[1] He was ordained to the priesthood on 28 April 1867, and taught mathematics at the minor seminary of Saint-Roch (Ferneres) from 1868, becoming director of the school in 1873.

[1] His appointment was supported by Leopold II of Belgium, who saw him as a man who would combat the growth of Christian democracy in Liège.

[1] Rutten was from a Dutch-speaking family and inclined to flamingant ideas, thinking it a matter of pressing importance that ordinary people receive instruction in so far as possible in their native language.

He protested against German atrocities and exactions during the German occupation of Belgium during World War I and condemned those who collaborated to obtain language concessions, but immediately after the end of the war he decreed that the Catholic secondary schools in Limburg should switch to Dutch as the main medium of instruction.

[1] On 16 November 1925, Eupen and Malmedy were removed from the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cologne and attached to the diocese of Liège.