| Jean Baptiste Abbeloos
Orientialist, born 15 January, 1836, at Goyck,
Belgium; died 25 February, 1906. He was educated in the seminary of
Malines, 1849-60. After his ordination to the priesthood, 22
September, 1860, he studied at Louvain and Rome, devoting himself
especially to Syriac languague and literature. He received the
degree of Doctor in Theology from the University of Louvain, 15
July, 1867, spent the following winter in London. and on his return
to Belgium was appointed Professor of Holy Scripture in the seminary
of Malines. Failing health obliged him to abandon the work of
teaching, and he became, in 1876, pastor at Duffel. He was
appointed in 1883 vicar-general under Cardinal Dechamps and help
that position until 10 February, 1887, when he was appointed Rector
of the University of Louvain. During his administration the
University grew rapidly in equipment and organization. Abbeloos,
although in the midst of his official duties, was always the scholar
and the man of high ideals, whose word and example stimulated
younger men to earnest work. Modest and unassuming, he realized
nonetheless the significance of his position as rector of a great
Catholic university, and he exerted his influence in behalf of
Church and country so effectually that his retirement in 1900
occasioned regret both in the Universtiy and in the whole kingdom.
His published work are: De vitâ et scriptis S. Jacobi Sarugensis
(Louvain, 1867); Gregorii Barhebraei Chronicon Ecclesiasticum
(Paris and Louvain, 1872-77); aacta Santi Maris (Brussels and
Leipzig, 1885); Acta Mar Kardaghi Martyris (Brussels, 1900).
E.A. PACE
The 1913 Catholic Encyclopedia | 
