Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens
Most Reverend Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens | |
|---|---|
| Apostolic Vicar of Siam | |
| Church | Catholic Church |
| Diocese | Apostolic Vicariate of Siam |
| Predecessor | Arnaud-Antoine Garnault |
| Successor | Jean-Paul-Hilaire-Michel Courvezy |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1786 |
| Consecration | April 12, 1812 by Jean Labartette |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 12, 1762 |
| Died | March 30, 1834 (aged 71) |
Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens (June 4, 1762 – March 30, 1834) was the Vicar Apostolic of Siam.[1]
Biography
Esprit-Marie-Joseph Florens was born in Lagnes, France on 4 Jun 1762.[2] In 1786, he was ordained a priest in La Société des Missions Etrangères dedicated to missionary work.[3]
He travelled to Thailand in 1787 and was placed in charge of Chantaboun district; in 1791, he was also given charge of the Sainte-Croix parish in Bangkok.[2]
On June 29, 1810, Pope Pius VII was named as Titular Bishop of Sozopolis in Haemimonto and appointed Florens as Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic of Siam.[3] On March 4, 1811, he succeeded Arnaud-Antoine Garnault. He was consecrated bishop on April 12, 1812, by Bishop Jean Labartette, Vicar Apostolic of Cochin.[2]
He appointed Laurent-Joseph-Marius Imbert to travel to Singapore; Imbert held the first Mass in Singapore in 1821.[4]
Pope Leo XII issued a decree in September 1827 which gave Florens jurisdiction over Singapore.[2]
Florens is buried in Bangkok.[1]
Episcopal succession
While bishop, he was the principal consecrator of:[3]
- Barthélemy Bruguière, Titular Bishop of Capsus (1829); and
- Jean-Louis Taberd, Titular Bishop of Isauropolis (1830).
Family
Esprit’s brother Jean-Louis Florens (1756 – 1814) was also a missionary to Asia;[5] he served in Vietnam and is buried in So-trai.
References
- ^ a b Chan, Joshua (5 February 2025). "Archbishop Chia's remains placed in cathedral crypt". Catholic News. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c d "Esprit-Marie Florens, 1762 – 1834". Institut de recherche France-Asie. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ a b c Cheney, David M. "Bishop Esprit-Marie-Joseph Floren, M.E.P. †". Catholic-Hierarchy.org. Retrieved January 2, 2022. [self-published]
- ^ "Singapore Catholic Church concludes bicentennial celebrations". Vatican News. December 2021. Retrieved November 20, 2025.
- ^ "Jean-Louis Florens, 1756 - 1814". Institut de recherche France-Asie. Retrieved November 20, 2025.