Archbishop of Santa Fe Placide-Louis Chapelle
By Rick Hendricks
Placide-Louis Chapelle former archbishop of Santa Fe, was born on 28 August 1842 in the village of Runes, commune of Fraissinet-de-Lozère, France. In 1891 Chapelle was appointed coadjutor of Archbishop Jean-Baptiste Salpointe, of Santa Fe. When the aged and infirm Salpointe resigned in January 1894, Chapelle succeeded him as archbishop of Santa Fe. For several years Chapelle served as vice-president of the Catholic Indian Bureau, and he was known to have an abiding interest in the moral and material welfare of Native Americans.
In December 1897 Chapelle was named Archbishop of New Orleans and the following year, he became apostolic delegate in Cuba and Puerto Rico and later extraordinary envoy in the Philippines. The latter appointment came about because of the sudden US victory over Spain in the islands when Commodore George Dewey destroyed the Spanish fleet in Manila bay on 1 May 1898. (61) President McKinley had not named a Catholic to the Peace Commission to Paris at the conclusion of the Spanish-American War. In October 1898 the Vatican named Chapelle to explain the Catholic Church’s interest in conquered territory, especially the Philippines.
On the islands resentments against excesses of the Spanish administration focused on the four monastic orders whose members were often the only Spaniards in remote areas. After the US occupation of the Philippines, sentiment grew for expulsion of Spanish friars and confiscation of their extensive properties. Chapelle was unable to resolve the issue and was summoned to Rome to report on his unsuccessful activities. After visiting the Vatican, Chapelle returned to Louisiana. He died in New Orleans from a secondary attack of Yellow Fever on 10 August 1905. Chapelle.
Two Louisiana newspapers carried obituaries and stories about his funeral. They follow.
ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE PASSES AWAY
Death Comes After Illness of Six Days. Funeral Services Held at St. Louis Cathedral Saturday.
His Grace, Placide Chapelle, archbishop of New Orleans, and apostolic delegate to Cuba and Porto Rico, died his palace, 1205 Esplanade Avenue, in this city, yesterday afternoon.
Archbishop Chapelle was stricken last Friday afternoon with what was generally thought to be a mild case of yellow fever. He died in what is known as the secondary attack, when the fever returned upon an already exhausted body.
It was hoped and expected up to Tuesday night that the archbishop would recover. His condition became alarming early yesterday, and as the morning hours wore away the physicians realized that he would die. The officials of the diocese, Auxiliary Bishop Rouxel, Vicar General Laval, Chancellor Scotti, Secretary Gardes, and the archbishop’s confessor, Father Biever, S. J., were sent for.
Unfortunately, none of them arrived in time. The last rites of the church were administered by the assistant priest of the parish in which the archbishop lived, Father Livoreil. Father Sublilieu, who was called for, was ill himself, and unable attend the dying prelate.
The two attending physicians Drs. Lame and Fomnento, Father Livoreil and the archbishop’s niece. Miss Josephine Solignac, were with the archbishop when the end came, at 12:50 p. m.
The archbishop was conscious to the last, and realized his approaching end. He told Father Biever during the morning that it was the excessive fatigue of his confirmation trip that had made the attack of fever so severe. When he died he held to his lips a beautiful crucifix, which had been presented to him by the late Pope Leo XIII, on the occasion of the last visit of the archbishop to Rome.
The archbishop’s death at this time is regarded as a distinct calamity to the Catholic church. It is unfortunate that he –should have died of yellow, fever, and especially unfortunate that he should have died at this time, when affairs in the diocese particularly needed his sound judgment and his extraordinary executive ability.
BODY LIES IN CATHEDRAL
After being embalmed and encased in a magnificent metal casket, the body of the dead prelate was moved last night at 10:30 o’clock from the archiepiscopal residence to the Cathedral.
The ceremonies were simple, but impressive, being conducted by Mgr. Laval, vicar general of the archdiocese; assisted by Rev. Father Scotti, chancellor.
The body was blessed and the usual prayers said before leaving the house. The cortege consisted of only the hearse drawn by two splendid black horses, and one carriage, conveying the priests. A number of Catholics of the neighborhood were in front of the archiepiscopal residence, and stood with bared heads while the casket was being placed in the hearse.
On arriving at the Cathedral, which had been appropriately draped by the ladies of the parish, the funeral procession, headed by Mgr. Laval, moved up the middle aisle to the foot of the altar, where a catafalque had been arranged to receive the casket. After chanting the prayers for the dead, holy water was sprinkled on the casket, and the body consecrated. A large number of devout Catholics, mostly Creoles, among whom were a number of ladies, were present at the ceremonies in the church, and after the act of consecration was performed were permitted to see for the last time the beloved face of their archbishop through a glass plate at the head of the casket.
The priests who took part in the ceremonies at the Cathedral last night were: Mgr. Laval, vicar general of the archdiocese the archdiocese; Rev. Father Gardes, secretary of the archbishop; Rev. Father Lorente, Rev. Father Jeanmard and Rev. Father Chambon.
FUNERAL ARRANGEMENT
It was arranged during the early hours of the afternoon to have the funeral ceremonies this morning, under the belief that in the present health conditions of the city the remains could not be kept longer. With the approval of Surgeon J. H. White of the Marine Hospital Service the ceremonies were postponed until Saturday morning. This will give time to pay the usual honors to the distinguished dead, and for the arrival of the archbishop’s nephew, Rev. J. P. Solignac, from New York city.
There will be a requiem mass in the Cathedral this morning at 10 o’clock; Friday morning at nine and Saturday morning at nine. The interment will take place at the close of the Saturday morning ceremonies.
Immediately following the services Saturday the Cathedral, the body will be interred in the vault under the sanctuary.
Lafayette Advertiser, Lafayette, La., 16 August 16, 1905
ARCHBISHOP CHAPELLE DEAD
The Catholic hierarchy in the United States has lost one of its most eminent members. Catholicity in New Orleans has been grievously stricken, and it may be said that the whole Church will feel the blow which has fallen, for the prelate who passed in New Orleans Wednesday, the Most Reverend Placide Louis Chapelle, Archbishop of New Orleans, was a man of such transcendent character, through his long and illustrious services to the Church in many and various high capacities, that his loss is almost universal.
His name and fame as one of the most capable and forceful of ecclesiastics were of international extent. From the time that he was Rector of St. Matthew’s Church, in Washington City, and as such was daily thrown in contact with diplomats and statesmen of this country and of foreign nations and won their regard and friendship by his strong personality, his eloquence, his deep erudition and his fine sense of the higher things in civic and social life; then, later on, as presiding over the Theological Council at Baltimore; and, still later, as Archbishop of Santa Fe,
where he made such a splendid record for executive ability; and next as Archbishop of New Orleans, in that old, historic city, so replete with the customs and traditions of its Latin origin, the Archbishop won, step by step, the highest commendations of all.
So exalted were his merits that the Holy Father selected him as Apostolic Delegate to the Philippines and to Cuba and Porto Rico, and his acts as such, in establishing new conditions and bringing order out of chaos, stamped him as a statesman, a diplomat, a man of the keenest perception and of the greatest powers of administration.
Archbishop Chapelle leaves a sister, a niece and three nephews. His sister lives in France, in the town of St. Laurent Dole. His niece, Miss Josephine Solignac, resides in New Orleans and was constantly with the Archbishop from the time of his arrival in 1898, until the day of his death Miss Solignac devoted her life. it may be said, for the sake of her venerable uncle, taking care of him with filial affection, accompanying him in all his travels. She remained near him during his last illness, and late Wednesday afternoon was taken away from the house of mourning by the Misses Marie and Amelie Denegre. The Archbishop’s nephews are: Gustave Solignac, a lawyer residing in Manila, Emile a mine owner in Mexico and Rev. Joseph P. Solignac Secretary of the apostolic delegation of Cuba and Puerto Rico, who is present in New York city. The body of the dead prelate was transferred from the late residence to the
Cathedral Wednesday night at 10:45 o’clock, and will lie in state just before the altar until Saturday morning, when, according to the revised arrangements, the funeral services will take place. The body is incased in a handsome casket, the entire top of which is plate glass, hermetically sealed. The casket, the head of which is slightly elevated, rests on a bier, which is ornamented by magnificent brass candlesticks.
The Meriodional (Abbeville, Louisiana), 12 August 1905.
archbishop, catholic church