Background
Antoine Blanc was born on October 11, 1792, in Sury near Lyons, France.
(ANTOINE BLANC, fourth bishop and first archbishop of New ...)
ANTOINE BLANC, fourth bishop and first archbishop of New Orleans. He was a native of Sury-le-Comtal, France born in the year 1792, right at the end of the French Revolution. He was ordained a priest in 1817 and answered the appeal of the newly ordained bishop of New Orleans, William DuBourg, the second bishop of the See, who was rounding up recruits in Europe for his diocese. Blanc came to the America, and was first sent to Pointe Coupée, Baton Rouge, were he also covered the missions of Feliciana. He was the appointed Vicar General and Administrator of New Orleans, and became the fourth bishop of New Orleans in 1835. In 1850, New Orleans became an archdiocese and Antoine Blanc became the first Archbishop of the See. Archbishop Blanc served as Bishop and Archbishop just short of twenty-five years. From 1835 until his death in 1860, the number of chapels and churches in Louisiana increased from twenty-six to seventy-three, including forty-seven new parishes in New Orleans, along the Mississippi and bayous and in towns. As the population and number of Catholics increased, especially in South and West Louisiana, the need for parishes were much in demand. A new era was begun. He established the first seminary in Louisiana, at Plattenville from which many priests were ordained, among whom were Father Menard who was the outstanding missionary of the Lafourche area, and many others. Two colleges were established, eight academies for young women, nine free schools, thirteen orphanages, two hospitals and two homes for the elderly. Parish organizations grew, two diocesan synods and two provincial councils were held. The power of the trustee system at St. Louis Cathedral in New Orleans was all but eliminated, and many parishes regulations were strictly enforced. All these came about because of the new era that Antoine Blanc promoted at the initial thrust of his episcopacy. Church historian Roger Baudier in the Catholic Church in Louisiana credits this humble carpenter s son in a single sentence: Unquestionably, Archbishop Blanc was the chosen instrument of Divine Providence for the revivification of the Church in Louisiana. The book is to be published in the very near future, from Claitor s Publishing Company, Baton Rouge. It has 170 pages, covering the early family life, seminary learning, his missionary life, and a chronology, illustrations, an extensive bibliography and index.
https://www.amazon.com/Antoine-Blanc-1792-1860-Archbishop-Orleans/dp/1598044486?SubscriptionId=AKIAJRRWTH346WSPOAFQ&tag=prabook-20&linkCode=sp1&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=1598044486
Antoine Blanc was born on October 11, 1792, in Sury near Lyons, France.
Antoine attended the seminary at Sury-le-Comtal and was ordained in 1816.
With several young seminarians Blanc landed at Annapolis in 1817 and after being entertained by Charles Carroll of Carrollton was sent to the Mississippi Valley where for nearly fifteen years he labored in the missions. In 1831 Bishop de Neckère of New Orleans appointed him vicar-general, and when the Bishop died in 1833 Blanc was named administrator and on November 22, 1835, was consecrated bishop of the diocese, which included the states of Louisiana, Mississippi, and, in 1838, Texas.
In 1842 the question of the authority of the Bishop to appoint the rector of the Cathedral brought Bishop Blanc into conflict with the trustees of the church. When the latter refused to accept the rector appointed by the Bishop the church was for a few months placed under the ban of the interdict. Finally the trustees took the matter to court, asking $20, 000 damages. They were represented among others by Pierre Soul and Christian Roselius. The court dismissed the petition and the decision was sustained by the Supreme Court.
During this same period the Bishop with a number of prominent Catholic laity worked strenuously to counteract the influence of the Know-Nothing party. In 1850 Pius IX established the Archdiocese of New Orleans, and Bishop Blanc was raised to archepiscopal dignity in 1851. When Bishop Blanc took charge of the diocese the only churches in New Orleans were the Cathedral, St. Patrick's, and the chapel attached to the old Ursuline convent. In 1854 there were eighteen churches. The Archbishop was one of the American delegates to Rome in 1855 when the dogma of the Immaculate Conception was proclaimed. In January 1860 he was taken seriously ill but rallied and apparently regained his usual health. He died suddenly June 20, 1860, and was buried in the St. Louis Cathedral.
(ANTOINE BLANC, fourth bishop and first archbishop of New ...)
According to contemporary accounts, Blanc was a man calculated to win the esteem and affection of all who made his acquaintance. He was remarkably gentle and mild in his manners and affable with all.