 He belonged to an intensely Catholic family of Westphalia; like him, two of his brothers entered the Catholic clergy, one joining the Society of Jesus and the other becoming a missionary in the United States.After finishing his studies with brilliant success at the public schools of his native town, he entered the German College at Rome through the mediation of the bishop's secretary, afterwards Cardinal Melchers, and made his philosophical and theological studies in the Gregorian College.In 1854 he received the degree of Doctor of Philosophy; he was ordained priest in Rome on 8 June 1857, and two years later received the degree of Doctor of Theology.