Zeger Bernhard van Espen

Zeger Bernhard van Espen
Zeger Bernhard van Espen
    Zeger Bernhard van Espen
     Catholic_Encyclopedia Zeger Bernhard van Espen
    (also called ESPENIUS)
    A Belgian canonist, born at Louvain, 9 July, 1646; died at Amersfoort, Netherlands, 2 Oct., 1728. He completed his higher studies at Louvain, became priest in 1673, and doctor of civil and canon law in 1675. He soon began to teach canon law at the University of Louvain where he was obliged to lecture only for six weeks during the summer vacation; the professor might explain one or other important chapter of the decretals, at his choice. He never accepted any other chair at the university, and he resigned even this position in order to devote himself entirely to study. He was consulted by all classes on account of his profound learning in canon law, and his famous work, "Jus canonicum universum", although it raised numerous just criticisms, still remains remarkable. The author is accused, not without reason, of having borrowed considerably from the works of his predecessors, notably from Thomassin, yet it must be recognized that Van Espen possessed the art of setting forth in a lucid and intelligible way the discipline of the ancient Church; he also cast light upon questions which up to his time had been very obscure. His clear and concise style gives to his work a value which the labours of his predecessors do not possess. He collected the most recent legislative decisions of the Church and discussed them with judgment, except where party spirit blinded him. He had also the incontestable merit of showing with precision the special law of Belgium. Benedict XIV recognized his authority in this matter. On the other hand he was a strenuous defender of the Gallican theories. He misconstrued the right of religious authority and exaggerated beyond measure the right of the civil power. It may be added, however, that he exalted and combated in turn all power, even the civil power. He exalted the power of the bishops in order to lessen that of the religious orders, and the rights of an extinct chapter in order to combat the powers of the pope. He gained for himself unpleasant notoriety in the Jansenist conflicts, by denying the importance of the famous distinction between right and fact with regard to the doctrine of Jansen; he declared that it was of little consequence to admit that Jansen had taught the propositions condemned by the Bull "Unigenitus" (1713) provided the doctrine itself was rejected.
    The Jansenist quarrels led to Van Espen's ruin. On being consulted by the Jansenists of Holland with regard to the ordination of the Jansenist Bishop of Utrecht, Cornelius Steenoven, he pronounced in favour of this ordination, which had been performed without the authorization of the Holy See. An unsuccessful attempt has been made to justify Van Espen's conduct in this matter, on the ground that he merely declared that episcopal ordination performed by a single bishop was valid. This was not the whole question, nor was it indeed the principal question, viz. to determine whether an episcopal ordination, performed without the pope's consent, was admissible. His action in this matter and his Jansenist doctrines brought about his suspension a divinis by the Bishop of Mechlin. The latter summoned him to make a declaration of orthodox faith. At the order of the civil power, the University of Louvain condemned and deprived (1728) Van Espen of his university functions. In the meantime he fled, and took refuge first at Maastricht, and afterwards at Amersfoort, where he found protection in the Jansenist community, and where he died. The Augustinian Désirant, professor at the University of Louvain, is accused of having fabricated false documents in the controversy with Van Espen. This struggle is known as the "Forgery of Louvain". Désirant was condemned by the academical authorities and banished forever from his native country. The best edition of the works of Van Espen, all of which are on the Index, is that published in four volumes at Louvain, 1753. A fifth volume, "Supplementum ad varias collectiones operum", was published at Brussels in 1768, and contains numerous biographical details.
    DU PAC DE BELLEGARDE, Vi de Van Espen (Brussels, 1767); LAURENT, Van Espen (Paris, 1860); DE BAVAY, Van Espen, jurisconsulte et canoniste Belge in Belgique Judiciaire (Brussels, 1846), IV, 1463; VERHOEVEN, Van Espen in Revue Catholique (Louvain, 1846-47), IV, 497; DE RAM in BAKHUISEN, Acta Zegeri Bernardi Van Espen circa missionem Hollandicam (Mechlin, 1827).
    A. VAN HOVE.
    Transcribed by Douglas J. Potter Dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary

The Catholic Encyclopedia, Volume VIII. — New York: Robert Appleton Company. . 1910.


Catholic encyclopedia.

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  • Zeger Bernhard van Espen — (* 9. Juli 1646 in Löwen; † 2. Oktober 1728 in Amersfoort) war ein niederländischer Kirchenjurist. Leben Nach dem Studium der Theologie und des kanonischen Rechts in Löwen empfing van Espen 1673 die Priesterweihe. 1675 wurde er Professor des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Zeger Bernhard van Espen — (Espenius) (Louvain, 9 juillet 1646 Amersfoort, Pays Bas, 2 octobre 1728) était un canoniste belge. Biographie Il fit ses études supérieures à Louvain, fut ordonné prêtre en 1673 et docteur en droit civil et droit canon en… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Zeger Bernhard van Espen — (Espenius) (born at Leuven, 9 July1646; died at Amersfoort, Netherlands, 2 October1728) was a Belgian canonist.LifeHe completed his higher studies at Leuven (French: Louvain ), became priest in 1673, and doctor of civil and canon law in 1675. He… …   Wikipedia

  • Zeger Bernhard van Espen — (Lovaina, 1646 Amersfoort, 1728) fue un sacerdote y jurista flamenco neerlandés, experto en temas de derecho canónico. Profesor en las universidades de Lovaina y Leiden. Su defensa del derecho de los reyes en materias eclesiásticas (regalismo) y… …   Wikipedia Español

  • Zeger Bernard van Espen — Zeger Bernhard van Espen (en latin Espenius) (Louvain, 9 juillet 1646 Amersfoort, Pays Bas, 2 octobre 1728) était un canoniste belge. Biographie Il fit ses études supérieures à Louvain, fut ordonné prêtre en 1673 et docteur en …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Espen, Zeger Bernhard van — • Belgian canonist, born at Louvain, 9 July, 1646; died at Amersfoort, Netherlands, 2 Oct., 1728 Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006 …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Van Espen — Zeger Bernhard van Espen Zeger Bernhard van Espen (Espenius) (Louvain, 9 juillet 1646 Amersfoort, Pays Bas, 2 octobre 1728) était un canoniste belge. Biographie Il fit ses études supérieures à Louvain, fut ordonné prêtre en… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Espen [2] — Espen, Zeger Bernhard van E., geb. 1643 in Löwen, war Professor des Kirchenrechts daselbst, eifriger Vertheidiger der Jansenisten, mußte deshalb seine Stelle niederlegen, ging nach Mastricht, dann nach Amersfoort u. st. dort 1728. Er schr.: Jus… …   Pierer's Universal-Lexikon

  • Espen — Espen, Zeger Bernhard van, geb. 1646 zu Löwen, seit 1675 Professor des kanon. Rechtes daselbst, erwarb sich großes Ansehen durch seine Rechtsgelehrsamkeit, dagegen die Verdammung seiner Schriften, die suspensio a divinis und Enthebung von seinen… …   Herders Conversations-Lexikon

  • Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim — Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim, Punktierstich von 1787 Johann Nikolaus von Hontheim (* 27. Januar 1701 in Trier; † 2. September 1790 in Montquintin, Belgien; auch Justinus Febronius) war katholischer Weihbischof und Kritiker der Stellung des… …   Deutsch Wikipedia

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