Sebastian Gebhard Messmer

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Archbishop Messmer before 1915

Sebastian Gebhard Messmer (born August 29, 1847 in Goldach , Switzerland ; † August 4, 1930 there ) was the Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milwaukee .

Life

Sebastian Gebhard Messmer was born in the canton of St. Gallen . After graduating from high school in St. Gallen , he studied theology at the University of Innsbruck . On July 23, 1871, he was ordained a priest in Innsbruck . A little later Messmer emigrated to the United States , where he was incardinated in the clergy of the Diocese of Newark .

Messmer taught at Seton Hall College in South Orange and later went to Rome to study , where he received his doctorate in canon law in 1890 . When he returned to America, he briefly held a teaching position at the Catholic University in Washington DC until he was appointed bishop

On December 14, 1891, Pope Leo XIII appointed Messmer to Bishop of Green Bay . On March 27, 1892, he received the episcopal ordination from his compatriot Otto Zardetti , who was then Bishop of Saint Cloud . Co- consecrators were Bishops Winand M. Wigger of Newark and John Joseph Keane , who later became Archbishop of Dubuque .

After the death of Frederick Xavier Katzers , who was Messmer's predecessor in Green Bay, he succeeded him in November 1903 as Archbishop of Milwaukee. During his tenure, Messmer had to cope with serious disputes about the national church efforts of individual immigrant groups, especially the Poles, who moved in large numbers. He was seen as a promoter of the cooperation of women in his archdiocese and won almost 30 religious orders for a commitment. He supported charitable initiatives and the establishment of educational institutions. He was extremely critical of the United States' entry into the First World War , but did not refuse to support it after it happened in 1917.

In addition to his actual administration, he ensured an upswing in Catholic literature through the translation and publication of a large number of books and articles.

Sebastian Gebhard Messmer died in his birthplace Goldach.

Honors

The City of Milwaukee made Messmer an honorary citizen for his services .

Publications (selection)

  • Canonical procedure in disciplinary and criminal cases of clerics , 1887
  • Spirago's Method of Christian Doctrine; A Manual for Priests, Teachers, and Parents , 1901, ND 2010, ISBN 978-1-176-99469-0
  • Christian apologetics: a defense of the Catholic faith , 1903
  • Commemorative sheets on the golden jubilee of the priest of Rev. Bonaventura Frey OFM Cap , 1904
  • The works of the Right Reverend John England , 1908

literature

Web links

predecessor Office successor
Frederick Xavier Katzer Archbishop of Milwaukee
1903-1930 		Samuel Alphonse Stritch
Frederick Xavier Katzer Bishop of Green Bay
1891–1903 		Joseph John Fox
personal data
SURNAME Messmer, Sebastian Gebhard
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Messmer, Sebastian G.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Roman Catholic Archbishop of Milwaukee
DATE OF BIRTH August 29, 1847
PLACE OF BIRTH Goldach , Switzerland
DATE OF DEATH 4th August 1930
Place of death Goldach , Switzerland