Born in Ertvelde (Belgium), on August 26, 1858.
Died in Eegenhoven (Belgium), July 12, 1936.
An eminent moralist and canonist of the Society of Jesus, he completed his studies in Namur and Louvain, where he graduated in civil law and in political and social sciences, and at the Gregorian University, where he obtained degrees in theology and canon law. A Jesuit since 1879, in 1918 he succeeded his father *Bucceroni on the chair of moral theology at the Gregorian University, which he held until 1934. He was a consultor of the Congregation for Religious from 1919 and also a convinced popularizer of the devotion to the Sacred Heart.
Father Vermeersch, with his favorable vote, played a determining role in the practice for the approval of the Servants of Charity in 1928. On the occasion of the General Chapter of 1930, which would elect Don *Leonardo Mazzucchi to lead the male congregation, the Belgian religious gave precise instructions on how to conduct the preliminary consultations and the same chapter.
Written:
Vermeersch left behind an abundant bibliography, 44 books and pamphlets (for a complete review, see the Dictionaire de théologie catholique, vol. XV, pp. 2691-2693). Among these are:
Theologiae moralis principia, responsa, consilia (1922-1924).
Consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, means of perfection (1899).
Practice and Doctrine of Devotion to the Sacred Heart (1906).
Sources:
GIUSEPPE CREUSEN, ad vocem, in the Catholic Encyclopedia, vol. XII, Vatican City, Organization for the Catholic Encyclopedia and for the Catholic Book, 1954, cc. 1283-1284.
G. MATHON, ad vocem, in Catholicisme hier, aujourd'hui, domain, vol. XV, Paris, Letouzey et Ané 2000, cc. 881-882.
JAN DAELEMAN, ad vocem, in Diccionario histórico of the Compañía de Jesús, vol. IV, Madrid, Institutum Historicum SI - Universidad Pontificia Comillas, 2001, p. 3933.
Guanellian sources:
General Archive of the Servants of Charity, Rome, Minutes of the meetings of the Superior Council, 17 April 1928, f. 22; 11 February 1930, f. 111s.
Photographs:
Archivum Romanum Societatis Jesu (courtesy of Mauro Brunello).