Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 8.djvu/870

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LANGENIEUX


788


LAKGHEIM


Lang^nieux, Benoit-Mahie, Cardinal, Archbishop of Reims, b. at Villefranche-sur- Saone, Department of Rhone, 1824; d. at Reims, 1 Jan., 1905. He studied humanities in Paris at St-Nicolas du Chardonnet, un- der Dupanloup; and theology at St-Suipice, where he was ordained, 1850. After nine years as curate at St-Roch, he became successively diocesan promoter 1859; cure of St-Ambroise, 1863; then of St^Augustin, 1868; Vicar-General of Paris, and archdeacon of Notre-Dame, 1871. Made Bishop of Tarbes, 187:5, he was, the following year, translated to the archiepisco- pal See of Reims. The thirty-one years of his episco- pate were fruitful ones. Beside obtaining from the French legislature an appropriation of two millions of francs for the restoration of Reims cathedral, he se- cured for the Trappists the ancient Abbey of Igny, and for the Oratorians the priory of Binson, erected at Chatillon the colossal statue of UrLian II, whose cultus he had promoted in Rome, built in the suburbs of his metropolis the churches of Ste-Genevieve, St-Jean- Baptiste de La Salle, St-Benoit, and Ste-Clothilde, this latter being afterwards made the seat of an arch- confraternity of prayer for France, and the place of celebration of the fourteenth centenary of C'lovis's baptism. When the law of school secularization came into effect, he filled his see with Catholic schools and founded four asylums for orphans. Created cardinal in 1886, he presided as papal legate over the Eucha- ristic Congresses of Jerusalem, Reims, and Lourdes.

A champion of every noble cause, he took an active part in the beatification of Joan of Arc, the panegyric which he pronounced at Orleans, 1885, being most elo- quent. He fought vigorously the' anti-religious leg- islation that was being prepared against Christian education, the religious orders, and the concordat. His "Declaration des Cardinaux et expos^ de la situa- tion faite a I'^glise de France " (1892), and his "Lettre au President de la Republique" (1904), remain as witnesses to his truly episcopal character. However, he cherished above all the title of "Cardinal des ou- vriers " given him by the gratitude of the working class, whose interests, spiritual and material, he never ceased to champion. Lang^nieux enjoyed the friend- ship of Leo XIII, who consulted him on all matters concerning the Church in France. The universal es- teem in which he was held was abundantly proved by the many decorations which European rulers be- stowed on him and by the vast concourse of bishops, priests, and people at his two jubilees and at his fu- neral. His eulogy was pronounced by Bishop Latty, of Chalons, and Bishop Touchet, of Orleans. Beside the pamphlets mentioned above and a number of occa- sional discourses, we have from Langonieux's pen: eight pastoral letters (Tarbes, 1873); 231 mandements (Reims, 1874-1905); and "AWge de I'Histoire de la Religion" (Paris, 1874).

Frezel: .Son Eminence le Cardinal LanQcnieux (Reims, 1905) ; Idem in V Episcopal franfais (Paris, 1907), a. v. Tarbes and Reims; Compans, Son Eminence le Cardinal Langtnieux (Reims, 1887); see also La France chrelienne h Reims en 1S96 (Paris, 1896).

J. F. SoLLIER.

Langevin, Louis Philippe Adelard. See St. Boniface, Ahchdiocese of.

Langham, Simon, cardinal. Archbishop of Canter- bury and Chancellor of England, b. at Langham in Rutland; d. at Avignon, France, 22 July, 1376. Nothing is known of his early life, but in 1346 he was already a Benedictine monk of Westminster Abbey, representing his house in the trieiniial chapter. In April, 1349, he was made prior, and in May he became abbot. In this office he proved very successful, ruling well and carrying out many works, including the completion of the cloisters. He became treasin-er of England on 21 Nov., 1360, and Bishop of Ely on 10 Jan., 1.362. Before consecration he was also elected Bishop of London, but he refused this sec, preferring


Ely. On 19 Feb., 1363, he received the great seal as chancellor, and he was the first to speak in English, when opening Parliament. He was appointed .Arch- bishop of Canterbury on 24 July, 1366, and received the pallium from the pope on 4 Nov., having previously resigned the chancellorship. As archbishop he was vigilant against false doctrine, condemned certain propositions taught at O.xford, removed one Wycliffe — not the well-known heretic of that name — from the headsliip of Canterbury Hall, and censured the dema- gogue-priest, John Ball. Blessed Urban V created him Cardinal of St. SLxtus, 27 Sept., 1368. His acceptance of this dignity without the king's leave offended Edward III, who seized the Canterbury revenues on the plea that Langham had by his act forfeited the see. Langham resigned the archbishop- ric on 27 Nov., and early in 1369 joined the pope at Avignon, being succeeded at Canterbury by Whittle- sey. Subsequently he regained the king's favour, but did not return to his native country, though he held several English preferments in succession, such as the archdeaconries of Wells and Taunton. Greg- ory XI made him Cardinal-Bishop of Palestrina in July, 1373, and in the following year the monks at Canterbury again elected him as archbishop. The pope refused to confirm this, alleging that he could not spare the cardinal from Avignon. When the Curia was about to return to Rome in 1376, Langham obtained permission to go back to England, but he died before he could carry out this intention. Three years after his death, his remains were translated from Avignon to Westminster Abbey to which he had bequeathed his residuary estate. He was an up- right man, and an able, if stern, ruler.

Walsingham, Historia Anglicana, Rolla Series (London, 1863-4); MuRiMUTH, Continuatio Chronicorum, Rolls Series (London, 1889); Hook, Lives of the Archbishops of Canter' bury (London, 1860-1884); \\ll.l.lA.MS, Lives of the English Car' dinals (London, 1868); Kingsford in Diet. Nat. Biog., s. v.

Edwin Burton.

Langheim, a celebrated Cistercian abbey situated in L^pper Franconia (Bavaria), not far from Mein, in the Diocese of Bamberg. Three brothers of the city of Bamberg made a gift of the estate of Langheim to Bishop St. Otto VIII, who, in 1132, offered it to the Cistercians of the Abbey of Ebrac (which was itself founded by Morimond), under the condition that they should establish there a monastery of their order. Encouraged by St. Bernard, Adam, Abbot of Ebrac, accepted the offer. On 1 August, 1132, he laid the corner stone of the new monastery, and in 1142 the buildings were completed. The first to rule this com- munity was Abbot Adam (1141-80), who, by his wis- dom and holiness, won the sympathy of the bishops of Bamberg and of the nobles of the surrounding country for the new foundation. Very soon the abbey found itself in possession of considerable revenues, and had a large number of parishes depending upon it. Pope Eugene HI and the emperors granted it many privi- leges. All the ancient historians of the order agree in saying that it surpassed every other monastery in splendour and wealth, while one of its distinctive characteristics was the generous hospitality which it extended to all visitors. But this era of prosperity endured scarcely more than two centuries, for in 1385 the Bishop of Bamberg seized part of the property of the abbey, and in 1429 the Hussites destroyed the buildings by fire. After these misfortunes it arose again from its ruins, and enjoyed a return of pros- perity, until, in 1535, the revolted peasants applied the torch and reduced all once more to ashes. After the .abbey had liccii rebuilt, a ])criod of peace ensued, but in 1632 (lie Swedish honli's delivered it up to iiillage, Kulijeelcd the nioiiks to every outrage, and left notli- iiig but niisiTv and desolation in their train. It was not until the follcnving century that Abbot Stephen Miisinger (1734-51) luul the monastery reconstructed