Page:Catholic Encyclopedia, volume 6.djvu/183

 FORSTER

145

FORTALEZA

1759 Forster was chosen one of the first members of the newly founded Bavarian academy of sciences. A year later he laid down the office of prior and was appointed provost at Hohengebraching, a dependency of St. Emmeram, situated about five miles south of Ratisbon. On 24 July, 1762, he was elected as suc- cessor to the deceased Prince-Abbot Johann Baptist Kraus of 8t. Emmeram.

Forster's election was the inauguration of the golden era of St. Emmeram. The learned new prince-abbot endeavoured to impart his own love for learning to each of his subjects and offered them every facility to advance in knowledge. During his reign the course given in the natural sciences at St. Emmeram became famous throughout Germany and drew scholars not only from the Benedictine monasteries of Bavaria, but also from the houses of other religious orders. In order to promote the study of Holy Scripture, Forster called the learned Maurist philologist, C'harles Lancelot of St-Germain-des-Pres, who instructed the monks of St. Emmeram in Oriental languages from 1 Oct., 1771, to 27 May, 1775. To encourage his young monks still more in their respective studies, he founded a physical, a mineralogical, and a numismatic cabinet and pro- cured the best available literature in the various branches. Forster's chief literary production is his carefully prepared edition of the works of Alcuin which appeared in two folio volumes (4 parts) at Ratisbon in 1777. It is reprinted in the Latin Pa- trology of Migne (vols. C and CI). He also wrote in Latin five short philosophical treatises and a disserta- tion on the Vulgate. From a codex preserved in the library of the cathedral chapter at Freising he edited the decrees of the Synod of Aschheim and made a German translation of it for " Abhandlungen der Bayr. Akad. der Wissenschaften ' ' (I,-i'J-(JO) ; and from a codex in the library of St. Emmeram he pulilished in Mansi's " C'oUectio Ampl. Conciliorum" (XIII, 1025- 28), the decrees of a Bavarian synod held during the times of the Agilolfings.

Endres, Frobcniiis Forster in Strassbiirgcr theoJ. Sliidien (Freiburg im Br., 1900). IV. tasc. 1; Lindner, Dir SclirifMcller des Bcnediktiner-Ordens in Bayem (Ratisbon. 1SS01, I, 5C)-<i2; Schneider in Hist.-Polil. Blatter (Munich, 1901), CXXVII. 902-913. Michael Ott.

Forster, Thomas Ignatius Maria, astronomer and naturalist, b. at London, 9 Nov., 1789; d. at Brussels, 2 Feb., 1860. His Uterary education was neglected, as his father, a distinguished botanist, was a follower of Rousseau. He made up this deficiency, and during his lifetime became master of a number of modern languages. His early studies were, however, desultory, and he seems to have put off the choice of a profession until some years after attaining to man's estate. As early as 1805 he had compiled a "Journal of the Weather ' ' and had published his " Liber Rerum NaturaUum". A year later, inspired by Gall's works, he took up the study of phrenology. The comet of 1811 aroused his interest in astronomy, a science which he continued to pursue, and eight years later, on 3 July, 1819, he himself discovered a new comet. He finally matriculated at Corpus Christi College, Cam- bridge, in order to study law, but soon abandoned it for medicine, taking his degree in 1819. Two )-ears be- fore, he had married the daughter of Colonel Beaufoy and taken up his residence at Spa Lodge, Tunbridge Wells. After the birth of his only daughter he moved to Hartwell in Sussex, and then went abroad, where he spent three years. His observations and studies on the Continent led to the pubhcation, in 1824, of his "Per- ennial Calendar". It was also during this period that he was attracted by the claims of the Cathohc Church, to which he became a convert. After his return to England he became a fellow of the Royal Astronomical Society and helped to foimd a meteorological society, which, however, had but a brief existence.

His father died in 1825, and he soon after took up VI.— 10

his residence in Chelmsford in order to be near his daughter, who was a pupil at Newhall Convent. Here he undertook a series of researches on the influence of atmospheric conditions on diseases, and particularly on cholera. In 1830 he collected and published the letters of Locke, Shaftesbury, and Algernon Sydney. In 1833 he again went abroad, where he spent most of his remaining years, settling finally in Bruges. He continued his literary activity during the latter part of his life, some of his writings being poetical. He also composed selections for the violin. Forster was re- markable for his versatility and industry. He num- bered among his friends many of the prominent authors and scholars of his time, such as Gray, Porson, Shelley, Peacock, Herschel, and Whewell. Besides the works mentioned, he also wrote, "Researches about Atmospheric Phenomena" (London, 1812; 2nd ed., 1823); "Reflections on the Destructive Operation of Spirituous Liquors" (London, 1812); "Pocket Encyclopedia of Natural Phenomena" (from his father's MSS., 1826); " Beobachtimgen uber den Ein- fluss des Luftdruckes auf das Gehor" (Frankfort, 1835); "Observations sur I'influence des Comctes" (1836); "Pan, a Pastoral" (Brussels, 1840); "Essay on Abnormal Affections of the Organs of Sense" (Tun- bridge Wells, 1841); "Annales d'un Physicien Voj'a- geur" (Bruges, 1848); and numerous articles in "The Gentleman's Magazine".

Forster, Recueil dc ma Vic (Franktort-on-the-Main. 1835); Epistolarium Forsterianum (Bruges, 184.5-50); Boulger in Diet. Nat. Biog., a. v.; Gillow, Bibl. Diet. Eng. Calh., s. v.

Henry M. Brock.

Fortaleza, Diocese op (Fortalexiensi.s), is co- extensive with the State of Ceiirii in the Republic of Brazil, having an area of 46,912 square miles, and a population of 850,000 souls, of whom fewer than 1000 are non-Catholics. Fortaleza, or Ceara, the episcopal city, has a population of 60,000. Formerly a part of the Diocese of Pernarabuco, this district was erected into a separate diocese, suff'ragan to Bahia, by Pius IX, 8 June, 1854. Joao Guerino Gomes was named as first bishop but did not accept the appointment. Father Gomes, who was famous in his day both as an orator and as a philosopher, died in 1859; a bio- graphical notice of him was presented to the His- torical Institute of Bahia by his cousin, Jos6 Antonio Teixeira. The first bishop, Luis Antonio dos Santos, founded the diocesan seminaries at Fortaleza and Crato, and, for the education of girls, the College of the Immaculate Conception, besides building the church of the Sacred Heart at Fortaleza.

Dom Luis Antonio dos Santos having been elevated to the metropolitan See of Bahia, Joaquim Jose Vieira — b. 1836, consecrated at Campinas in the State of S. Paulo, 9 December, 1883 — took possession of the See of Fortaleza on 24 February, 1884. His incumbency has been fruitful in the increase of means for the edu- cation of the poor, the college of Canind^ and the Jesus-Mary-Joseph School at Fortaleza owing their existence to his pastoral zeal. In 1908 this diocese contained 77 parishes with 120 priests. The diocesan seminary is conducted by the Lazarist Fathers; there is a Benedictine abbey, with a college, at Quixada; the Italian Capuchins have charge of the Sacred Heart church at Fortaleza and the church of St. Francis of the Wounds at Caninde, to which latter is attached a college for poor boys. The Sisters of Charity have under their care the Misericordia Hospital at Forta- leza, the College of the Immaculate Conception, the Jesus-Mary-Joseph School, and the lunatic asylum at Parangaba. The principal lay association in the dio- cese is the Society of St. Vincent de Paul, consisting of a superior council, 32 particular councils, and 156 con- ferences, and maintains 10 primary schools and 9 libraries, besides publishing, as its official organ, the "Revista do Conselho Central".

GUILHERME StUDAKT.