Augustus Marie Martin
Bishop of Natchitoches | |
Church | Roman Catholic Church |
See | Diocese of Natchitoches |
In office | November 30, 1853 – September 29, 1875 |
Predecessor | none |
Successor | Francis Xavier Leray |
Orders | |
Ordination | September 1825 |
Consecration | November 30, 1853 |
Personal details | |
Born | Saint-Malo, Brittany, France | February 1, 1803
Died | September 29, 1875 Natchitoches, Louisiana, United States | (aged 72)
Augustus Marie Martin (February 1, 1803 – September 29, 1875) was a French-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as the first bishop of the Diocese of Natchitoches in Louisiana from 1853 until 1875.
Biography
Early life
Martin was born February 1, 1803, in
Priesthood
Martin was
After arriving in Indiana in 1839, Martin was appointed pastor of St. Vincent's Parish in
Although it was reported that Martin left the Diocese of Vincennes due to failing health, it was in fact due to the problems created by Bishop Hailandiere.[5] Martin had been recruited by Hailandiere, but because of Hailandiere's insistence on total control, many priests left the diocese. In 1846, Martin went to Louisiana, where he was appointed to St. Martin's Parish at Attakapas. In 1847 he became pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in Baton Rouge, St. John's Parish at the Plains, and St. Magdalen's Parish in Manchac, Louisiana.[3] Martin was transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in Natchitoches, Louisiana, in 1849.[3] He was made vicar forane of north Louisiana under Archbishop Antoine Blanc,in 1850.
Bishop of Natchitoches
On July 29, 1853, Martin was appointed the first
During his 22-year-long tenure, Martin established a seminary to train native clergy, founded numerous missions, and erected the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.[7] He guided the diocese during the American Civil War (1861–1865), and attended the Second Plenary Council of Baltimore (1866) and First Vatican Council in Rome (1869–1870).
Augustus Martin died in Natchitoches on September 29, 1875, at age 72, and is buried at the Basilica.
References
- ^ Mahé, Célestin. "Natchitoches." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911. This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
- ^ a b "Bishop Auguste Marie Martin", Shreveport Martyrs
- ^ a b c d Clarke, Richard Henry. "Right Rev. Augustus Mary Martin, D.D.". Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States.
- ^ Guerin, Mother Theodore (1937). Journals and Letters of Mother Theodore Guerin. Providence Press.
- ^ Borromeo, Sister Mary (1949). History of the Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary of the Woods. Benziger Brothers. p. 437.
- ^ a b "Bishop Augustus Marie Martin". Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
- ^ "History". Roman Catholic Diocese of Alexandria in Louisiana. Archived from the original on 2010-08-08.