Ambrosius Capello

Ambrosius Capello
O.P.
Bishop of Antwerp

Portrait of Capello engraved by Pieter de Jode II after Jacob van Reesbroeck (1659)
Church Roman Catholic
Diocese Antwerp
See Cathedral of Our Lady (Antwerp)
Appointed 1652
Installed 1654
Term ended 1676
Predecessor Gaspard Nemius
Successor Aubertus van den Eede
Orders
Consecration 13 September 1654
Personal details
Born June 22, 1597
Antwerp
Died 4 October 1676 (aged 79)
Antwerp
Buried Antwerp Cathedral
Profession 21 November 1613
Education Theology
Alma mater University of Douai
University of Salamanca
University of Leuven

Ambrosius Capello (1597–1676) was the seventh bishop of Antwerp (1654–1676).[1]

Life

Capello was born in Antwerp on 22 June 1597, the son of an Italian military contractor, Jean-François Capello, and a Netherlandish lady, Marie de Boxhorn. He entered the Dominican Order in 1612 and studied Theology in the universities of Douai, Salamanca and Leuven. He obtained the degree of Doctor of Theology in Leuven in 1627.

He held a number of positions of responsibility in his order – prior of several houses, definitor for the Belgian province, deputy of the province to the general chapter – and in 1642 he was named vice-prefect of the Dutch Mission. In 1652 he was named bishop of Antwerp, but the appointment was not confirmed until 1654. On 13 September 1654 he was consecrated bishop by his predecessor, Gaspard Nemmius, who had been transferred to the archdiocese of Cambrai. As bishop he founded a number of scholarships and a retirement home for aged priests.

Wilhelmus Foppens's Dutch translation of the Roman Catechism (printed by François Foppens for Joachim van Metelen, Antwerp, 1668; reprinted 1687, 1701) was dedicated to him.[2]

Monumental tomb of Ambrosius Capello, designed by Artus Quellinus II

Capello died in Antwerp on 4 October 1676, leaving all his worldly goods to the poor.[3] His ornate Baroque tomb, in Antwerp Cathedral, was designed by Artus Quellinus II

References

  1. Lucien Ceyssens, "Capello (Marius - Ambroise)", Biographie Nationale de Belgique, vol. 37, (Brussels, 1971), 123-129.
  2. The 1687 reprint is available on Google Books.
  3. Leo Braeken, De dekenij Herentals, 1603–1669 (Leuven, 1982), p. 71.
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by
Gaspard Nemius
Bishop of Antwerp
16521676
Succeeded by
Aubertus van den Eede