Dominic Laurence Graessel, (Lorenz Grässel) S.J. (August 18, 1753 – October 1793) was an American Roman Catholic priest. He was the first German-American to be appointed bishop.
Lorenz Grässel was born at Ruemannsfelden, Bavaria, on 18 August 1753. He joined the Society of Jesus in Munich and was a novice at the time of its suppression in 1773.[1] He continued his studies at the Seminary of Ingolstadt and was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Munich.[2]
In 1781 he left his native land for the American mission at the invitation of fellow Jesuit Ferdinand Steinmeyer,[1] commonly referred to as "Father Farmer", who served areas of Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and New York.[3] Sailing from London in August 1781, he arrived in America that October.
St. Mary's Church, Philadelphia lithograph 1829
In March 1787, Grässel was given charge of the German members of St. Mary's congregation in Philadelphia and of the Catholics scattered through New Jersey, all territories then within the Diocese of Baltimore. He spent six years in Philadelphia and became noted for his learning, zeal, and piety.[1]
When it became necessary to appoint a bishop coadjutor to succeed Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore, the priests of Diocese chose Grässel for the office and the petition for his appointment was formally made to Rome on September 24, 1793. The petition was granted, making Grässel the first German-born Catholic appointed to a bishopric in the United States, though he was never consecrated a bishop. In October 1793 Grässel succumbed to yellow fever contracted while attending the victims of the plague which that year ravaged Philadelphia. The brief naming him titular bishop of Samosata did not arrive until December 8, 1793.[4][1] News of his death did not reach the Vatican until July 1794.[2]
References
^ abcd One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Lorenz Grässel". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
^ ab"Rt. Rev. Dominic Laurence Graessel". Archdiocese of Baltimore. from the original on February 3, 2019. Retrieved February 3, 2019.
^Kelly, Blanche Mary. "Lorenz Grässel." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 6. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1909. 15 January 2019
^Hennesey, James J. (1983). American Catholics: A History of the Roman Catholic Community in the United States. Oxford University Press. pp. 89–90. ISBN9780198020363.
External links
Cheney, David M. (February 24, 2016). "Father Dominic Laurence Grässel, S.J." Catholic-Hierarchy.org. from the original on March 25, 2016. [self-published]
dominic, laurence, graessel, lorenz, grässel, august, 1753, october, 1793, american, roman, catholic, priest, first, german, american, appointed, bishop, right, reverenddominic, laurence, grässelcoadjutor, bishop, elect, baltimorearchdiocesearchdiocese, baltim. Dominic Laurence Graessel Lorenz Grassel S J August 18 1753 October 1793 was an American Roman Catholic priest He was the first German American to be appointed bishop The Right ReverendDominic Laurence GrasselCoadjutor Bishop elect of BaltimoreArchdioceseArchdiocese of BaltimorePersonal detailsBorn 1753 08 18 August 18 1753Bavaria GermanyDiedOctober 1793 1793 11 Biography EditLorenz Grassel was born at Ruemannsfelden Bavaria on 18 August 1753 He joined the Society of Jesus in Munich and was a novice at the time of its suppression in 1773 1 He continued his studies at the Seminary of Ingolstadt and was ordained priest for the Archdiocese of Munich 2 In 1781 he left his native land for the American mission at the invitation of fellow Jesuit Ferdinand Steinmeyer 1 commonly referred to as Father Farmer who served areas of Pennsylvania New Jersey and New York 3 Sailing from London in August 1781 he arrived in America that October St Mary s Church Philadelphia lithograph 1829 In March 1787 Grassel was given charge of the German members of St Mary s congregation in Philadelphia and of the Catholics scattered through New Jersey all territories then within the Diocese of Baltimore He spent six years in Philadelphia and became noted for his learning zeal and piety 1 When it became necessary to appoint a bishop coadjutor to succeed Bishop John Carroll of Baltimore the priests of Diocese chose Grassel for the office and the petition for his appointment was formally made to Rome on September 24 1793 The petition was granted making Grassel the first German born Catholic appointed to a bishopric in the United States though he was never consecrated a bishop In October 1793 Grassel succumbed to yellow fever contracted while attending the victims of the plague which that year ravaged Philadelphia The brief naming him titular bishop of Samosata did not arrive until December 8 1793 4 1 News of his death did not reach the Vatican until July 1794 2 References Edit a b c d One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Lorenz Grassel Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company a b Rt Rev Dominic Laurence Graessel Archdiocese of Baltimore Archived from the original on February 3 2019 Retrieved February 3 2019 Kelly Blanche Mary Lorenz Grassel The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 6 New York Robert Appleton Company 1909 15 January 2019 Hennesey James J 1983 American Catholics A History of the Roman Catholic Community in the United States Oxford University Press pp 89 90 ISBN 9780198020363 External links EditCheney David M February 24 2016 Father Dominic Laurence Grassel S J Catholic Hierarchy org Archived from the original on March 25 2016 self published Catholic Church titlesPreceded byRobert Molyneux 5th Pastor of Old St Joseph s Church1788 1793 Succeeded byLeonard NealePastor of Old St Mary s Church1788 1793New office Coadjutor Bishop elect of Baltimore Succeeded byLeonard NealePreceded byJohann Ignace von Franken Siersdorf TITULAR Bishop elect of Samosata Succeeded byJames O Shaughnessy This article about an American Roman Catholic cleric is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Dominic Laurence Graessel amp oldid 1064562500, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
