Born in Chía, Cundinamarca, he entered the Major Seminary of Bogotá as a child and was ordained a priest in 1911. He studied at the Pontifical Gregorian University, returning to Colombia in 1918. He served the Archdiocese of Bogotá in varied capacities, including as a chaplain for clergy, and a school chaplain. In 1944, he was ordained a bishop and was appointed auxiliary bishop of Bogotá. In 1950, he became the vicar general for the archdiocese. In the 1960s, he was made a titular archbishop and participated in the Second Vatican Council.
Early life and education
Emilio de Brigard Ortiz was born on 15 May 1888, in Chía, Cundinamarca, Colombia.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He was of Spanish, French, and Polish descent.[8][9][10] His great-great-grandfather was Antonio Nariño, the Colombian independence fighter and statesman.[1][2] His parents, Luís de Brigard Saíz and María Josefa Ortiz Álvarez,[4] both came from prominent families,[2][6] and were dignified but simple people.[3] They instilled in Brigard humanitarian principles and a devout Catholic faith.[3] He had three siblings: Julio, Arturo, and María Luisa.[6]
After completing his education in Rome, he returned to Colombia in 1918 and began a long and varied career in service of the Archdiocese of Bogotá.[1][2][3][4] His work was often focused especially on care for children, the poor and the sick, and took up the cause of striving to gain better working conditions for laborers.[1][2][3][4] He provided support to poorly-funded charity homes and provided charity to those in need.[2] He was revered by the many he served and worked with, and was affectionately nicknamed "el Doctorcito" (diminutive of "the Doctor").[2][3][4]
As auxiliary bishop, Brigard grew very close to Archbishop Perdomo.[2] By the mid-1940s, the archbishop was in his 70s, and Brigard assisted him in leading the archdiocese.[2] Brigard often represented the archdiocese at international events, such as the Second National Eucharistic Congress in Ecuador in 1949, and the Quinquennial visit ad limina in the Vatican City in 1950.[1][2] When Archbishop Perdomo died on 3 June 1950, Brigard was appointed vicar capitular, in which capacity he administered the archdiocese until 8 September 1950, when Crisanto Luque Sánchez was installed as archbishop.[2] He then became the vicar general of the archdiocese.[2]
On 11 October 1961, Brigard celebrated his Golden Jubilee, the 50th anniversary of his ordination to the priesthood.[1][2] The occasion was a very important social event in Bogotá, with many prominent people attending the ceremonies.[1][2] He was even honored by the pope, who elevated him to Titular Archbishop of Dysti two days before the anniversary.[2][5] Beginning in 1962, he attended all four sessions of the Second Vatican Council.[1][2][5] For his 90th birthday in 1978, he directed his many friends to, instead of giving him gifts, help him start a charitable foundation.[1][2] Upon the death of Bishop Pierre Kamel Medawar on 27 April 1985, Brigard, at age 96, became the oldest living Catholic bishop, a title he held for less than a year before his death.
Death and legacy
Brigard died on March 6, 1986, in Bogotá.[1][2][4][5][6] He is buried in the Primatial Cathedral of Bogotá.[2] His legacy lives on in the charitable foundation he started, which now bears his name,[1][2] and the school Gimnasio Emilio de Brigard in Bogotá, also named for him.[11] The Fundación Emilio de Brigard is based in the Gimnasio Moderno, where Brigard was chaplain.[1][2]
