Jacques Blaseus (c.1540–1618) was successively bishop of Namur and bishop of Saint-Omer in the Spanish Netherlands.

Jacques Blaseus

Bishop of Saint-Omer
DioceseSaint-Omer
SeeCathédrale Notre-Dame de Saint-Omer
In office1601–1618
Orders
Consecration23 November 1597
by Ottavio Mirto Frangipani
Personal details
Born
Jacques de Blaese

c.1540
Died21 March 1618
Saint-Omer, County of Artois, Spanish Netherlands
BuriedSaint-Omer Cathedral
Previous post(s)Bishop of Namur, 1597–1601

Life edit

Jacques de Blaese, born in Bruges around 1540, came from a poor family and was educated at a charity school in Bruges until his abilities brought him to the attention of generous patrons, who provided him with the means for an education in the humanities.[1] As a youth he joined the Franciscans in Douai, eventually serving as provincial superior of the order in the Low Countries.[2] He was named bishop of Namur by letters patent of Philip II of Spain dated 11 May 1596. The nomination was confirmed by Pope Clement VIII in 1597, and Blaseus was consecrated bishop by the papal nuncio, Ottavio Mirto Frangipani, on 23 November. On 31 December 1598 he delivered a funeral oration for Philip II in the collegiate church of St Gudula (now the cathedral) in Brussels.[3]

Late in the year 1600, the Archdukes Albert and Isabella appointed him bishop of Saint-Omer. He took possession of the new see on 19 April 1601. He died in Saint-Omer on 21 March 1618 and was buried in his cathedral. He bequeathed his library to the church.

References edit

  1. ^ E. H. J. Reusens, "Blaseus (Jacques)", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 2 (Brussels, 1868), 462-464.
  2. ^ Fulgence Thyrion, Les Frères Mineurs à Namur (Namur, 1903), pp. 46-47.
  3. ^ Sermon funebre faict par le Réverme. Évesque de Νamur, messire Jacques Blaseus, aux funérailles du trèscatholique, très-hault et trèspuissant Prince et Monarque Philippe 2, Roy des Espaignes, etc., célébrez en Brusselles, en l'Église de Ste Goedele (Brussels, Rutger Velpius, 1599).
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Bishop of Namur
1597–1601
Succeeded by
Preceded by Bishop of Saint-Omer
1601–1618
Succeeded by