Rare 1834 Catholic Ecclesiastical Ordination Document Bishop Jacobus-Franciscus Besson – Diocese of Metz – Embossed Seal

1834 Catholic Ecclesiastical Ordination Document — Bishop Jacobus-Franciscus Besson, Diocese of Metz

An original 1834 Catholic ecclesiastical document issued in Metz, France, during the episcopate of Bishop Jacobus-Franciscus Besson, Bishop of Metz from 1824 to 1842.

Written primarily in Latin with manuscript additions, the certificate records the ecclesiastical promotion of Franciscus Xaverius Bourguignon to minor orders. The document states that he had been examined and found suitable according to the canonical requirements of the Catholic Church.

The document bears the printed episcopal heading:

“Jacobus-Franciscus Besson, Miseratione Divina et Sanctae Sedis Apostolicae gratia Episcopus Metensis.”

The certificate was issued through the Episcopal Chancery of Metz and bears an original embossed diocesan seal, together with handwritten signatures of church officials.

The large folio sheet was originally folded for storage and preserves the physical characteristics of a working ecclesiastical document from the early 19th century.

Historical Context

Jacobus-Franciscus Besson served as Bishop of Metz from 1824 to 1842, making this document a contemporary example of Catholic ecclesiastical administration during his episcopate.

Documents concerning clerical formation and ordination provide an insight into the administrative procedures of the Catholic Church in 19th-century France, including the examination and advancement of candidates through the ecclesiastical orders.

This manuscript is particularly interesting for collectors and researchers of Catholic history, French ecclesiastical documents, episcopal manuscripts, ordination records and the Diocese of Metz.

Key Details

• Date: 1834, with a handwritten September entry
• Country: France
• Diocese: Metz
• Bishop: Jacobus-Franciscus Besson
• Episcopate: 1824–1842
• Document type: Catholic ecclesiastical / ordination document
• Subject: Promotion to minor orders
• Candidate: Franciscus Xaverius Bourguignon
• Language: Latin with manuscript additions
• Heading: Printed episcopal formula of Bishop Besson
• Seal: Original embossed diocesan seal
• Signatures: Handwritten signatures of church officials
• Format: Large folio sheet, originally folded
• Condition: Antique condition with fold marks, age toning and visible water staining to the lower portion
• Seal condition: Embossed episcopal seal remains clearly visible

A fascinating 1834 Catholic ecclesiastical document from the Diocese of Metz, preserving an original record of clerical advancement during the episcopate of Bishop Jacobus-Franciscus Besson.