San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1897-06-15
MGR. JANSEN.
Short Sketch Of This Eminent Catholic
Prelate.

From the N. o. States.)
Not only the Roman Catholics Of this
city, but people of all creeds, were
painfully and sorrowfully surprised
this morning when the news was re-
ceived of the death of the Archbishop
of New Orleans, Monseigneur Francis
Janssen
The Archbishop of New Orleans was
a native of Tilburg, North Brabant,
Holland. His family ranked among the
wealthiest and best considered in the
land, but from his early boyhood he
seemed to be predestined for the ca
reer that subsequently brought him
most fruitful returns, If not in evanes-
cent temporal gains, at least most
bounteous in spiritual riches. His
thoughtful, studious disposition when
youth, caused his deeply religious par
ents to cherish the hope, which was
eventually realized, that their beloved
Francis would emulate the virtue and
the apostolic zeal of his illustrious
sanity namesake Of Assist.
Casting aside as a worthless encum-
brance the burden of honors and
wealth and logic prestige that was his
birthright, the young and pious
Francis entered the preparatory semin-
airy of Bois-de-Duc, in his native coun-
try, and after the usual courses of stu
dies, in the humanities, was promoted
to the higher seminary of Bois-le-Duc,
where he completed by mastering phil
osophy and theology, the instruction
necessary to be ordained as sub-dea-
con. Having reached that rank in 1866
the jealous seminarian felt called to
embrace the heroic career of mission
airy. In the fall of 1866 he entered the
American college attached to the Uni
versity of Louvain, and there perfected
himself in the use of the English Ian
guage preparatory to leaving for this
country. On the 21st of December, 1867,
he was ordained priest at the age of
"a He was soon sailing for his chosen
field of labor, and landed at Richmond,
Va, in September, 1868. The young
priest was not long in winning the es-
TEEN of Right Rev. John McGill, ordin-
airy of the diocese, who gave him a
place among the priests of the cathe-
dral. Two years thereafter Father
Jansen was chosen to fill the vacant
pastorate of the cathedral. At the
death of Bishop McGill, in 1872, the
Right Rev. James Gibbons was elected
to the See of Richmond, remaining in
office five years, until promoted to the
archiepiscopal chair of Baltimore, nda
Prince of the church in America,
Father Jansen, who had been honor
ed with the friendship of Bishop Glib
bons, and who was by him chosen his
vicar-general, administered the affairs
Of the diocese until Right Rev. John
j. Keane took his seat as successor of
Bishop Gibbons.
Approaching the valuable services of
Right Rev. Jansen, Bishop Keane re-
tanned him as vicar-general. So able,
jealous and intelligent had been the
administration of the young Holland
prelate, that his superiors singled him
out for further honors. In January,
1880, the bishopric of Natchez being va
cant by reason of the promotion Of
Right Rev. Elder to be Archbishop of
Cincinnati, Father Janssens was Sc
lected to fill the See. He was conse-
Grated Bishop of Natchez in Richmond,
Va, by Archbishop (now Cardinal Glib
bons) His administration of his new
diocese was marked with astonishing
progress by the increase in the number
of parishes, the establishment of new
schools, and the happiest revival of in
terest among the Catholics of Natchez
nj all that pertained to the welfare and
honor and glory of the church. One
Of the most notable events due entirely
to Bishop Janssens' zeal was the chris
tianization of the Choctaw Indians in
the northern part of Mississippi. In
1884 an extensive farm was bought and
divided in tracts among the Indian
families, and church and school were
erected. The Sisters of Mercy, invited
by Bishop Janssens, took charge of
the school, which soon was very -four
ishing.
In 1887, when Monseigneur Leray,
Archbishop of New Orleans, died, Rome
chose as his successor the revered
Bishop of Natchez and to the regret of
the whole population, irrespective of
creed, the Right Rev. Janssens bade
adieu to the city of Natchez and left
for New Orleans in September, 1888.
Monseigneur Leray died Sept. 23,1SS7,
and it was nearly one year after his
demise that the bull, formally announc-
in the election of Right Rev. Janssens
to succeed him was issued. This delay
was caused by the unsettled condition
of the finance of the diocese, the de- |
pletion by death in the ranks of the |
priests, the absolute need of additional |
churches and schools, and the lack Of |
a seminary to prepare aspirants for |
the priesthood.
The Holy Father chose wisely when |
he called Bishop Janssens to assume |
charge of the diocese of New Orleans.
Accepting the trust with deep sense
of its responsibilities, the Right Rev.
Janssens brought into play his con-
summate administrative abilities, and
after four years Of superhuman efforts
he succeeded in re-establishing the do
FRY hac