Désiré-Joseph Mercier (1851-1926) was educated in seminaries in Mechelen, Belgium. He was ordained to the priesthood in 1874 and several years later received a doctorate in philosophy at the University of Louvain. He became noted as an expert on Thomas Aquinas and served as a Professor of Philosophy at Louvain from 1882-1905. He also wrote about psychology and meta-physics. He was a Belgian nationalist and opposed use of the Dutch language. Mercier was appointed Cardinal in 1907. He was recognized for his resistance to the German occupation of Belgium during the First World War. In his later years, he advocated for closer ties with the Anglican Church.
- Medal
Bronze. Belgium 1914. Signed. Lifetime. A nation’s tribute for the cardinal’s words of support and encouragement to resist Germans.
- Size
64 mm
- Artist
Jules Jourdain (1873-1957), Belgian medalist Jules Jourdain (1873-1957), also known as Jules Paul Louis Jourdain, Belgian sculptor and medallist (Forrer 3, 91; sources differ; dates after data from Smithsonian American Art Museum).
- Obverse
Clothed bust to left, wearing mozzetta (short cape), cross and zucchetto (skullcap); in a curve along edge from lower left, ∙ A ∙ S ∙ E ∙ LE CARDINAL ∙ MERCIER ∙ ∙ HOMAGE ∙ NATIONAL ∙ ; on right, in straight line, J. JOURDAIN in smaller letters.
- Reverse
Personified Belgium holding a flag in left hand and pulling up a tired soldier with her right hand; in a curve at right and left, ∙ PATRIOTISME ∙ ∙ ENDURANCE ∙ ; below the soldier’s hand holding gun, 1914.
- Ref
HeritagePlus 71022A51.priref.5693
