Victor-Auguste-Isidor Deschamps

Victor Augustin Isidore Cardinal Deschamps ( born December 6, 1810 in Melle, † September 29, 1883 in Mechelen ) was a Catholic theologian, since 1867 Archbishop of Mechelen and thus Primate of Belgium, 1875 cardinal.

Life

First, he was a lawyer and later studied theology in Mechelen. In 1834 he was ordained priest, in 1836 he became a Redemptorist ( Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer ) in Sint- Truiden and students prefect in the monastery Wittem. He was appointed in 1840 as rector in Liege. In 1865 he was ordained by Karl August von Reisach bishop. His motto was Per via Cœli porta manes. Then he took over the office of bishop of the Diocese of names and was built in 1867 as Archbishop of Mechelen. Pius IX. took him in 1875 as a cardinal priest with the titular church of San Bernardo alle Terme in the College of Cardinals and was simultaneously Primate of Belgium.

Dogma and Belgian school conflict

After his elevation to the Primate of the bishops of Belgium Deschamps actively supported the planned Infallibilisierung by Pope Pius IX. at the First Vatican Council of 1869 / 1870. During his tenure, the first Belgian school conflict, which continued in the following years, he was an opponent of the non-denominational state schools began. This Belgian school disputes prompted Pope Leo XIII. addressed this encyclical was directly to the Primate of Belgium, on 3 August 1881 publication of the Encyclical Licet multa " of the Catholics in Belgium ".

Works

• Christ and the Antichrist according to the testimony of Scripture, history and conscience in German edited by Johann Baptist Heinrich et. al.