Henricus Franciscus Bracq (1804–1888) was the 22nd

bishop of Ghent The Diocese of Ghent (Latin: ''Dioecesis Gandavensis'') is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or diocese of the Catholic Church in Belgium. It is a suffragan in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolis (religious jurisdiction), metropoli ...

, Belgium.

Life

Bracq was born in Ghent on 26 February 1804. He was ordained to the priesthood on 2 August 1827. From 1830 to 1864 he taught Sacred Scripture at the Major Seminary of Ghent, where he opposed the spread of the opinions of Lamennais. Aloïs Simon, "Bracq (Henri-François)", ''

Biographie Nationale de Belgique The ''Biographie nationale de Belgique'' ( French; "National Biography of Belgium") is a biographical dictionary of Belgium. It was published by the Royal Academy of Belgium in 44 volumes between 1866 and 1986. A continuation series, entitled the ' ...

''
vol. 31
(Brussels, 1961), 115-118. He was one of the founding editors of the ''Mémorial du Clergé'' (1833–1834) and of ''De Vlaming'', and an active contributor to the ''

Journal historique et littéraire ''Journal historique et littéraire'' was the title of two distinct periodicals published in Liège in the 18th and 19th centuries. 18th century The first ''Journal historique et littéraire'' was edited and in large part written by François-Xav ...

'' published in Liège. From 1836 to 1864 he was also confessor to the refounded

Visitation Sisters of Ghent Visitation may refer to: Law * Visitation (law) or contact, the right of a non-custodial parent to visit with their children * Prison visitation rights, the rules and conditions under which prisoners may have visitors Music * ''Visitation'' (D ...

. In November 1864 Bracq was elected bishop of Ghent in succession to

Louis-Joseph Delebecque Louis-Joseph Delebecque (1796–1864) was the 21st bishop of Ghent, in Belgium, from November 1838 until his death.A. Simon, "Delebecque, Louis-Joseph", in ''Biographie Nationale de Belgique''vol. 30(Brussels, 1958), 323-327. Life Delebecque was ...

, who had died the previous month. He was consecrated on 1 May 1865. As bishop he founded the

Sint-Lievenscollege The Sint-Lievenscollege is a Catholic group of schools in Ghent, Belgium, composed of a number of elementary and primary schools, a secondary general school ('humaniora') and a secondary vocational trade school. History 2 October 1865 was the start ...

in Ghent in 1865, as well as diocesan secondary schools in

Ledeberg Ledeberg is a submunicipality of the city of Ghent. It lies south-east of downtown Ghent and has direct access to the E17 road. Its population is 13,974 inhabitants (2005). Notable people *Jean Fonteyne Jean Fonteyne (1899–1974) was a B ...

, Aalst and

Ninove Ninove () is a city and municipality located in the Flemish province of East Flanders in Belgium. It is situated on the river Dender, and is part of the Denderstreek. The municipality comprises the city of Ninove proper and since the 1976 merger of ...

(1872), and opposed the semi-traditionalism taught at the

Catholic University of Leuven University of Leuven or University of Louvain (french: Université de Louvain, link=no; nl, Universiteit Leuven, link=no) may refer to: * Old University of Leuven (1425–1797) * State University of Leuven (1817–1835) * Catholic University of ...

Casimir Ubaghs Gérard Casimir Ubaghs (a/k/a Gerhard Casimir Ubaghs) (November 26, 1800 – February 15, 1875) - Dutch Catholic philosopher and theologian. For about 30 years (1834–1864) he was the chief formulator and promoter of a type of philosophical theolo ...

. In 1866 he founded a diocesan weekly, ''De Godsdienstige Week van Vlaanderen''. An

Ultramontane Ultramontanism is a clerical political conception within the Catholic Church that places strong emphasis on the prerogatives and powers of the Pope. It contrasts with Gallicanism, the belief that popular civil authority—often represented by th ...

by inclination, he attended the

First Vatican Council The First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the First Vatican Council or Vatican I was convoked by Pope Pius IX on 29 June 1868, after a period of planning and preparation that began on 6 December 1864. This, the twentieth ecu ...

,Thomas Pope, ''The Council of the Vatican, and the Events of the Time'' (Dublin, James Duffy, 1871), p. 331. promoted

Peter's Pence Peter's Pence (or ''Denarii Sancti Petri'' and "Alms of St Peter") are donations or payments made directly to the Holy See of the Catholic Church. The practice began under the Saxons in England and spread through Europe. Both before and after the ...

, and supported the

Papal Zouaves The Papal Zouaves ( it, Zuavi Pontifici) were an infantry battalion, later regiment, dedicated to defending the Papal States. Named after the French zouave regiments, the ' were mainly young men, unmarried and Catholic, who volunteered to assist ...

. Bracq took an active role in the social and political crisis known as the

First School War The First School War (french: Première guerre scolaire, nl, Eerste schoolstrijd) was a political crisis in Belgium over the issue of religion in education. The School War marks the high water mark of the conflict between the conservative Cathol ...

, in opposition to the encroachments of the state on Catholic education. He died in Ghent on 17 June 1888.

Writings

* ''Prolegomena in Sacram Scripturam'' (1833); several editions to 1865 * ''Petite Histoire sainte à l’usage des écoles gardiennes'' (1851) * ''Korte bemerkingen en raadgevingen over de gezondheid, ten gebruike der Katholieke scholen'' (undated)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bracq, Henricus Franciscus 1804 births 1888 deaths Bishops of Ghent 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in Belgium