Paul Augustin Mayer, O.S.B. | |
|---|---|
| Cardinal Prefect Emeritus of theCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments | |
 | |
| Other posts | Abbot ofSt. Michael's Abbey, Metten (1966–1971) Titular Archbishop ofSatrianum(1972–1985), and Prefect of theCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments(1985–1988) |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 August 1935 |
| Consecration | 13 February 1972 |
| Created cardinal | 25 May 1985 (Cardinal deacon); 29 January 1996 (Cardinal priest) |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Paul Augustin Mayer (1911-05-23)23 May 1911 Altötting,Kingdom of Bavaria (now Germany) |
| Died | 30 April 2010(2010-04-30) (aged 98) Rome, Italy |
| Nationality | German |
| Coat of arms |  |
Paul Augustin Mayer,OSB (23 May 1911 – 30 April 2010) was a GermanCardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He held various positions in theRoman Curia from 1971 to 1991.
Mayer was born inAltötting, Germany, one of three children of Royal Bavarian General Ludwig Mayer and his wife Meta Hoeness. He was the nephew of Württemberg PresidentEugen Bolz.
After graduating from the Metten high school, Mayer joined theOrder of Saint Benedict at theAbbey of St. Michael, Metten, taking the name of Augustin.[1] He had his monastic profession on 17 May 1931. He studied at theUniversity of Salzburg and at thePontifical Athenaeum of Sant Anselmo in Rome, where he received his doctorate in theology on the writings ofClement of Alexandria.[2]
He was ordained a Priest on 25 August 1935. After his ordination he was a faculty member at the abbey of Saint Michael from 1937 until 1939. He taught at the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum of Sant Anselmo from 1939 until 1966, serving as itsrector from 1949 until 1966. As rector he founded the Pontifical Liturgical Institute.[1]
He was the Apostolic visitor to the Swiss seminaries from 1957 until 1959. He served as Secretary of the Preparatory Commission of theSecond Vatican Council from 1960 until 1962. The decree he oversaw on the formation of priests was the only Council document to be approved by the Council Fathers in the first reading. He was elected abbot of St. Michael's Abbey, Metten, Bavaria on 3 November 1966.[1] He received the abbatial blessing from Rudolf Graber,bishop of Regensburg. In 1968 became the abbot-president of theBavarian Benedictine Congregation, and in 1970 president of the Salzburg Conference of Abbots, positions he held until 1971.
He was appointed Secretary of theCongregation for Religious and Secular Institutes on 8 September 1971. As secretary he was appointedtitular archbishop ofSatrianum byPope Paul VI on 6 January 1972 and was consecrated on 13 February by Pope Paul,[2] assisted byBernardus Johannes Alfrink, CardinalArchbishop of Utrecht, andWilliam Conway, CardinalArchbishop of Armagh.[3]Pope John Paul II named himPro-Prefect of theCongregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments on 8 April 1984. During his tenure, the congregation was divided into two, the Congregation of the Sacraments and the Congregation for Divine Worship. (They were united again in 1988 under the Apostolic ConstitutionPastor Bonus.)
He was created and proclaimedCardinal-Deacon ofSant'Anselmo all'Aventino in theconsistory of 25 May 1985. He was named full Prefect of the Congregation two days later. He presided over the unification of two distinct congregations, the Congregation of the Sacraments and the Congregation for Divine Worship that were united under one name from 1988 on. He resigned the prefecture on 1 July 1988. He was appointed the first President of thePontifical Commission Ecclesia Dei the next day.[2] He lost the right to participate in aconclave when turned 80 years of age in 1991. He resigned the presidency on 1 July 1991. He opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevatedpro hac vice to title on 29 January 1996.[4]
Mayer was the oldest living Cardinal from 2007 to his death. He died on 30 April 2010 in Rome. He was buried at St. Michael's Abbey, Metten.
In 2009, the Saint Benedict Education Foundation announced the establishment of the Paul Augustin Cardinal Mayer, O.S.B., Chair in Sacramental Theology at Sant Anselmo.[5]
Media related toPaul Augustin Mayer at Wikimedia Commons
Quotations related toPaul Augustin Mayer at Wikiquote| Catholic Church titles | ||
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| Preceded by | Titular Archbishop ofSatrianum 6 January 1972 – 25 May 1985 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prefect of the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments 8 April 1984 – 1 July 1988 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by Inaugural appointment | President of the Pontifical CommissionEcclesia Dei 2 July 1988 – 1 July 1991 | Succeeded by |
| Records | ||
| Preceded by | Oldest living Member of the Sacred College 12 December 2007 – 30 April 2010 | Succeeded by |
