Author: Fernandus Joannes Petrus Gregorius Van
Etten
Mr. van Etten (1830-1909), as the title page mentions,
was a Roman Catholic priest who belonged to the order of Saint
Augustine in the Netherlands.
The New Dutch Biographical Dictionary writes regarding
his career: "After finishing his studies he was ordained
to the priesthood in 1856. Later on he became a chaplain in
the Amsterdam (Nicholas Church) 1860, Wassenaar 1861, Delft.
In 1862 he was appointed to be a parish priest on the island
of Wieringen. To build a church in this needy parish, he made
a collection throughout the diocese, but after he had collected
the money, he had to leave the actual building of the church
to his successor, since he was moved to Wormer. Here, he built
a new church and also a cemetery. In 1879 he was transferred
to Delftshaven, where he opened a school for boys and girls.
In 1888, he joined the order of Saint Augustine, and soon
afterwards was called to the top posts. He was elected to
be the Prior of the Monica monastery in Utrecht and he founded
the Pious Association of Our Lady of Good Council, and took
the initiative in publishing the monthly magazine of Our Lady
of Good Council. In 1898, he was called to Rome to the important
post of Procurator General. He asked in 1901, due to his health
problems, not to be re-elected. He was again appointed to
be the Prior at Utrecht and to be Professor of the Holy Scripture.
For a long time he was also provincial head of the Dutch Augustins.
"
