Jacobus Wemmers
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by Jerónimo Domín Funes
Most Reverend Jacobus Wemmers | |
|---|---|
| Titular Bishop of Memphis | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| In office | 1645 |
| Successor | Francisco Suárez de Villegas |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 24 April 1645 by Jerónimo Domín Funes |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 21 October 1598 |
| Died | 21 August 1645 (aged 46) Naples, Kingdom of Naples |
Jacobus Wemmers (1598–1645) was a Carmelite friar who served as apostolic legate to Ethiopia, and briefly bore the title of Titular Bishop of Memphis (1645).[1]
Jacobus Wemmers was born in Antwerp, Duchy of Brabant (now Belgium), on 21 October 1598, the son of Gisbert Wemmers and Marie Hanotel.[2] He entered the Carmelite Order on 22 September 1616, and made his vows on 25 of September the following year. He showed a love of learning, and obtained a doctorate in theology.[3]
On 3 May 1640 Pope Urban VIII appointed him apostolic legate to Ethiopia, with faculties to use the Ethiopian liturgical rite.[4]
He was appointed Titular Bishop of Memphis on 24 April 1645, in the pontificate of Pope Innocent X, and on 5 June was consecrated bishop by Jerónimo Domín Funes, Bishop of Gaeta, with Placido Padiglia, Bishop of Alessano, and Francesco de' Notari, Bishop of Lavello, serving as co-consecrators.[5]
He died in Naples on 21 August 1645 ("the 12th of the calends of September"), while en route to Ethiopia.[2] He was buried in Santa Maria del Carmine, Naples, with an epitaph reading
D.O.M. Illustrissimus ac Reverendissimus Dom Fr. Jacobus Wemmers, Antverpiensis Carmelita, Mempheos Episcopus, scientiis, moribusque præclarus: gregem ardens maximè, ardores minimi facit æstivos: pro Ægypto cælum appellit: & qui Ecclesiæ multa scripsit, huic Ecclesiæ adscripsit ossa XII. kalendas septembris, anno Domini M.DC.XLV.
