on this. His knowledge of church history, law, and beliefs made him very valuable. The Vatican Council (1870) brought up a big debate in Germany about Papal infallibility. This is the belief that the Pope cannot make a mistake when speaking officially on matters of faith and morals. Hergenröther was a strong supporter of the council and its decisions. He wrote a book called "Anti-Janus" in 1870. This book was a response to "Janus," a work by Döllinger that criticized the council. Hergenröther also wrote many shorter articles defending the council and the Pope's teaching authority. His major work, Katholische Kirche u. christlicher Staat (The Catholic Church and the Christian State), was published in 1872. This book was full of information about past conflicts between the Church and governments. It was translated into English and Italian.
Later Works and Cardinal Appointment
Hergenröther also wrote his Handbuch der allgemeinen Kirchengeschichte (Manual of General Church History) in 1876. This book was praised for its detailed information and accuracy. He continued to update it in later editions. He also started editing a new edition of the "Kirchenlexikon," a large encyclopedia of church knowledge. However, he had to stop this work when he became a cardinal. In 1877, Pope Pius IX recognized his great service to the Church. He made him a "domestic prelate," a special honor. In 1879, Pope Leo XIII decided to open the Vatican Archives to scholars worldwide. He chose Hergenröther to lead this important project. On May 12, 1879, Hergenröther was made a Cardinal-Deacon. He became the first Cardinal-Prefect of the Apostolic Archives. His job was to organize the archives and make them easy for scholars to use. Many historians have praised how well he did this.
Hergenröther also started editing the official letters of Pope Leo X. This was a very difficult task because of the old handwriting. He published eight parts of this work before he died. He also continued another big project: adding to Karl Joseph von Hefele's "History of the Councils." He published two more volumes of this history before his death. One of these volumes covered the early history of the Council of Trent and the Protestant Reformation.
In his last years, Cardinal Hergenröther suffered from a stroke. It affected his body but not his sharp mind. He continued his writing until the day he died. In the summer of 1890, he was staying at the Cistercian Abbey of Mehrerau in Austria. He had another stroke there and passed away. He was buried in the abbey church. In 1897, his friends built a monument to honor him.
His portrait was painted by the artist Adolfo Müller-Ury sometime between 1882 and 1884. The painting's current location is unknown.
Works
Here are some of Joseph Hergenröther's most important works:
- His history of the Papal States since the French Revolution: Der Kirchenstaat seit der französischen Revolution (1860).
- His major work on the relationship between the Church and the State: Katholische Kirche und christlicher Staat (1872). This book was translated into English.
- His universal church history: Handbuch der allgemeinen Kirchengeschichte (1876). This book had several updated editions.
- He also helped edit a new edition of Kirchenlexikon (1877).
- He oversaw the publication of some of the official letters of Pope Leo X (1884-1885).
- He added two volumes to Karl Josef von Hefele's Conciliengeschichte (History of the Councils) (1887 and 1890).
Images for kids
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Joseph Hergenröther
