Diocese of Lodi

The Diocese of Lodi () is a Latin diocese of the Catholic Church that existed since the 4th century; it is a suffragan of the Archdiocese of Milan."Diocese of Lodi" Catholic-Hierarchy.org. David M. Cheney. Retrieved February 29, 2016"Diocese of Lodi" GCatholic.org. Gabriel Chow. Retrieved February 29, 2016

History

Under Diocletian, according to the local legend, 4000 Christians with their bishop, whose name is unknown, were burned alive in their church.Under Diocletian, the Church was still an illegal cult. It did not have the right to own property, or to assemble legally. The number 4,000 burnt is implausibly generous. The diocese of Lodi and its bishop, Maurizio Malvestiti, reject the tale, naming Bassianus as their "protovescovo".Diocesi di Lodi. "L’Omelia del Vescovo Maurizio alla veglia di San Bassiano 2020;" retrieved 1 October 2020.

The actual origins of the diocese are obscure. Some name Bassianus as the first bishop, others name Julianus, whose time of service is equally obscure.Kehr VI. 1, p. 238: "Episcopatus Laudensis origines obscurae sunt. Primus episcopus, cuius certa notitia habetur, s. Bassianus est, Laudensis ecclesiae et urbis patronus, de quo s. Ambrosius ad Felicem Cumanum episcopum scripsit. Alii vero s. lulianum primum Laudensium antistitem fuisse contendunt. St. Bassianus, the patron of the city of Lodi, was certainly bishop in 378. Gams, p. 793.

Lodi was finally captured by the Milanese in the last week of May 1191.Vignati, Codice diplomatico Laudense parte prima, pp. xlix-l.

On 9 January 1252, Pope Innocent IV restored the diocese of Lodi, which had been suppressed by Pope Gregory IX.Vignati, Codice diplomatico Laudense parte seconda, p. 345, no. 342. In a separate document of 26 January 1252, Pope Innocent ordered Bishop Bongiovanni Fissiraga to confiscate all the benefices and fiefs of clergy and laity who had supported the Emperor Frederick II.Vignati, p. 346, no. 353. Frederick had died on 13 December 1350, making it possible for the pope to claw back the allegiances of those who had not supported the Church. It was bad policy, merely intensifying the strife between the Ghibellines (dispossessed) and the Guelfs (new possessors). Cf. Cappelletti XII, p. 357. Vignati, Codice diplomatico Laudense parte seconda, pp. lxxvii–lxxviii.

In 1298 Bishop Berardus Talente (1296–1307) became the first bishop of Lodi to assume the title of Count.Cappelletti XII, p. 361.

The episcopal palace was built in the 1730s by Patriarch Carlo Ambrogio Mezzabarba (1725–1741).

Synods, provincial and diocesan

Bishop Raimundus Sommaripa, O.P. (1289–1296) took part in the provincial synod held on 27 November 1271, by Archbishop Otto Visconti of Milan, for the purpose of aid to the Holy Land. The Siege of Acre (1291) had just ended, with the collapse of Christian power in the Levant. Pope Nicholas IV had written letters to all the archbishops, instructing them to hold such synods.J. D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima Tomus 24 (Venice: A. Zatta 1780), p. 1079-1082. Bishop Aegidius dall' Aqua (1307–1312) was represented by the Archpriest Pagazani at the provincial synod of Milan, held at Bergamo on 5 July 1311, under the presidency of Archbishop Castano Turriano.Mansi, Tomus 25 (1782), pp. 475-514.

A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop, to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy, and to publish statutes and decrees of the diocesan synod, of the provincial synod, and of the Holy See. John Paul II, Constitutio Apostolica de Synodis Dioecesanis Agendis (March 19, 1997): Acta Apostolicae Sedis 89 (1997), pp. 706-727. Andrea Tilatti, "Sinodi diocesane e concili provinciali in italia nord-orientale fra Due e Trecento. Qualche riflessione," Mélanges de l'Ecole française de Rome. Moyen-Age, Temps modernes T. 112, N°1. 2000, pp. 273-304.

In 1364, Bishop Paolo Cadamosto (1354–1387) held a diocesan synod pro tuendis ecclesiae suae legibus."for taking care of the laws of his church."

Bishop Ludovico Taverna (1579–1616) presided over a diocesan synod in 1591.Synodus Laudensis anni 1591, sub Lud. Taberna (Mediolani 1591). The third diocesan synod was held by Bishop Michelangelo Seghizzi, O.P. (1616–1625) in 1619. Bishop Clemente Gera (1625–1643) held a diocesan synod in 1637.Gallarata, p. 287. A diocesan synod took place in 1657, presided over by Bishop Pietro Vidoni (1644–1669).Gallarata, p. 288. Bishop Bartolomeo Menatti (1673–1702) presided over the sixth diocesan synod in Lodi on 28–30 March 1689.

Bishop Giuseppe Gallarati (1742–1765) held the seventh diocesan synod in Lodi on 9–11 June 1755. Bishop Gaetano Benaglia (1837–1868) held the eighth diocesan synod in Lodi on 29–31 August 1854. Bishop Giovanni Battista Rota (1888–1913) presided over the ninth diocesan synod on 28–30 September 1896.J. D. Mansi, Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima Tomus 36ter (Arnhem and Leipzig: H. Welter 1924), p. 350.

The tenth diocesan synod was held by Bishop Pietro Calchi Novati (1927–1952) on 27–29 October 1931;Synodus Laudensis decima ab excellentissimo Dom. Dom. Petro Calchi Novati in cathedrali ecclesia celebrata diebus XVII, XVIII, XIX octobris anno Domini MCMXXXI. Laude Pompeia: typis typographiae socialis laudensis. 1932 and another, the diocese's twelfth, on 16–17 October 1951.Synodus laudensis XII : XVII et XVI kalendas novembres anno Domini MCMLI in cathedrali ecclesia auctoritate exc.mi Domini Petri Calchi Novati celebrata, iussu exc . mi Domini Aloysii C . Borromeo episcopi Comae et vic.capit ...

The fourteenth diocesan synod, embracing themes of evangelization advocated by Pope Francis, took place, after more than ten years' preparation, in January 2020, under the leadership of Bishop Maurizio Malvestiti.Diocesi di Lodi, "Indizione del sinodo"; retrieved: 2 October 2020.

Chapter and cathedral

After the complete destruction of Lodi (Laus Pompeia) in 1111, a new cathedral was begun on 3 August 1158. In January of that year, every inhabitant of Lodi above the age of fifteen had been required to swear fidelity to Milan. Those who had refused, were expelled on 22 April 1153.Vignati, Codice diplomatico I, pp. lv-lvii. The cathedral was completed, except for the façade, in 1163, and the remains of Bishop Bassianus reburied in the crypt, in the presence of Antipope Victor IV and the Emperor Frederick Barbarossa.Coleti and Zatta, pp. 63-64. Kehr, p. 245. Originally dedicated to Bassianus, the new cathedral acquired the dedication to the taking up (Assumption) of the physical body of the Virgin Mary into heaven. Bishop Alberico di Merlino (1160–1168), who had joined the imperial schism, was excommunicated by Cardinal Joannes de Anagnia, the papal Legate, on 12 March 1160.Kehr VI. 1, p. 243, no. 21. Albericus was expelled from Lodi by the forces of Pope Alexander III in 1168.Kehr, p. 243, no. 22.

In 1617, the cathedral ChapterC.D. Fonseca, "La cattedrale e il suo Capitolo. Analisi comparata in prospettiva storica, ecclesiologica e canonistica," , in: Annali di Studi Religiosi Vol. 4 (2003), pp. 215-235. was composed of five dignities and nineteen Canons.Ritzler and Sefrin V, p. 238, note 1. The diocese had approximately eighty parishes. The city contained some 14,000 persons, and was ruled by the King of Spain, who was also Duke of Milan. In 1717, there were four dignities (Provost, Archdeacon, Cantor, and Archpriest) and fourteen Canons, one of whom was responsible for the souls of the parishioners of the cathedral.Ughelli IV, p. 655.

In 1817, in accordance with the decree of 8 June 1805, promulgated by Napoleon, King of Italy and Emperor of the French, the cathedral Chapter of Lodi consisted of one dignity, the Archpriest, and eight Canons, two of whom were designated the Theologus and the Penitentiarius, in accordance with the decrees of the Council of Trent.

Bishops of Lodi

to 1200

... Julianus (date unknown)Bishop Julianus governed the Church of Lodi for 18 years, 9 months, and 10 days, dying at the age of 82. Anselmo da Vairano put him in the 4th century; Ughelli places him in 305. The style of his funerary inscription, however, is of the 5th or 6th century. Lanzoni, pp. 95-96, no. 5. ... Bassianus (378-413) Lanzoni, pp. 993-994. ... Cyriacus (attested 451)Cyriacus: Lanzoni, p. 994. ... Ticianus (474–476.)According to his tombstone, Ticianus was born in 421, was bishop for a biennium, and died on 1 May 476. His purported relics were discovered in 1640. Lanzoni, p. 994, no. 3. ... [Venantianus] Venantius is mentioned in a letter of Pope Gregory I (IV. 21) to Bishop Constantius of Milan, but he was not episcopus laudensis, but episcopus lunensis. Lanzoni, p. 995. Kehr VI. 1, p. 240. ... Projectus (attested 575 or 578)Projectus' tombstone contains two date indicators, which unfortunately do not correspond with each other. He governed the Church of Lodi for twelve years and eight days, which would place the beginning of his episcopate in 563 or 566. Cesare Vigneti, Codice diplomatico Laudense, parte prima (Milano: Gazetano Brigola 1879), p. xli. Lanzoni, p. 995, no. 4. ... Donatus (attested 679)Bishop Donatus was present in Rome for the Roman synod of Pope Agatho in 679. He subscribed the synodical letter sent to the Third Council of Constantinople in 680. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XI (Florence: A. Zatta 1765), p. 774. Hippolytus (attested 759)L. Astegiano, "Spigolature", Archivio storico per la città e i comuni del territorio lodigiano e della diocesi di Lodi 16 (1897), p. 184. ... Erimpertus (attested 827)Erimpertus attended the provincial synod of Aquileia and Grado, held at Mantua under the direction of the papal legates, Cardinals Benedetto and Leo. Donesmondi I, pp. 145-146. J. D. Mansi (ed.), Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio, editio novissima, Tomus XIV (Venice: A. Zatta 1969), p. 527. Jacobus (attested 852)Jacobus: Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 7-8. ... Gerardus (attested 883, 887–888)Pope Marinus I wrote to Bishop Gerardus on 22 June 883, about the correct relationship between the bishops of Lodi and the abbots of the monasterium Savinionis. Pope Stephen V wrote to him in 887 or 888. Kehr VI. 1, p. 239, nos. 1, 2. Amaione (attested 892)Amaione: Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 13-14. Eldegarius (attested 903, 915)Eldegarius (Ildegarius, Adecharius, ALdecarco): Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 14-15, no. 8. ... Zilicus (attested 924)?A single document, a land sale, testifies to the existence of Zilicus, brother of Thomas de Vignate, son of the late Zilietus. Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 15-16, no. 9. Vigneti warns (p. 15, note 1) that the authenticity of the document is in question: "I cronisti più antichi ed altri scrittori di cose Lo digiane non muovevano dubbio sull' autenticità di questo atto; altri lo ritiene apocrifo senz'altro; io lo pubblico come sta, pur dubitando." Olgerius (attested 935?)Olgerius: Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 17-18, no. 11. ... Ambrosius (attested 942)Ambrosius: Schwartz, p. 119. Aldegrausus (attested 951–970)Aldegrausus: Vigneti, Codex diplomaticus Laudensis, parte prima, pp. 18-19, nos. 12-13; 22-24, no. 25. Schwartz, p. 119. Andreas (970–1002)Andreas: Schwartz, p. 119. Notker (11th century)Nokerius: Schwartz, p. 120. ...