Waffelaert, Gustavus Josephus

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 of episcopate.

He was promoted doctor and master in theology at the University of Louvain (20 July 1880) with the thesis 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 St. John of the Cross. He had the merit of bringing back to light the sublime doctrine of the great Flemish mystic. Inspired by this, W. composed two short works in Dutch (translated into French) and treatises on mystical theology. He founded the periodical Collationes Brugenses, which has been published since 1896.

Alberto Ampe