Breslau

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Prince-Bishopric seated at Breslau, on the River Oder in thePrussian Province ofSilesia.

History

Christianity was first introduced intoSilesia by missionaries fromMoravia andBohemia. After the conversion of the Polish Duke Misiko (later Mieczyslaus) the work of bringing the people to the newfaith went on more rapidly. Up to about the year 1000 Silesia had nobishop of its own, but was united to neighbouringdioceses. In this way arose the first connection ofSilesia withGermany. The upper part of the River Oder formed the boundary of the Kingdom ofPoland; all the territory which is now Silesia lying on the right-hand bank of the Oder belonged, therefore, to the Diocese of Posen, which was suffragan to the Metropolitan See ofMagdeburg. This part ofSilesia was thus under thejurisdiction of that Jordan who was, in 968, appointed first Bishop Posen. The part ofSilesia lying on the left bank of the Oder belonged to the territory then included inBohemia, and was consequently within thediocesanjurisdiction of Prague. The See of Prague, founded probably in 973, was suffragan to theArchdiocese of Mainz. The Polish ruler, Boleslaw Chrobry, the son of Misiko, obtained theBohemian part ofSilesia during hiswars of conquest, and a change in theecclesiastical dependence of the province followed. By a patent ofOtto III, in 995, Silesia was attached to theSee of Meissen, which, like Posen, was suffragan to theArchdiocese of Magdeburg. Soon after this the EmperorOtto III and Duke Boleslaw Chrobry, who was then the ruler of the whole ofSilesia, founded the Diocese of Breslau, and Breslau, together with the Dioceses of Cracow and Colberg, was placed under the Archdiocese ofGnesen, which was founded by Otto in the year 1000. The firstBishop of Breslau is said to have been named Johannes, but nothing more than this is known of him, nor is there extant any official document giving the boundaries of thediocese at the time of its erection. However, they are defined in theBulls of approval and protection issued byPope Adrian IV, 23 April, 1155, and byPope Innocent IV, 9 August, 1245.

The powerful Polish ruler, Boleslaw Chrobry, was succeeded by his son Misiko II, who had but a short reign. After his death a revolt againstChristianity and the reigningfamily broke out, the new Church organization ofPoland disappeared from view, and the names of the Bishops of Breslau for the next half century are unknown. Casimir, the son of Misiko, and his mother were driven out of the country, but through German aid they returned, and the affairs of theChurch were brought into better order. ABishop of Breslau from probably 1051 to 1062 was Hieronymus, said by later tradition to have been a Roman nobleman. He was followed by Johannes I (1062-72), who was succeeded by Petrus I (1071-1111). During the episcopate of Petrus, Count Peter Wlast entered upon that work of founding churches andmonasteries which has preserved his name. Petrus was followed by: Zyroslaus I (1112-20); Heimo (1120-26), who welcomedSt. Otto ofBamberg to Breslau in May, 1124, when thesaint was on his missionary journey toPomerania; Robert I (1127-42), who wasBishop ofCracow; Robert II (1142-46); and Johannes II (1146-49), who becameArchbishop ofGnesen. With the episcopate of Bishop Walter (1149-69) the history of the Diocese of Breslau begins to grow clearer. At Walter's requestPope Adrian IV, in 1155, took thebishopric under his protection and confirmed to it the territorial possessions of which a list had been submitted to him. Among therights which thepope then confirmed was that ofjurisdiction over the lands belonging to the castle of Ottmachau which had been regarded as the patrimony of thediocese from its foundation. During Walter's episcopate the Polish Duke Ladislaus and hisfamily were driven from home and took refuge inGermany; in 1163 the sons of Ladislaus returned and, through the intervention ofFrederick Barbarossa, received as an independent duchy the part ofSilesia which was included at thatdate in the See of Breslau. Bishop Walter built a new, massively constructedcathedral, in which he was buried. Zyroslaus II (1170-98) encouraged the founding of theCistercianmonastery ofLeubus by Duke Boleslaw the Long. In 1180 Zyroslaus took part in the national assembly at Lenczyc at whichlaws for the protection of theChurch and itsproperty werepromulgated. Jaroslaus (1198-1201), the oldest son of Duke Boleslaw, and Duke of Oppeln, was the first prince to becomeBishop of Breslau. Cyprian (1201-7) was originallyAbbot of thePremonstratensianmonastery of St. Vincent near Breslau, thenBishop of Lebus, and afterwardsBishop of Breslau. During Cyprian's episcopate Duke Heinrich I and his wife, St. Hedwig, founded theCistercianconvent atTrebnitz. The episcopate of Bishop Lorenz (1207-32) was marked by his efforts to bring colonies ofGermans into the church territories, to effect the cultivation of waste lands. This introduction of German settlers by thebishop was in accordance with the example set by Heinrich I and St. Hedwig. Themonasteries of theAugustinian Canons,Premonstratensians, andCistercians took an active part in carrying out the schemes of the rulers by placing great numbers ofGermans, especially Thuringians and Franconians, on the large estates that had been granted them.

One of the most notedbishops of thediocese was Thomas I (1232-68); he continued the work of German colonization with so much energy that even the marauding incursions of the Mongols (1241) made but a temporary break in the process. His defence of therights of theChurch involved him in bitter conflicts with Duke Boleslaw of Liegnitz. Thomas began the construction of the presentcathedral, thechancel being the first part erected. St. Hedwig died during his episcopate; and he lived until the process of hercanonization was completed, but died before the final solemnity of her elevation to the altars of theCatholicChurch. After Thomas I, Ladislaus, a grandson of St. Hedwig, andArchbishop ofSalzburg, was Administrator of the Diocese of Breslau until his death in 1270. He was followed by Thomas II (1270-92), who was involved for years in a violent dispute with Duke Henry IV as to the prerogatives of theChurch inSilesia. In 1287 a reconciliation was effected between them atRatisbon, and in 1288 the duke founded the collegiate church of the Holy Cross at Breslau. Before his death, on the Eve of St. John in 1290, the duke confirmed therights of theChurch to sovereignty over the territories of Neisse and Ottmachau. Thomas IIconsecrated thehigh altar of thecathedral; he was present at the cumenical Council of Lyons (1274) and in 1279 held adiocesan synod. Johann III, Romka (1292-1301), belonged to the Polish party in thecathedral chapter. His maintenance of the prerogatives of theChurch brought him, also, into conflict with the temporal rulers ofSilesia; in 1296 he called a synod for the defence of theserights. In the election of Heinrich I, of Würben (1302-19), the German party in thecathedral chapter won, but this victory cost the newbishop the enmity of the opposing faction. He was made guardian of the youthful Dukes of Breslau, and this appointment, together with the factional disputes, led to the bringing of grave accusations against him. The researches of more recent times haveproved the groundlessness of these attacks. He was kept inAvignon a number of years by a suit before theCuria which was finally settled in his favour. Notwithstanding the troubles of his life he was energetic in the performance of hisduties. He carried on the construction of thecathedral, and in 1305 and 1316 helddiocesansynods. The office of AuxiliaryBishop of Breslau dates from his episcopate. After his death a divided vote led to a vacancy of thesee. The two candidates, Weit and Lutold, elected by the opposing factions, finally resigned, andPope John XXII transferred Nanker,Bishop ofCracow, to Breslau (1326-41).

The constant division and subdivision ofSilesian territory into small principalities for the members of the rulingfamilies resulted in a condition of weakness that necessitated dependence on a stronger neighbour, and Silesia thus came, from the year 1327, under the control ofBohemia. A quarrel broke out between Bishop Nanker and the suzerain ofSilesia, King John ofBohemia, when the king seized the castle of Militsch which belonged to thecathedral chapter. Thebishopexcommunicated the king and those members of the Council of Breslau who sided with him. On account of this he wasobliged to flee from Breslau and take refuge in Neisse, where he died. Preczlaus of Pogarell (1341-1376) was electedbishop while pursuing his studies at Bologna, and wasconsecratedbishop atAvignon. Through his friendship with Carl, the son of King John, he was soon able to settle the discord that had arisen under his predecessor. The diocese prospered greatly under his rule. He bought the Duchy of Grottkau from Duke Boleslaw of Brieg and added it to the episcopal territory of Neisse. The Bishops of Breslau had, therefore, after this the titles of Prince of Neisse and Duke of Grottkau, and took precedence of the other Silesian rulers who held principalities in xxx. Carl IV, the emperor at thisdate, wished to separate Breslau from the Archdiocese ofGnesen and to take make it a suffragan of the newly erected Archbishopric of Prague, but the plan failed, owing to the opposition of theArchbishop ofGnesen. Preczlaus added to thecathedral the beautiful Lady Chapel, in which he was buried and where histomb still exists. Dietrich, dean of thecathedral, who was elected as successor to Preczlaus, could not obtain thepapal confirmation, and the Bishop Olmütz, who was chosen in his place, soon died. After a long contest with theBohemian King and German Emperor Wenzel, Bishop Wenzel of Lebus, Duke of Liegnitz, was transferred to Breslau (1382-1417). The newbishop devoted himself to repairing the damage inflicted on theChurch in Silesia by the despotic procedure of the Emperor Wenzel. He held twosynods, in 1410 and 1415, with the object of securing a higher standard ofecclesiastical discipline; and he settled the right of inheritance in the territory under his dominion bypromulgating the churchdecree called "Wenzel's law". Resigning hisbishopric in 1417, Wenzel died in 1419. The episcopate of Conrad, Duke of Oels, the nextbishop (1417-47), fell in the trying time for Silesia of the Hussitewars. Conrad was placed at the head of the Silesian confederation which was formed to defend the country against hostile incursions. In 1435 thebishop issued adecree of which the chief intent was to close theprebends in the Diocese of Breslau to foreigners, and thus prevent the Poles from obtaining these offices. The effort to shut out the Polish element and to loosen the connection with Gnesen was not a momentary one; it continued, and led gradually to a virtual separation from the Polish archdiocese some time before the formal separation took place. The troubles of the times brought thebishop and the diocese into serious pecuniary difficulties, and in 1444 Conrad resigned, but his resignation was not accepted, and he resumed his office. In 1446 he held adiocesan synod and died in the following year. Conrad's successor was the provost of thecathedral of Breslau, Peter Novak (1447-56). By wise economy Bishop Peter succeeded in bringing thediocesan finances into a better condition and was able to redeem the greater part of the church lands which his predecessor had beenobliged to mortgage. At thediocesan synod of 1454 he endeavoured to suppress the abuses that had arisen in the diocese.

Jodokus of Rosenberg (1456-67) was aBohemian nobleman andGrand Prior of the Knights of St. John. Hislove of peace made his position a very difficult one during the fierce ecclesiastico-political contention that raged between the Hussite King ofBohemia, George of Podiebrad, and the people of Breslau, who had taken sides with the German party. Jodokus was followed by abishop from the region of the Rhine, Rudolf von Rüdesheim (1468-82). Aspapal legate, Rudolf had become popular in Breslau through his energetic opposition to George of Podiebrad; for this reason thecathedral chapter requested his transfer from the smallDiocese of Lavant in Carinthia, after he had confirmed their privileges. From this time these privileges were called "the Rudolfian statutes". Under his leadership the party opposed to Podiebrad obtained the victory, and Rudolf proceeded at once to repair the damage which had been occasioned to theChurch during this strife; mortgaged church lands were redeemed; in 1473 and 1475diocesansynods were held, at which thebishop took active measures in regard to church discipline. As coadjutor, he had selected a Swabian, Johann IV, Roth,Bishop ofLavant, a man ofhumanistic training. Urged byKing Matthias of Hungary, to whom Silesia was then subject, thecathedral chapter, somewhat unwillingly, chose the coadjutor asbishop (1482-1506). His episcopate was marked by violent quarrels with thecathedral chapter. But at the same time he was a promoter of art and learning, and strict in his conception of churchrights andduties. He endeavoured to improve the spiritual life of thediocese by holding a number ofsynods. Before he died the famous worker in bronze,Peter Vischer ofNuremberg, cast his monument, the most beautifulbishop'stomb inSilesia. His coadjutor with right of succession was Johann V (1506-20), a member of the noble Hungarianfamily of Turzo. Johann V took an active part in theintellectual life of the time and sought at thediocesansynods to promote learning and church discipline, and to improve theschools. On the ruins of the old stronghold of Fauernig he built the castle called Johannisberg, now the summer residence of the Prince-Bishop of Breslau.

The religious disturbances of the sixteenth century began to be conspicuously apparent during this episcopate, and soon after Johann's deathProtestantism began to spread inSilesia, which country had, since 1526, belonged toAustria. Princes, nobles, and town councils werezealous promoters of the newbelief; even in the episcopal principality of Neisse-GrottkauProtestant doctrines found approval and acceptance. The successors of Johann V were partly responsible for this condition of affairs. Jacob von Salza (1520-39) was personally a stanch adherent of theChurch; yet the gentleness of his dispositioncaused him to shrink from carrying on awar against the powerful religious movement that had arisen. To an even greater degree than Jacob von Salza his successor, Balthasar von Promnitz (1539-63), avoided coming into conflict withProtestantism. He was more friendly in his attitude to the newdoctrine than any otherBishop of Breslau. Casper von Logau (1562-74) showed at first greater energy than his predecessor in endeavouring to compose the troubles of his distracted diocese, but later in his episcopate his attitude towardsLutheranism and his slackness in defending churchrights gave great offence to those who had remained true to the Faith. These circumstances make the advance ofProtestantism easy to understand. At the same time it must be remembered that thebishops, although also secular rulers, had a difficult position in regard to spiritual matters. At the assemblies of the nobles, and at the meetings of the diet, thebishops and the deputies of thecathedral chapter were, as a rule, the onlyCatholics against a large and powerful majority on the side ofProtestantism. The Austrian suzerains, who lived far fromSilesia, and who were constantly preoccupied by the danger of aTurkish invasion, were not in a position to enforce the edicts which they issued for the protection of theChurch.

The Silesianclergy had in great measure lost their high concept of thepriestly office, although there were honourable exceptions. Among those faithful were the majority of the canons of thecathedral of Breslau; they distinguished themselves not only by their learning, but also by their religiouszeal. It was in the main due to them that the diocese did not fall into spiritual ruin. The chapter was the willing assistant of thebishops in the reform of thediocese. Martin von Gerstmann (1574-85) began the renovation of thediocese, and the special means by which he hoped to attain the desired end were: the founding of aseminary forclerics, visitations of thediocese,diocesansynods, and the introduction of theJesuits. His successor, Andreas von Jerin (1585-96), a Swabian who hadeducated at the German College atRome, followed in his footsteps. At thediocesan synod of 1592 he endeavoured to improve church discipline. Besides hiszeal in elevating the life of theChurch, he was also a promoter of the arts and learning. The silver altar with which he adorned hiscathedral still exists, and he brought theschools in the principality of Neisse into a flourishingcondition. Thebishop also rendered important services to the emperor, aslegate, at various times. Bonaventura Hahn, elected in 1596, as the successor of Andreas von Jerin, was not recognized by the emperor and wasobliged to resign his position. The candidate of the emperor, Paul Albert (1599-1600), occupied thesee only one year. Johann VI (1600-8), a member of a noblefamily of Silesia named von Sitsch, took more severe measures than his predecessors againstProtestantism, in the hope of checking it, especially in the episcopal principality of Neisse-Grottkau.

Bishop Carl (1608-24), Archduke ofAustria, had greater success than his predecessor after the first period of theThirty Years War had taken a turn favourable toAustria and theCatholic party. The battle of the White Mountain (1620) broke not only the revolt inBohemia, but also the opposition of the alliedProtestants of Silesia. Bishop Carl began the restoration of the principality of Neisse to theCatholicFaith. The work was completed by his successor, Carl Ferdinand, Prince ofPoland (1625-55). Carl Ferdinand spent most of his time in his own country, but appointed excellent administrators for thediocese, such as the Coadjutor-Bishop Liesch von Hornau, and Archdeacon Gebauer. Imperial commissioners gave back to theCatholicChurch those church buildings in the chief places of the principalities which had become theproperty of the sovereign through the extinction of xxx. According to the terms of the Treaty ofWestphalia, the remaining churches, 693 in number, of such territories were secularized in the years 1653, 1654, and 1668. This led to a complete reorganization of thediocese. Theperson who effected it wasSebastian of Rostock, a man ofhumble birth who wasvicar-general and administrator of thediocese under thebishops Archduke Leopold Wilhelm (1656-62) and Archduke Carl Joseph (1663-64), neither of whom lived in the territory of Breslau. AfterSebastian of Rostock becamebishop (1664-71) he carried on the work of reorganization with still greater success than before. Friedrich, Landgrave ofHesse,Cardinal, andGrand Prior of the Order of St. John, was the nextBishop of Breslau (1671-82). The newbishop was ofProtestant origin and had become aCatholic atRome. Under his administration the rehabilitation of thediocese went on. He beautified thecathedral and elaborated its services. For the red cap and violet almutium of the canons he substituted the redmozetta. He wasburied in a beautifulchapel which he had added to thecathedral inhonour of his ancestress, St. Elizabeth of Thuringia. After his death the chapter presented Carl von Liechtenstein,Bishop ofOlmütz, for confirmation. Their choice was opposed by the emperor, whose candidate was the Count Palatine Wolfgang of the rulingfamily of Pfalz-Neuburg. Count Wolfgang died, and his brother Franz Ludwig (1683-1732) was madebishop. The new ruler of thediocese was at the same timeBishop of Worms, Grand Master of the German Knights, Provost ofEllwangen, and Elector ofTrier, and later, he was made Elector ofMainz. He separated theecclesiastical administration and that of the civil tribunals, and obtained the definition, in thePragmatic Sanction of 1699, of the extent of thejurisdiction of the vicariate-general and the consistory. In 1675, upon the death of the last reigning duke, the Silesian Duchy of Liegnitz-Brieg-Wohlau lapsed to the emperor, and a new secularization of the churches begun. But when Charles XII of Sweden secured for theProtestants theright to their former possessions in these territories, by the treaty of Altranstädt, in 1707, the secularization came to an end, and the churches had to be returned. The Emperor Joseph I endeavoured to repair the loss of these buildings to theCatholicFaith by founding the so-called Josephine vicarships.

The nextbishop, Philip, Count von Sinzendorf,Cardinal andBishop of Raab (1732-47), owed his elevation to the favour of the emperor. During his episcopate the greater part of thediocese was added to the territory ofPrussia. KingFrederick II ofPrussia (Frederick the Great) desired to erect a "Catholic Vicarite" atBerlin, which should be the highest spiritual authority for theCatholics ofPrussia. This would have been in reality a separation fromRome, and the project failed through the opposition of theHoly See. Bishop Sinzendorf had neither the acuteness to perceive the inimical intent of the king's scheme, nor sufficient decision of character to withstand it. The king desired to secure a successor to Sinzendorf who would be under royal influence. In utter disregard of the principles of theChurch, and heedless of the protests of thecathedral chapter, he presented Count Philip Gotthard von Schaffgotsch as coadjutor-bishop. After the death of Cardinal Sinzendorf the king succeeded in overcoming the scruples of the Holy Father, and Schaffgotsch becameBishop of Breslau (1748-95). Although the method of his elevation caused the newbishop to be regarded with suspicion by many strictCatholics, yet he waszealous in the fulfilment of hisduties. During the Seven Years War he fell into discredit with Frederick on account of his firm maintenance of therights of theChurch, and the return of peace did not fully restore him to favour. In 1766 he fled to the Austrian part of hisdiocese in order to avoid confinement in Oppeln which the king had decreed against him. After this Frederick made it impossible for him to rule thePrussian part of hisdiocese, and until the death of thebishop this territory was ruled byvicars Apostolic.

The former coadjutor of von Schaffgotsch, Joseph Christian, Prince von Hohenlohe-Waldenburg-Bartenstein (1795-1817), succeeded him asbishop. During this episcopate the temporal power of the Bishops of Breslau came to an end through the secularization, in 1810, of the church estates inSilesia. Only the estates inAustria remained to thesee. Thecathedral foundation, eight collegiate foundations, and over eightymonasteries were suppressed, and theirproperty confiscated. Only those monastic institutions which were occupied with teaching or nursing were allowed to exist. Bishop Joseph Christian was succeeded by his coadjutor, Emmanuel von Schimonsky. The affairs of theChurch inPrussia had been brought into order by theBull "De salute animarum", issued in 1821. Under its provisions thecathedral chapter elected Schimonsky, who had been administrator of thediocese, as the first ExemptBishop of Breslau (1824-32). Thebishop received for himself and his successors the title of prince as partial compensation for the loss of the secularized principality of Neisse. He combated therationalistic tendencies which were rife among hisclergy in regard tocelibacy and the use of Latin in the church services and ceremonies. During the episcopate of his predecessor the Government hadpromulgated a law which was a source of much trouble to Schimonsky and his immediate successors; this was that in those places whereCatholics were few in number, theparish should be declared extinct, and the church buildings given to theProtestants. In spite of the protests of the episcopal authorities, over one hundred church buildings were lost in this way. King Frederick William put an end to thisinjustice, and sought to make good the injuries inflicted. For several years after Schimonsky's death thesee remainedvacant. It was eventually filled by the election, through Government influence, of Count Leopold von Sedlnitzki (1836-40). Bishop von Sedlnitzki was neither clear nor firm in his maintenance of the doctrines of theChurch; on the question ofmixed marriages, which had become one of great importance, he took an undecided position. At last, upon the demand ofPope Gregory XVI, he resigned hissee. He went afterwards toBerlin, where he was made a privy-councillor, and where he later became aProtestant. The dean of thecathedral, Dr. Ritter, administered the diocese for several years until the election of the Grand Dean of the countship of Glatz, Joseph Knauer (1843-44). The newbishop, who was seventy-nine years old, lived only a year after his appointment.

His successor wasMelchior, Freiherr von Diepenbrock (1845-53). This episcopate was the beginning of a new religious andecclesiastical life in the diocese. During the revolutionary period thebishop not only maintained order in hissee, which was in a state of ferment, but was also a supporter of the Government. He received unusual honours from the king and was made acardinal by thepope. He died 20 January, 1853, at the castle of Johannisberg and was buried in thecathedral. His successor, Heinrich Förster (1853-81) carried on his work and completed it. Bishop Förster gave generous aid to the founding of churches, monastic institutions, andschools. The strife that arose betweenthe Church and the State brought his labours in thePrussian part of hisdiocese to an end. He was deposed by the State and wasobliged to leave Breslau and retire to the castle of Johannisberg. Here he died, 20 October, 1881. He wasburied in thecathedral at Breslau.Leo XIII appointed as his successor in the disordered diocese Robert Herzog (1882-86), who had been delegate of the prince-bishop andprovost of St. Hedwig's atBerlin. Bishop Herzog made every endeavour to bring order out of the confusion into which the quarrel with the State during the immediately preceding years had thrown the affairs of thediocese. Unfortunately, his episcopate was but short duration; he died after a long illness, 26 December, 1886. TheHoly See appointed as his successor a man who had done much to allay the strife betweenChurch and State, theBishop ofFulda, George Kopp. Bishop Kopp was born, 25 July, 1837, at Duderstädt in theDiocese of Hildesheim; he wasordained to thepriesthood, 29 August, 1862;consecrated and installedBishop ofFulda, 27 December, 1881; transferred to Breslau, 9 August, 1887, installed 20 October, 1887; created acardinal, 16 January, 1893.

Extent and statistics of the diocese

The Diocese of Breslau includes the wholePrussian Province of Silesia with the exception of a part of the districts of Ratibor and Leobschütz, which belong to theArchdiocese of Olmütz, and the Countship (Grafschaft) of Glatz, also inPrussian Silesia, which is subject to theArchbishop ofPrague. In Austrian Silesia the Diocese of Breslau includes the Principality of Teschen and the Austrian part of the Principality of Neisee. In the Province of Brandenburg the diocese still includes the districts of Schwiebus-Züllichau and Krossen, as well as the part formerly called Nieder-Lausitz. With the exception of the districts of Bütow and Lauenburg, the rest ofBrandenburg and the Province ofPomerania have, since 1821, been supervised by delegation from the Prince-Bishop of Breslau. (SeeBERLIN,BRANDENBURG.)

Including the district governed by delegation thediocese contains, according to the last census (1 December, 1905), 3,342,221Catholics; 8,737,746Protestants; and 204,749Jews. There are actively employed in the diocese 1,632 secular, and 121 regular,priests. Thecathedral chapter includes the two offices ofprovost and dean, and has 10 regular, and 6 honorary, canons. The prince-bishopric is divided into 11 commissariates and 99 archpresbyterates, in which there are 992 cures of various kinds (parishes, curacies, and stations), with 935parish churches and 633 dependent and mother-churches. Besides thetheological faculty of theUniversity of Breslau, the diocese possesses, as episcopal institutions for the training of theclergy, 5 preparatoryseminaries for boys, 1 home (recently much enlarged) fortheological students attending theuniversity, and 1seminary forpriests. The statistics of the houses of thereligious orders in thedioceses are as follows:Benedictines, 1 house;Dominicans, 1;Franciscans, 8;Jesuits, 3;Piarists, 1; Brothers of Mercy, 8; Order of St. Camillus of Lellis, 1;Redemptorists, 1; Congregation of theSociety of the Divine Word, 1; Alexian Brothers, 1; Poor Brothers of St. Francis, 2;Sisters of St. Elizabeth, 6; Magdalen Sisters, 1;Ursulines, 6; Sisters of the Good Shepherd, 4;Sisters of St. Charles Borromeo, (a) from the mother-house atTrebnitz, 181, (b) from the mother-house atTrier, 5; Servants of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, 2; Sisters of Poor Handmaids ofChrist, 3; Sister-Servants of Mary, 27; GermanDominican Sisters of St. Catharine ofSiena, 11; Sisters of St. Francis, 9; GreySisters of St. Elizabeth, 169; Sisters of St. Hedwig, 9; Sisters of Mary, 27; Poor School-Sisters of Notre Dame, 15;Vincentian Sisters, 7;Sisters of the Holy Cross, 1;Sisters of St. Joseph, 1. In the above-mentionedmonastic houses for men there are 512 religious; in those forwomen, 5,208 religious.

University of Breslau

The founding of auniversity at Breslau was first debated in 1409, when the Czech made it impossible for theGermans to continue their studies at theUniversity of Prague and virtually drove them from it. But Leipzig and not Breslau obtained the new seat of learning. About a century later, under the quickening impulse ofHumanism, the project was again taken up by the city of Breslau in conjunction with thebishop, Johann Roth, and his coadjutor, Johann Turzo, and a "generale literarum gymnasium" to contain all four faculties was planned. The charter of this institution had been signed at Ofen, 20 July, 1505, by King Ladislaus ofHungary, to which Silesia then belonged, when theUniversity of Cracow, fearing competition, succeeded in bringing the scheme to naught. The efforts made in 1527 by theProtestants to found aSilesian University at Liegnitz and in 1616 at Beuthen also failed. TheCatholics sought to establish atheologicalschool for theeducation of thediocesanclergy, and the endeavour led to the founding at Breslau, in 1565, of atheologicalseminary which was transferred in 1575 to Neisse. In 1623 theBishop of Breslau, Archduke Carl ofAustria, founded at Neisse aJesuitcollege to which he gave a large endowment. Thebishop intended to unite with this college auniversity having departments ofjurisprudence and medicine, but his death soon after the founding of theschool prevented the carrying out of these plans.

Aschool founded by theJesuits at Breslau in 1659 was more fortunate in its development. TheSociety conducted in the imperial citadel a gymnasium, the higher classes of which corresponded to those in thephilosophical department of auniversity. Theological studies were introduced in 1666. These two courses were carried on as in auniversity, but theschool had no power to confer degrees. In order to obtain the charternecessary for the conferring of degrees and for the development of the institution, theJesuit Father Wolf sought, from 1694 on, to obtain the consent of Emperor Leopold I to the erection of theschool into auniversity. Father Wolf was also active in the negotiations between the courts ofBerlin andVienna concerning the concession of the title of King to the Elector Frederick III of Brandenburg. The plans Father Wolf sought to carry out were far-reaching. He held it a misfortune thatSilesians wereobliged to go touniversities outside ofSilesia, whereCatholics often had no opportunity for the exercise of their religion. His scheme was a national Silesianuniversity, endowed with all the academic privileges, which should be open to students irrespective of their religiousbeliefs. This project encountered the opposition ofProtestant prejudice against theJesuits, and the town council of Breslau prevented the imperial confirmation of the plan for eight years. However, Leopold I signed atVienna, 21 October, 1702, the charter raising theschool to the rank of auniversity and obtained thepapal confirmation for thedecree.

The newuniversity, called after the emperor, Leopoldina, was opened 15 November, 1702, but the change in status did not alter the internal organization. The buildings of the old citadel had long been too cramped for the needs of the institution, and it was resolved to erect a large new edifice, the cornerstone of which was laid 6 April, 1728. On account of thewar with Frederick the Great ofPrussia, and his conquest ofSilesia, the plans for the new structure could not be carried out in their entirety. Although efforts were made to open departments oflaw and medicine, nothing more was attained than unofficial lectures by instructors in these branches. The number of scholars during the first decade of the life of theuniversity continually increased. In 1740, 1,300 students attended theuniversity and gymnasium; the number declined during the first Silesianwar then rose again, until the Seven Years War once more reduced the attendance at lectures. During this latter conflict the building was used as ahospital andprison, and professors and students wereobliged to go elsewhere. Only after the Peace of 1763 was the building restored to its original use. The attendance increased rapidly during the next ten years, but fell off greatly after thesuppression of the Society of Jesus. In 1803, when the Leopoldina was made a secular institution, the number of students was about 500.

After thesuppression of the Jesuits the king established a Catholic-Schools Institute which included theJesuits living inSilesia, and in which the candidates for thesecular priesthood were to receive their training. The former independence disappeared and the institute anduniversity were made dependent on the Silesian minister. The new institution maintained with difficulty what was already in existence; it was ruled by a spirit of narrow conservatism, and made no attempt to develop its courses or to enter new fields. Besides this, the teaching force was not well kept up even in the usual branches of learning. During the last decade of its existence the Leopoldina was carried on under the royal ordinance issued 26 July, 1800, in regard to theUniversity of Breslau and the gymnasia connected with it. TheCatholicschool system, especially the gymnasia, underwent a reform at this epoch which led to the separation of the gymnasium from theuniversity and the reorganization of thephilosophical faculty. These two changes were carried out in 1811.

The founding of theUniversity ofBerlin in 1810 made uncertain the future existence of theProtestantuniversity atFrankfort on the Oder, not far fromBerlin. There was also a strong desire in Silesia for auniversity embracing all faculties, and King Frederick William III gave his consent, 3 August, 1811, to a "plan for uniting theUniversity ofFrankfort with theUniversity of Breslau". The twouniversities were to be made one institution in regard to constitution, teaching staff, endowments,property, and income; thephilosophical faculties were to form one body. "To satisfy the wishes ofCatholic subjects" two professors ofphilosophy proper were appointed, oneProtestant and oneCatholic. The promise of the erection of aCatholic professorship of history was not carried out until 1855, in the reign of Frederick William IV. Outside of these positions religiousbelief was not to be taken into consideration in appointments to the faculties of philosophy,law, and medicine. Instruction from bothCatholic andProtestant professors oftheology in the sameuniversity was until then unheard of. The plan of unionordained by the king decreed "that thetheological department of the combineduniversity should be divided into two faculties, aProtestanttheological faculty and aCatholictheological one. These two faculties, of equal rank in other respects, were to alternate in precedence from year to year in the matter of lecture-announcements, on academic occasions, and in affixing signatures. The public opening of the newuniversity took place 19 October, 1811, the lectures began 21 October. In the second year of the newschool patriotism led the great majority of the students to take part in thewar againstNapoleon called "the War of Liberation", and many of them died for their country. After peace was concluded the usual life of theuniversity was resumed. In August, 1861, the semi-centennial of theuniversity was celebrated with much pomp. Theschools of learning shared in the great development ofGermany after thewars of 1866 and 1870, 1871, and theUniversity of Breslau received, through the increase of prosperity, many improvements in equipment. The departments of medicine and naturalscience deserve special mention.

The increase in the number of students has kept pace with the increase in the number of instructors. When theuniversity was opened, in 1811, there were 35 regular professors, 4 assistant professors, 4 docents, and 8 lecturers and technical teachers; in 1861, at the time of the semi-centennial celebration, there were 41 regular professors, 11 assistant professors, 33 docents, and 12 lecturers and technical teachers; in 1906 there were 73 regular professors, 31 assistant professors, 66 docents, and 15 lecturers and technical teachers. In the first year of the institution there were 298 students; in the fiftieth, 775; and in 1906 the number reached 1,961. Of this last number, 241 attended the lectures of theProtestanttheological faculty; 565 attended thelaw course; 271, the medical course; 807, thephilosophical course. The German students numbered 1,884; foreign students, 77. Besides matriculated students, permission to attend the lectures was granted to 285 otherpersons of whom 179 werewomen.

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