Michael Levadoux

Michael Levadoux

Michael Levadoux (born at Clermont-Ferrand, in Auvergne, France, 1 April 1746; died at Le-Puy-en-Velay, 13 January 1815) was a French Sulpician, one of those who went to the United States and founded St. Mary's Seminary in Baltimore, in the aftermath of the French Revolution.

Life

He entered the Sulpician Seminary at Clermont, 30 October, 1769, where he studied theology, then went to the "Solitude", or Sulpician novitiate, for one year. He was appointed, in 1774, director of the seminary at Limoges, where he remained till 1791.

In consequence of the threatening aspect of affairs for Catholicism in France, Jacques-André Emery, Superior-General of the Sulpicians, deemed it prudent to found a house of their institute abroad, and at the suggestion of Antonio Dugnani, nuncio at Paris, the United States was chosen. Negotiations were opened with Bishop Carroll, recently consecrated, and after some delay Rev. Francis C. Nagot, S.S., was named first director of the projected seminary at Baltimore. With him were associated MM. Levadoux, Tessier, Gamier, and Montdésir, together with several seminarians.

Rev. M. Delavau, Canon of St. Martin of Tours, and François-René de Chateaubriand joined the party, which sailed from Saint Malo, 8 April, 1791, and after a tempestuous and roundabout voyage reached Baltimore 10 July. For one year M. Levadoux, as treasurer, assisted M. Nagot in organizing the Seminary of St. Mary's, and was then sent by the latter to the Illinois mission, for which M. Emery had at first destined M. Chicosneau, deeming M. Levadoux a better administrator of temporal affairs. Empowered as vicar-general by Bishop Carroll, he took his departure for the West on 15 January, 1792.

His missionary labours centred around Cahokia and Kaskaskia. The registers of the latter place bear his signature from Dec., 1792, and he seems to have spent most of his time from 1793 to 1796 at Cahokia, though after Benedict Joseph Flaget left Fort Vincennes in 1795 he visited that post also. Meanwhile as the health of M. Nagot, superior of the Sulpicians in the United States, was failing fast, he was desirous of having M. Levadoux near him at Baltimore, that he might be ready to succeed him in office; but Bishop Carroll was no less anxious to secure his services for Detroit. The bishop's wishes prevailed, and M. Levadoux became parish priest of St. Anne's in 1796. It was he who performed the obsequies of Rev. F. X. Dufaux, S.S., missionary to the Hurons at the parish of the Assumption opposite Detroit, who died at his post 10 September, 1796.

After the death of Dufaux, M. Levadoux had frequent occasion to minister to the spiritual wants of the Native Americans and of other scattered Catholics from Sandusky and Mackinaw to Fort Wayne. In 1801 M. Nagot recalled M. Levadoux to Baltimore.

In 1803 he received orders from M. Emery to return to France, where he was soon appointed superior of the Seminary of St. Flour in Auvergne, and remained there until the dispersion of the Sulpicians by Napoleon I, in 1811. When their institute was revived, in 1814, the Rev. M. Duclaux, successor of Emery, placed M. Levadoux at the head of the Seminary of Le-Puy-en-Velay.

References

  • SHEA, Hist. of Cath. Ch. in the U. S., II, 379, 407, 483, 485, 489-490, 606;
  • PHÉPIN DE RIVIÈRE, Vie de M. Richard, S.S., Manuscript in St. Mary's Seminary Archives, Baltimore, 369, note;
  • DILHET, Etat de l'église Catholique ou du diocèse des Etats Unis;
  • Manuscript registers of the Immaculate Conception Church, Kaskaskia, and of Mackinaw.

External links

 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainHerbermann, Charles, ed (1913). Catholic Encyclopedia. Robert Appleton Company. 


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Нужна курсовая?

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Michael Levadoux —     Michael Levadoux     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Michael Levadoux     One of the first band of Sulpicians who, owing to the distressed state of religion in France, went to the United States and founded St. Mary s Seminary in Baltimore; born at… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Levadoux, Michael — • One of the first band of Sulpicians who, owing to the distressed state of religion in France, went to the United States and founded St. Mary s Seminary in Baltimore; born at Clermont Ferrand, in Auvergne, France, 1 April, 1746; died at Le Puy… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Sulpicians in the United States — • Came to the United States at the very rise of the American Hierarchy Catholic Encyclopedia. Kevin Knight. 2006. Sulpicians in the United States     Sulpicians in the United States …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Detroit, Michigan —     Detroit     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Detroit     (Detroitensis)     Diocese established 8 March, 1838, comprises the counties of the lower peninsula of the State of Michigan, U.S.A., south of the Counties of Ottawa, Kent, Montcalm, Gratiot,… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Society of Saint-Sulpice — The seal of the Society of Saint Sulpice Abbreviation P.S.S. Formation 1657 (354 years ago) …   Wikipedia

  • Diocese of Marquette —     Diocese of Marquette     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Diocese of Marquette     (SAULT STE. MARIE and MARQUETTE, MARIANOPOLITANA ET MARQUETTENSIS)     The Diocese comprises the upper peninsula and the adjacent islands of the State of Michigan,… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Viticulture au Maroc — Mosaïque de Bacchus, dieu du vin, à Volubilis La viticulture au Maroc et la plantation des premiers vignobles remontent aux Phéniciens et à la colonisation romaine. Sous l Antiquité, le grand centre de production viti vinicole était concentré… …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Arrête-moi si tu peux — Logo du film Données clés Titre original Catch Me if You …   Wikipédia en Français

  • Diocese of Louisville —     Diocese of Louisville     † Catholic Encyclopedia ► Diocese of Louisville     Comprises that part of Kentucky west of the Kentucky River and western borders of Carroll, Owen, Franklin, Woodford, Jessamine, Garrard, Rockcastle, Laurel, and… …   Catholic encyclopedia

  • Arrete-moi si tu peux — Arrête moi si tu peux Arrête moi si tu peux Titre original Catch Me if You Can Réalisation Steven Spielberg Acteurs principaux Leonardo DiCaprio Tom Hanks Christopher Walken Amy Adams Martin Sheen Nathalie Baye Scénario Livre …   Wikipédia en Français

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”