Augustus Marie Martin
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Augustus Marie Martin (February 1, 1803 – September 29, 1875) was a French-born
prelate A prelate () is a high-ranking member of the Minister (Christianity), Christian clergy who is an Ordinary (church officer), ordinary or who ranks in precedence with ordinaries. The word derives from the Latin , the past participle of , which me ...
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
Saint-Malo Saint-Malo (, , ; Gallo language, Gallo: ; ) is a historic French port in Ille-et-Vilaine, Brittany (administrative region), Brittany. The Fortification, walled city on the English Channel coast had a long history of piracy, earning much wealth ...
,
Brittany Brittany ( ) is a peninsula, historical country and cultural area in the north-west of modern France, covering the western part of what was known as Armorica in Roman Gaul. It became an Kingdom of Brittany, independent kingdom and then a Duch ...
, and studied under
Jean-Marie de Lamennais Jean-Marie Robert de La Mennais, FICP (or de Lamennais; 1780–1860) was a Breton Catholic priest and brother of the philosopher Felicité Robert de Lamennais, whom he influenced in their youth. He was a leading figure in the revival of the C ...
. As a
seminarian A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as clergy ...
, he was employed the Grand Almonry of France in Paris under Cardinal Gustave Maximilien Juste de Croÿ-Solre.Mahé, Célestin. "Natchitoches." The Catholic Encyclopedia
Vol. 10. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1911.


Priesthood

Martin was
ordained Ordination is the process by which individuals are Consecration in Christianity, consecrated, that is, set apart and elevated from the laity class to the clergy, who are thus then authorized (usually by the religious denomination, denominationa ...
to the priesthood May 31, 1828."Bishop Auguste Marie Martin", Shreveport Martyrs
/ref> He served as pastor in Bleurais and Vern before being assigned as
chaplain A chaplain is, traditionally, a cleric (such as a minister, priest, pastor, rabbi, purohit, or imam), or a lay representative of a religious tradition, attached to a secular institution (such as a hospital, prison, military unit, intellige ...
of the Royal College of
Rennes Rennes (; ; Gallo language, Gallo: ''Resnn''; ) is a city in the east of Brittany in Northwestern France at the confluence of the rivers Ille and Vilaine. Rennes is the prefecture of the Brittany (administrative region), Brittany Regions of F ...
. In 1839, Martin accepted an invitation from Bishop
Célestine Guynemer de la Hailandière Celestine is a given name and a surname. People Given name * Pope Celestine I (died 432) * Pope Celestine II (died 1144) * Pope Celestine III (c. 1106–1198) * Pope Celestine IV (died 1241) * Pope Celestine V (1215–1296) * Antipope Cel ...
to immigrate to the United States and join the
Diocese of Vincennes The Roman Catholic Diocese of Vincennes () was the first Latin Church diocese in Indiana. It was erected 6 May 1834 by Pope Gregory XVI. Its initial ecclesiastical jurisdiction encompassed Indiana as well as the eastern third of Illinois, with it ...
in Indiana. After arriving in Indiana in 1839, Martin was appointed pastor of St. Vincent's Parish in
Logansport, Indiana Logansport is a city in and the county seat of Cass County, Indiana, United States. The population was 18,366 at the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census. Logansport is located in northern Indiana at the junction of the Wabash River, Wabash an ...
, and the Cathedral in
Vincennes, Indiana Vincennes is a city in, and the county seat of, Knox County, Indiana, United States. It is located on the lower Wabash River in the southwestern part of the state, nearly halfway between Evansville and Terre Haute. It was founded in 1732 by F ...
. In 1843, he was named
vicar general A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop or archbishop of a diocese or an archdiocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vica ...
of the diocese (1843–1846), in addition to engaging in the missions of Indiana. During this time, Martin became a confidant of
Theodore Guerin Theodore may refer to: Places * Theodore, Australian Capital Territory, Australia * Theodore, Queensland, Australia * Theodore, Saskatchewan, Canada * Theodore, Alabama, United States * Theodore Reservoir, in Saskatchewan People * Theodore (g ...
, the founder of the
Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods The Sisters of Providence of Saint Mary-of-the-Woods are an Consecrated life (Catholic Church), apostolic congregation of Roman Catholic Church, Catholic women founded by Saint Theodore Guerin, Theodora Guerin (known colloquially as Saint Mo ...
in the diocese since 1840. The two corresponded often, exchanging letters back and forth. 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. 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 Louisiana ( ; ; ) is a state in the Deep South and South Central regions of the United States. It borders Texas to the west, Arkansas to the north, and Mississippi to the east. Of the 50 U.S. states, it ranks 31st in area and 25 ...
, where he was appointed to St. Martin's Parish at
Attakapas The Atakapa Sturtevant, 659 or Atacapa were an Indigenous people of the Southeastern Woodlands, who spoke the Atakapa language and historically lived along the Gulf of Mexico in what is now Texas and Louisiana. They included several distinct b ...
. In 1847 he became pastor of St. Joseph's Parish in
Baton Rouge Baton Rouge ( ; , ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital city of the U.S. state of Louisiana. It had a population of 227,470 at the 2020 United States census, making it List of municipalities in Louisiana, Louisiana's second-m ...
, St. John's Parish at the Plains, and St. Magdalen's Parish in
Manchac, Louisiana Manchac (also known as Akers) is an unincorporated community in Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana, United States. Etymology Dr. John R. Swanton, a linguist who worked with Native American languages, suggested that the name Manchac is derived from ...
. Martin was transferred to St. Francis of Assisi Parish in
Natchitoches, Louisiana Natchitoches ( ; , ), officially the City of Natchitoches, is a small city in, and the parish seat of, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, Natchitoches Parish, Louisiana, United States. At the 2020 United States census, the city's population was ...
, in 1849. He was made vicar forane of north Louisiana under Archbishop
Antoine Blanc Antoine Blanc (11 October 1792 – 20 June 1860) was the fifth Bishop and first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of New Orleans. His tenure, during which the diocese was elevated to an archdiocese, was at a time of growth in the city ...
, in 1850.


Bishop of Natchitoches

On July 29, 1853, Martin was appointed the first
bishop A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of Episcopal polity, authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of di ...
of the newly erected Diocese of Natchitoches by
Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...
. He received his
episcopal consecration A bishop is an ordained member of the clergy who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance and administration of dioceses. The role ...
on November 30, 1853, from Archbishop Blanc, with Bishops
Michael Portier Michael Portier (September 7, 1795, Montbrison, France – May 14, 1859, Mobile, Alabama) was an American Catholic bishop who served as the first Bishop of Mobile from 1829 until his death in 1859. Portier emigrated from France in 1817, a ...
and
James Oliver Van de Velde James Oliver Van de Velde, SJ (April 3, 1795 – November 13, 1855) was a Belgian-born Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Natchez from 1853 to his death. He was a member of the Jesuits. Van de Velde previously served as Bishop of Chica ...
serving as
co-consecrators A consecrator is a bishop who ordains someone to the episcopacy. A co-consecrator is someone who assists the consecrator bishop in the act of ordaining a new bishop. The terms are used in the canon law of the Catholic Church, Lutheran Churche ...
, at the St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans. Martin had four priests to serve about 25,000 Catholics scattered over 22,000 square miles. One of his first acts was to return to Brittany, to recruit missionaries. "We offer you no salary, no recompense, no holiday or pension. But, much hard work, a poor dwelling, few consolations, many disappointments, frequent sickness, a violent or lonely death, and unknown grave." Five of those who responded died in 1873, in a yellow fever epidemic in Shreveport. During his 22-year-long tenure, Martin established a
seminary A seminary, school of theology, theological college, or divinity school is an educational institution for educating students (sometimes called seminarians) in scripture and theology, generally to prepare them for ordination to serve as cle ...
to train native clergy, founded numerous missions, and erected the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. He guided the diocese during the
American Civil War The American Civil War (April 12, 1861May 26, 1865; also known by Names of the American Civil War, other names) was a civil war in the United States between the Union (American Civil War), Union ("the North") and the Confederate States of A ...
(1861–1865), and attended the
Second Plenary Council of Baltimore The Plenary Councils of Baltimore were three meetings of American Catholic bishops, archbishops and superiors of religious orders in the United States. The councils were held in 1852, 1866 and 1884 in Baltimore, Maryland. These three conferenc ...
(1866) and
First Vatican Council The First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, commonly known as the First Vatican Council or Vatican I, was the 20th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church, held three centuries after the preceding Council of Trent which was adjourned in 156 ...
in Rome (1869–1870). Augustus Martin died in Natchitoches on September 29, 1875, at age 72, and is buried at the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception.


References


External links

{{DEFAULTSORT:Martin, Augustus Marie 1803 births 1875 deaths French emigrants to the United States Clergy from Saint-Malo Catholic Church in Indiana Roman Catholic bishops of Alexandria 19th-century Roman Catholic bishops in the United States