Individual Details
Lothar von Kubel
(April 22, 1823 - August 3, 1881)
TEACHER AND CHAMPION OF THE CHURCH
On the 75th Anniversary of the death of Arch-diocesan Administrator
Lothar Von Kubel
Sinzheim - On August 3, 1956 the Catholic Church of Baden will remember in gratitude one of her great sons. Archdiocesan-Administrator and Suffragan-bishop Lother Von Kubel, a calm but tenacious champion of the Church in the severe times of the contest between Church and State ("Kulturkampf") (1) and (in the times of) the Age of Enlightenment, closed his eyes forever on this day of the year 1881 in St. Peter in the Black Forest, following a fruitful life.
This prince of the Church, having come forth from the simplest family circumstances (and) having been born in Sinzheim-Litlung (Kreis Buhl) on April 2, 1823, acquired immeasurable merits as spiritual teacher and educator of Catholic priests of the future generation in connection with the preservation of the Catholic Church in the state of Baden. More than 600 new priests received ordination from him, the Bishop of Rottenburg, Dr. Hefele, received from him the crozier and miter, he consecrated 40 churches and 25 altars ((probably chapels - WBH)) and he confirmed more than 100,000 children.
Lothar Kubel attended grammar school in his home parish and the assistant paster, Oser, teaching there, noticed the gifted boy and his inclination to the priestly vocation. When Lothar Kubel was a bishop for a long time and was about to confirm in Rotenfels, he received the information that Oser, (who had) become pastor in Ottenau in the meantime, was dying. Immediately the bishop interrupted his confirmation tour and hurried to the deathbed, in order to be with the teacher of his youth in his last hour. When he had closed the teacher's (lit: his) eyes, he said sadly to the onlookers, "After God, I thank these eyes for everything that I am."
In the Rastatt Lyceum Lothar proved himself as an outstanding student and he received the best examination report of his class. He studied theology at the University of Freiburg for two years, finishing up in Munich in order to complete his course after a further year and to enter the clerical seminary at St. Peter in the Black Forest.
On August 19, 1847 he received priestly orders from Archbishop Herman Von Vicari, whose successor he was obliged to become later on. He spent his years as curate in Bonndorf and Donauschingen as well as in St. Martin in Freiburg, from which place at the close of 1848 he was called to the theological Konvikt (seminary) at Freiburg as lecturer.
In 1854 followed his nomination as assessor in the archdiocesan ordinariate and three years later as director of the newly-organized theological Konvikt (seminary).
In 1865 Archbishop Hermann Von Vicari bestowed upon him the office of an acting archepiscopal advisor "in recognition of his outstanding
accomplishments in these two positions" and again two years later his nomination as Cathedral-deacon and Vicar-General of the Archdiocesan Se resulted. At the same time Archbishop Von Vicari brought about his elevation to the dignity of bishop, which found its realization on December 20, 1867 through the preliminary appointment (consecration) as Bishop of Leuca i.p.i. (in partibus infidelibus). His consecration followed in March, 1868 at the hands of the famous contemporary and fellow-champion of Kubel's, Bishop Wilhelm Emanuel, Baron Von Ketteler of Mainz, with the assistance of two Swiss bishops.
Scarcely three weeks later Archbishop Hermann Von Vicari died, shortly after the celebration of his twenty-fifth anniversary as Archbishop. As interim successor Bishop Kubel was chosen as Archdiocesan Administrator and Vicar of the Chapter. The day of his election was to become for the then barely forty-five year old shepherd the time of entrance to an approaching unparalleled Road of Passion, since at the time the Kulturkampf (1) between the State and Church raged in total bitterness.
In May 1868 the chapter submitted to the government a list of candidates for appointment to the archdiocesan see. Among the names was found that of Lothar Kubel. Now since the government passed
over all the names with the exception of one as not acceptable and demanded a new list, the chapter nevertheless was not agreeable to this, the result was: no selection of an archbishop. Further negotiations turned out fruitless and Lothar Kubel remained administrator of the archdiocese and the large archdiocese remained without an archbishop.
When a test was prescribed by the ordinance of the Grand Duchy as proof of the general scientific preparation of the candidates for the spiritual position, Bishop Kubel explained that this should not be necessary for a priest, since he would have to consider exclusively the priestly vocation and not still other sciences as Lebensaufgabe. (2) Lessons of Life. When the government insisted again thereupon, he strongly forbade the candidates of his district to take the examination or to seek a dispensation from it. He maintained this order even in opposition to the state ordinance of November, 1872 and the state law of 1874 passed in addition. The result of this was that no more new priests could be assigned in Baden. Not until after several year's negotiations did the government repeal this law.
The archdiocesan administrator had to suffer many attacks on the part of the Old Catholic movement which was at the point of developing into a significant factor of power. The greatest insult the archdiocesan administrator had to endure at that time was when, after repeated warning, he had excommunicated the Murgermeister Stromeyer of Konstanz because of his continual offense against ecclesiastical arrangements, foundations and stated claims, such as infringements on ecclesiastical property, and had removed him from his office as advisor of the charitable foundations.
The bishop was dragged before a court because of mis-use of his spiritual office and had to defend himself as a (common criminal) (lit: defendant). After two months investigation the verdict of exile of the Kreis and Judicial Court was suspended and Bishop Kubel was acquitted of the charge.
Lothar Von Kubel's health was worn out beyond measure through the constant irritations to his temper to which he was exposed daily along with his restless zeal for souls, and after a slight initial stroke as a warning, he still ordained twelve seminarians on July 13, 1881 at St. Peter's, whereupon he remained in the seminary, unable to participate personally in the annual ceremonies. There he died on August 3, 1881.
Well did Kubel uphold in his lifetime the dignity of a commander of the Vurttemberg Crown and of the princely rule of the House of Hohenzollern, which entitled him to the addition of the noble title "Von," rightly he was named an honorary doctor, but his endeavor in Christian instruction was worth neither the Baden Order of the Stars nor the pallium, but rather only the faithfulness of his clergy and of the archdiocese while he himself remained the most faithful servant of the Catholic Church.
(1) Kulturkampf is the name given to the political struggle for the right and self-government of the Catholic Church carried on chiefly in Prussia and afterwards in Baden, Hesse, and Bavania. The contest was waged with great vigor from 1871 to 1877; from 1878 to 1891 it gradually calmed down.
On the 75th Anniversary of the death of Arch-diocesan Administrator
Lothar Von Kubel
Sinzheim - On August 3, 1956 the Catholic Church of Baden will remember in gratitude one of her great sons. Archdiocesan-Administrator and Suffragan-bishop Lother Von Kubel, a calm but tenacious champion of the Church in the severe times of the contest between Church and State ("Kulturkampf") (1) and (in the times of) the Age of Enlightenment, closed his eyes forever on this day of the year 1881 in St. Peter in the Black Forest, following a fruitful life.
This prince of the Church, having come forth from the simplest family circumstances (and) having been born in Sinzheim-Litlung (Kreis Buhl) on April 2, 1823, acquired immeasurable merits as spiritual teacher and educator of Catholic priests of the future generation in connection with the preservation of the Catholic Church in the state of Baden. More than 600 new priests received ordination from him, the Bishop of Rottenburg, Dr. Hefele, received from him the crozier and miter, he consecrated 40 churches and 25 altars ((probably chapels - WBH)) and he confirmed more than 100,000 children.
Lothar Kubel attended grammar school in his home parish and the assistant paster, Oser, teaching there, noticed the gifted boy and his inclination to the priestly vocation. When Lothar Kubel was a bishop for a long time and was about to confirm in Rotenfels, he received the information that Oser, (who had) become pastor in Ottenau in the meantime, was dying. Immediately the bishop interrupted his confirmation tour and hurried to the deathbed, in order to be with the teacher of his youth in his last hour. When he had closed the teacher's (lit: his) eyes, he said sadly to the onlookers, "After God, I thank these eyes for everything that I am."
In the Rastatt Lyceum Lothar proved himself as an outstanding student and he received the best examination report of his class. He studied theology at the University of Freiburg for two years, finishing up in Munich in order to complete his course after a further year and to enter the clerical seminary at St. Peter in the Black Forest.
On August 19, 1847 he received priestly orders from Archbishop Herman Von Vicari, whose successor he was obliged to become later on. He spent his years as curate in Bonndorf and Donauschingen as well as in St. Martin in Freiburg, from which place at the close of 1848 he was called to the theological Konvikt (seminary) at Freiburg as lecturer.
In 1854 followed his nomination as assessor in the archdiocesan ordinariate and three years later as director of the newly-organized theological Konvikt (seminary).
In 1865 Archbishop Hermann Von Vicari bestowed upon him the office of an acting archepiscopal advisor "in recognition of his outstanding
accomplishments in these two positions" and again two years later his nomination as Cathedral-deacon and Vicar-General of the Archdiocesan Se resulted. At the same time Archbishop Von Vicari brought about his elevation to the dignity of bishop, which found its realization on December 20, 1867 through the preliminary appointment (consecration) as Bishop of Leuca i.p.i. (in partibus infidelibus). His consecration followed in March, 1868 at the hands of the famous contemporary and fellow-champion of Kubel's, Bishop Wilhelm Emanuel, Baron Von Ketteler of Mainz, with the assistance of two Swiss bishops.
Scarcely three weeks later Archbishop Hermann Von Vicari died, shortly after the celebration of his twenty-fifth anniversary as Archbishop. As interim successor Bishop Kubel was chosen as Archdiocesan Administrator and Vicar of the Chapter. The day of his election was to become for the then barely forty-five year old shepherd the time of entrance to an approaching unparalleled Road of Passion, since at the time the Kulturkampf (1) between the State and Church raged in total bitterness.
In May 1868 the chapter submitted to the government a list of candidates for appointment to the archdiocesan see. Among the names was found that of Lothar Kubel. Now since the government passed
over all the names with the exception of one as not acceptable and demanded a new list, the chapter nevertheless was not agreeable to this, the result was: no selection of an archbishop. Further negotiations turned out fruitless and Lothar Kubel remained administrator of the archdiocese and the large archdiocese remained without an archbishop.
When a test was prescribed by the ordinance of the Grand Duchy as proof of the general scientific preparation of the candidates for the spiritual position, Bishop Kubel explained that this should not be necessary for a priest, since he would have to consider exclusively the priestly vocation and not still other sciences as Lebensaufgabe. (2) Lessons of Life. When the government insisted again thereupon, he strongly forbade the candidates of his district to take the examination or to seek a dispensation from it. He maintained this order even in opposition to the state ordinance of November, 1872 and the state law of 1874 passed in addition. The result of this was that no more new priests could be assigned in Baden. Not until after several year's negotiations did the government repeal this law.
The archdiocesan administrator had to suffer many attacks on the part of the Old Catholic movement which was at the point of developing into a significant factor of power. The greatest insult the archdiocesan administrator had to endure at that time was when, after repeated warning, he had excommunicated the Murgermeister Stromeyer of Konstanz because of his continual offense against ecclesiastical arrangements, foundations and stated claims, such as infringements on ecclesiastical property, and had removed him from his office as advisor of the charitable foundations.
The bishop was dragged before a court because of mis-use of his spiritual office and had to defend himself as a (common criminal) (lit: defendant). After two months investigation the verdict of exile of the Kreis and Judicial Court was suspended and Bishop Kubel was acquitted of the charge.
Lothar Von Kubel's health was worn out beyond measure through the constant irritations to his temper to which he was exposed daily along with his restless zeal for souls, and after a slight initial stroke as a warning, he still ordained twelve seminarians on July 13, 1881 at St. Peter's, whereupon he remained in the seminary, unable to participate personally in the annual ceremonies. There he died on August 3, 1881.
Well did Kubel uphold in his lifetime the dignity of a commander of the Vurttemberg Crown and of the princely rule of the House of Hohenzollern, which entitled him to the addition of the noble title "Von," rightly he was named an honorary doctor, but his endeavor in Christian instruction was worth neither the Baden Order of the Stars nor the pallium, but rather only the faithfulness of his clergy and of the archdiocese while he himself remained the most faithful servant of the Catholic Church.
(1) Kulturkampf is the name given to the political struggle for the right and self-government of the Catholic Church carried on chiefly in Prussia and afterwards in Baden, Hesse, and Bavania. The contest was waged with great vigor from 1871 to 1877; from 1878 to 1891 it gradually calmed down.
Events
| Birth | April 22, 1823 | Baden, Germany | |||
| Death | August 3, 1881 | St. Peter's, Black Forest, Germany | |||
| Ordination | August 19, 1947 | ||||
| Occupation | Arch-Bishop | ||||
| Burial | Freiburg, Germany | ||||
| Religion | Roman Catholic |
Families
| Sibling | Daughter Kubel (1825 - ) |