William Lawrence Adrian (April 16, 1883 – February 13, 1972) was an American prelate of the Catholic Church. He served as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee from 1936 to 1969.
On February 2, 1936, Adrian was appointed the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Nashville by Pope Pius XII. He learned of his appointment by a letter from the Holy See: "among [his] letters...With trembling fingers [he] opened it and read...and was so overwhelmed with wonder that [he] could read no farther."[2] Adrian received his episcopal consecration on April 16, 1936, from Archbishop Amelto Cicognani at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport, Iowa. Bishops Henry Rohlman and Moses E. Kiley served as co-consecrators.[1]
Adrian, who became known as a "man who gets things done," oversaw the creation of several parishes, acquisition of a new episcopal residence in East Nashville, Tennessee, remodeling of the Cathedral, and establishment of a diocesannewspaper and the National Council of Catholic Women. In 1954, Adrian ordered the racial desegregation of all parochial schools in Nashville and Davidson County, far ahead of public school desegregation.[3] He attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 196.
On September 4, 1969, Pope Paul VI accepted Adrian's resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville and named him titular bishop of Elo. Adrian resigned that post on January 13, 1971.
William Adrian died in Nashville on February 13, 1972, at age 88.
References
^ ab"Bishop William Lawrence Adrian". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved 21 January 2015.
william, lawrence, adrian, april, 1883, february, 1972, american, prelate, catholic, church, served, bishop, diocese, nashville, tennessee, from, 1936, 1969, excellency, most, reverendwilliam, adrianbishop, nashvillechurchroman, catholic, churchseediocese, nas. William Lawrence Adrian April 16 1883 February 13 1972 was an American prelate of the Catholic Church He served as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville in Tennessee from 1936 to 1969 His Excellency The Most ReverendWilliam L AdrianBishop of NashvilleChurchRoman Catholic ChurchSeeDiocese of NashvilleIn officeFebruary 2 1936 September 4 1969PredecessorAlphonse John SmithSuccessorJoseph Aloysius DurickOrdersOrdinationApril 15 1911by Pietro RespighiConsecrationApril 16 1936by Amleto Giovanni CicognaniPersonal detailsBorn 1883 04 16 April 16 1883Sigourney Iowa USDiedFebruary 13 1972 1972 02 13 aged 88 Nashville Tennessee USEducationSt Ambrose UniversityPontifical North American College Contents 1 Biography 1 1 Early life 1 2 Bishop of Nashville 2 References 3 External links 4 Episcopal successionBiography EditEarly life Edit William Adrian was born in Sigourney Iowa to Nicholas and Mary Paulus Adrian He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from St Ambrose College in Davenport Iowa in 1906 He then studied at the Pontifical North American College in RomeAdrian was ordained to the priesthood in Rome by Cardinal Pietro Respighi for the Diocese of Davenport on April 15 1911 1 Following his return to the United States he served as a professor at St Ambrose College for twenty four years and as its vice president from 1932 to 1935 Adrian also coached American football and baseball and taught Latin and manual training He became pastor of St Bridget s Parish in Victor Iowa in 1935 Bishop of Nashville Edit On February 2 1936 Adrian was appointed the seventh bishop of the Diocese of Nashville by Pope Pius XII He learned of his appointment by a letter from the Holy See among his letters With trembling fingers he opened it and read and was so overwhelmed with wonder that he could read no farther 2 Adrian received his episcopal consecration on April 16 1936 from Archbishop Amelto Cicognani at Sacred Heart Cathedral in Davenport Iowa Bishops Henry Rohlman and Moses E Kiley served as co consecrators 1 Adrian who became known as a man who gets things done oversaw the creation of several parishes acquisition of a new episcopal residence in East Nashville Tennessee remodeling of the Cathedral and establishment of a diocesan newspaper and the National Council of Catholic Women In 1954 Adrian ordered the racial desegregation of all parochial schools in Nashville and Davidson County far ahead of public school desegregation 3 He attended the Second Vatican Council in Rome from 1962 to 196 On September 4 1969 Pope Paul VI accepted Adrian s resignation as bishop of the Diocese of Nashville and named him titular bishop of Elo Adrian resigned that post on January 13 1971 William Adrian died in Nashville on February 13 1972 at age 88 References Edit a b Bishop William Lawrence Adrian Catholic Hierarchy org David M Cheney Retrieved 21 January 2015 TIME Magazine More Bishops May 4 1936 Most Rev William Adrian Ex Bishop of Tennessee The New York Times 15 February 1972 External links EditWilliam Adrian at DioceseofNashville com William Lawrence Adrian at Findagrave comEpiscopal succession EditCatholic Church titlesPreceded byAlphonse John Smith Bishop of Nashville 1936 1969 Succeeded byJoseph Aloysius Durick Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title William Lawrence Adrian amp oldid 1129351244, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
