James Gibbons

James Cardinal Gibbons ( born July 23, 1834 in Baltimore, USA, † March 24, 1921 ibid ) was Archbishop of Baltimore.

Life

The son of an Irish immigrant had two brothers and three sisters. As worsened the health of his father, the family returned to Ireland. When his father died in 1847, and the economic situation of the family was not the best, the mother returned with the children back to the USA.

Now living in New Orleans, Gibbons worked in various companies to the economic support of his family; as well as in a grocery store whose owner estimated the intelligent young gibbons and very supported him in his economic interests and abilities.

In the spring of 1854, the Redemptorists took in his parish, a parish mission. Under the impression of which is Gibbons decided to become a priest what his employer tried to dissuade him with persuasion and salary bonuses. But in 1855 he began his theological studies in Baltimore and entered the local seminary. Ordained priest on June 30, 1861, he began his pastoral activities in Baltimore, which was then drawn from the civil war.

Soon learned the archbishop of his excellent sermons and great abilities. He summoned him to the diocesan administration and appointed him his advice. On March 3, 1868 Gibbons was appointed Vicar Apostolic of North Carolina and titular bishop of Adramyttium, which at that time was only 700 Catholics on 50,000 m². The bishop He was ordained on August 16, 1868 by Archbishop Martin John Spalding.

After he had attended in 1869 as the youngest bishop in the First Vatican Council, he was appointed on 30 July 1872 Bishop of Richmond, where he was enthroned on 20 October 1872. Already on May 20, 1877 he received the appointment as Koadjutorerzbischof of Baltimore and Titular Archbishop of Ionopolis. As Bishop of Richmond entpflichtet he went to Baltimore, where he became the successor of Archbishop already on 3 October 1877.

Gibbons, who has always been an avid Americans worked successfully for the integration of the Catholic Church in American society, but also worried about the immigrants and the training of priests. He was respected by Catholics and Protestants alike high. On June 7, 1886 it took Pope Leo XIII. as cardinal priest with the title of Santa Maria in Trastevere in the College of Cardinals.