Michele Lega

His Eminence

Michele Lega
Prefect of the Congregation of Sacramental Discipline
Cardinal Lega pictured in 1922.
ChurchRoman Catholic Church
Appointed20 March 1920
Term ended16 December 1935
PredecessorFilippo Giustini
SuccessorDomenico Jorio
Other post(s)
Previous post(s)
Orders
Ordination13 September 1883
Consecration11 July 1926
by Pope Pius XI
Created cardinal25 May 1914
by Pope Pius X
RankCardinal-Deacon (1914–24)
Cardinal-Priest (1924–26)
Cardinal-Bishop (1926–35)
Personal details
Born
Michele Lega

1 January 1860
Brisighella, Papal States
Died16 December 1935(1935-12-16) (aged 75)
Rome, Kingdom of Italy
Alma materPontifical Roman Athenaeum Saint Apollinare
MottoUt unum sint
Styles of
Michele Lega
Reference styleHis Eminence
Spoken styleYour Eminence
Informal styleCardinal
SeeFrascati (suburbicarian see)

Michele Lega S.T.D. J.U.D. (1 January 1860 – 16 December 1935)[1] was a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Prefect of the Congregation for the Discipline of Sacraments.

Early life and priesthood

Michele Lega was born on 1 January 1860 in Brisighella, Italy. His mother was Countess Giulia Baldini di Rimini, his father was Giacomo Lega, an engineer and he was one of five children.[2]

He was educated at the Seminary of Faenza and the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare, where he earned doctorates in theology, philosophy and a doctorate utriusque iuris (in both canon and civil law in 1888.[2]

He was ordained on 13 September 1883 in the diocese of Faenza. He served as a faculty member of the Pontificio Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide in Rome from 1887 until 1889. He then held the position of professor of philosophy until 1890 as well as being assistant professor of canon law from 1888 to 1889. He was a faculty member of the Pontifical Roman Athenaeum S. Apollinare from 1889 to 1893. He was made Privy Chamberlain on 11 August 1897. He was a member of the Pontifical Commission for the Codification of Canon Law and thus helped edit the 1917 Code of Canon Law. He was the Dean of the Roman Rota from 1908 until 1914.

Cardinalate

He was created and proclaimed Cardinal-Deacon of Sant'Eustachio[3] in the consistory of 25 May 1914. He was one of the cardinal electors in the conclave of 1914 that elected Pope Benedict XV. He was appointed Prefect of the Congregation for Discipline of Sacraments on 20 March 1920. He also participated in the conclave of 1922 that elected Pope Pius XI. After ten years as a cardinal-deacon he opted for the order of cardinal priests and his deaconry was elevated pro hac vice to title in 1924.

Episcopate

He opted for the order of cardinal bishops and the suburbicarian see of Frascati[4] on 21 June 1926. He was consecrated on 11 July of that year in the Sistine Chapel by Pope Pius XI. His brother Antonio attended the ceremony.

Death

He died in 1935; the funeral took place on 20 December, in the basilica of Ss. XII Apostoli, Rome.[2]

Family

His brother, Antonio Lega was bishop of Cervia and archbishop of Ravenna.[2]

His nephew Igino Lega went on to become a priest; he received the Medaglia D’Oro during WWII and was named as a Servant of God.[5]

References

  1. ^ Bibliothèque Nationale de France website, Profile page
  2. ^ a b c d Florida International University, Biographies section, The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church
  3. ^ California State University Northridge website, Sede Vacante 1914
  4. ^ Diocesi Suburbicaria Tuscolana, profile page
  5. ^ Jesuit.org website, Saints and Martyrs section, profile page
Catholic Church titles
Preceded by Prefect of the Supreme Tribunal of the Apostolic Signatura
15 December 1914 – 20 March 1920 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prefect of the Congregation for Discipline of Sacraments
20 March 1920 – 16 December 1935 		Succeeded by