Guy Ignatius Chabrat

The Right Reverend

Guy Ignatius Chabrat

P.S.S.
Bishop of Bardstown, Kentucky
Church Catholic
Diocese Bardstown
Appointed21 March 1834
PredecessorJohn Baptist Mary David
SuccessorRichard Pius Miles
Orders
Ordination21 December 1811
by Benedict Joseph Flaget
Consecration20 July 1834
by Benedict Joseph Flaget
Personal details
Born27 December 1787
La Chambre, Savoie, France
Died21 November 1868
Mauriac, France

Guy Ignatius Chabrat P.S.S. (December 27, 1787 – November 21, 1868) was a French Roman Catholic missionary and Coadjutor Bishop of Bardstown, Kentucky (1834–47).[1] He was the first priest ordained west of the Alleghenies.[2]

Biography

Guy Ignace Chabrat was born in Le Vigean, Cantal, to Pierre and Louise (née Lavialle) Chabrat; he was a relative of Peter Joseph Lavialle, Bishop of Louisville (1865–67).[3] He studied at a Sulpician seminary and was ordained a subdeacon in 1809. In 1811, he accepted an invitation from Bishop Benedict Joseph Flaget to join the Diocese of Bardstown, Kentucky, arriving in the United States in May of that year.[2] He was ordained to the priesthood by Bishop Flaget on Christmas Day 1811, at St. Rose Priory.[1]

Chabrat was first assigned to St. Michael's Church, Fairfield (Kentucky) and St. Clare's Church, Colesburg (Kentucky), while also attending to a mission near Bardstown. He briefly served as pastor of St. Pius' Church in Scott County (1823).[2] Following the death of Rev. Charles Nerinckx, he became superior of the Sisters of Loretto in 1824.[3]

On March 21, 1834, Chabrat was appointed Coadjutor Bishop of Bardstown and Titular Bishop of Bolina by Pope Gregory XVI.[1] He received his episcopal consecration on the following July 20 from Bishop Flaget, with Bishops John Baptist Mary David, P.S.S., and Richard Pius Miles, O.P., serving as co-consecrators.[1] He assumed much of the administration of the diocese for the aged Flaget, including the move of the episcopal see to Louisville in 1841.[3]

Threatened with complete blindness, he sought treatment in Europe and later resigned as Coadjutor Bishop on April 10, 1847.[1] He retired to his native France on a comfortable pension,[2] dying in Mauriac at age 80.[citation needed]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "Bishop Guy Ignatius Chabrat, P.S.S." Catholic-Hierarchy.org.
  2. ^ a b c d "Diocese of Louisville". Catholic Encyclopedia.
  3. ^ a b c Clarke, Richard Henry. "Lives of the Deceased Bishops of the Catholic Church in the United States".