Hove, Alphonse van. - Belgian canonist, b. at Thielt (West Flanders) on 7 Aug. 1872, d. at Louvain on 27 July 1947. Extraordinary professor of ecclesiastical history (1898) and of canon law (1900) in the minor school of the Faculty of Theology at Louvain, he later became ordinary professor of Belgian ecclesiastical law (1904-39) and of ecclesiastical public law (1908-39) in the Faculty of Law, ordinary professor of introductory subjects in the Faculty of Canon Law (1908-47), and of school law in the Institute of Pedagogy and Applied Psychology (1924-39).
A historian of distinction, H. was above all a canonist jurist in the classical and most complete sense. Author of numerous publications on varied subjects, he promoted the historical method in the study of canon law and defended the autonomy of canon law against the encroachments of moral theology. His first five treatises of the *Commentarium Lovaniense in CIC*, which he himself conceived and promoted, are a true masterpiece of high scientific value: *Prolegomena in CIC* (Malines-Rome 1928; 2nd ed. 1914); *De legibus ecclesiasticis* (ibid. 1930); *De consuetudine et temporis supputatione* (ibid. 1933); *De rescriptis* (ibid. 1936); *De privilegiis et dispensationibus* (ibid. 1939). He also wrote: *Etude sur les conflits de juridiction dans le diocèse de Liège à l'époque d'Erard de la Mark* (Louvain 1900). Co-founder of *Ephemerides theologicae Lovanienses*, he served as its editor for the canon law section from its inception (1924). He also contributed important articles to many other journals and encyclopedias (Cath. Enc., *Encyclopaedia of the Social Sciences*, *DDC*). He was consulted on several occasions by the Commission for the Codification of Canon Law.