WAFFELAERT, GUSTAVUS JOSEPHUS. - Moral and ascetical theologian, 22nd bishop of Bruges, b. at Rollegem on 27 Aug. 1847, d. at Bruges on 16 Dec. 1931, after 37 years in the episcopate.
He was awarded the doctorate and became master of theology at the University of Louvain (20 July 1880) with the dissertation De dubio solvendo in re morali. During the ten years in which he taught moral theology at the Major Seminary of Bruges, he published the treatises De iure et iustitia and De prudentia, fortitudine et temperantia. From 1896 to 1905 he wrote for his clergy the Meditationes theologicae, of profound dogmatic inspiration, which foreshadow W.'s ascetical and mystical works. In Notanda quaedam utilissima in ordine ad rite intelligenda opera scriptorum contemplativorum atque ipsam contemplationem divinam exercendam, he studies the doctrine of Ruusbroec and compares it with that of S. Giovanni della Croce. He deserves credit for having brought to light once more the sublime doctrine of the great Flemish mystic. Drawing inspiration from him, W. composed two booklets in the Dutch language (translated into French) and treatises on mystical theology. He founded the periodical Collationes Brugenses, which has been published since 1896.