TRIEST, ANTOINE

Bishop, protector of the first Jansenists; b. Beveren-Waas (Belgium), 1576; d. Ghent, May 28, 1657. Through his father be belonged to the family of the Barons of Auwegem; and through his mother, Marie Van Royen, to the Villain family of Ghent. Having received his licentiate in law at Louvain, he went to Rome to study theology. He was ordained on Sept. 2, 1602, and was successively chaplain at the court of the archdukes at Brussels, canon at Anderlecht and Ghent, archdeacon and dean of St. Baron in Ghent, member of the Estates of Flanders, bishop of Bruges (1616), bishop of Ghent (1620), and counselor to the Council of State. A very rich man, he was generous to the poor, to ecclesiastical institutions, to artists, and to horticulturists (whence his influence on the Floralies of Ghent). Imbued with the spirit of Catholic restoration, he administered his dioceses energetically, and made extensive visitations. He applied the Tridentine decrees, improving education and helping religious communities of men and women. His historical importance stems especially from his support of Jansenism in its early stages. Having known and esteemed his colleague Cornelius jansen (Jansenius), Bishop of Ypres, he always believed that Jansenius had been misunderstood and treated unfairly. That is why, together with Abp. Jacques boonen, he labored to obtain a revision of the matter in Rome; he eventually had the support of the King of Spain in so doing. His work Raisons (1647) was written in support of Jansenius. Rome misunderstood his views and imposed heavy censures upon him, but these were soon removed (1653).

Bibliography: Biographie nationale de Belgique 25:614–624. Augustiniana 13 (1963) 56.

[l. ceyssens]