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Clemens August von Droste-Vischering

His Excellency
Clemens August Droste zu Vischering
Archbishop of Cologne
Droste-vischering.jpg
Church Roman Catholic
Archdiocese Cologne
Appointed 1 December 1835
In office 1835-1845
Predecessor Ferdinand August von Spiegel
Successor Johannes von Geissel
Orders
Ordination 14 May 1798
Consecration 28 October 1827
by Kaspar Maximilian Droste zu Vischering
Rank Archbishop
Personal details
Born (1773-01-21)21 January 1773
Vorhelm (now a part of Ahlen), North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Died 19 October 1845(1845-10-19) (aged 72)
Münster Germany
Nationality German
Previous post Auxiliary Bishop of Münster (1827-1835)

Baron Clemens August von Droste zu Vischering, German Clemens August Freiherr von Droste zu Vischering (21 January 1773 – 19 October 1845) was an Archbishop of Cologne. His clashes with the Prussian government personified the conflict relationship between the Catholic Church and the Prussian-Protestant state power in the 19th century Germany.

Clemens August was born in Vorhelm (now a part of Ahlen, North Rhine-Westphalia) into the Westphalian noble family of Droste zu Vischering. His great-grandniece was Sister Maria Droste zu Vischering.

Besides attending the University of Münster, he had as private tutor the well-known church historian Johann Theodor Katerkamp (died 1834). At an early age, he was introduced into the circle of learned men who gathered around Baron Franz Friedrich Wilhelm Freiherr von Furstenberg, Vicar-General of the Diocese of Münster, and the pious and refined Princess Amelia von Gallitzin.

After completing his studies he began, in June 1796, an extensive Grand Tour, under the direction of Katerkamp, through Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, returning to Münster in August 1797.

On 14 May 1798, he was ordained priest by his brother Kaspar Maximilian Droste zu Vischering, Auxiliary Bishop of Münster. As a canon, he devoted himself to pastoral care.

In accordance with the wish of the aged Baron von Fürstenberg, Administrator of the Diocese of Münster, the cathedral chapter elected Clemens August as his coadjutor on 18 January 1807, and when Fürstenberg resigned six months later, Clemens August became his successor as Vicar-General.

As administrator, he founded in 1808 an independent congregation of Sisters of Mercy, the so-called Klemens-Schwestern, who were primarily involved in nursing. When in 1813 Münster became part of Napoleon's empire, the emperor appointed Baron von Spiegel as Bishop of Münster without the knowledge of the pope, but after Napoleon's fall, the pope restored Clemens August to his former office in March 1815.


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