The Diocese of Brugnato (Latin: Dioecesis Brugnatensis) was a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church located in the city of Brugnato in the Province of La Spezia in Italy. The city of 1200 persons, is located on the Vara River, about 70 kilometres southeast of Genoa and about 15 km northwest of La Spezia.
On 25 November 1820, it was united with the Diocese of Luni e Sarzana, aeque personaliter (one bishop holds two or three distinc dioceses), to form the Diocese of Luni, Sarzana e Brugnato. (for Chronology of Bishops) (for Chronology of Bishops) In 1986, the diocese was suppressed.
History
On 27 May 1133, Innocent II issued the bull "Quemadmodum Sedes," establishing the former monastery of SS. Peter, Lawrence and Columbanus in Brugnato as a diocese. Its territory was to consist of all the properties which had belonged to the monastery, nearly all of which were (or rather had been) in the diocese of Luni, which was directly subject to the pope. Two days earlier, he had removed the diocese of Genoa from the ecclesiastical province of Milan, and created a new province, with Syrus of Genoa as the new metropolitan archbishop. Brugnato was assigned as one of his suffragan bishops.The text of the bull is given by Cappelletti, pp. 465-466. Philippus Jaffé & S. Loewenfeld, Regesta pontificum Romanorum, , second edition (Leipzig: Veit 1885), p.860, nos. 7620 and 7621. Innocent's purpose was to punish Milan, which had chosen to support the other pope in the schism of 1130, Anacletus II, by removing Liguria from Milan's ecclesiastical province and by reducing its influence to the south. It was also a compensation for Genoa, which had done badly in negotiations and settlement with Pisa in the matter of Sardinia and Corsica.Horace Kinder Mann, The Lives of the Popes in the Early Middle Ages, Vol. 11 (London: Kegan Paul Trench Trübner 1925), pp. 35-37.
In 1239, when he established the diocese of Noli (Naulensis), Pope Gregory IX united it with the diocese of Brugnato aeque personaliter. The bishop of both dioceses was Guillelmus Contardi (1230–after 1250), who had been Bishop-elect of Brugnato since 1230. On 6 February 1253, however, Pope Innocent IV separated the two dioceses again, and Contardi continued as Bishop-elect of Brugnato.Ughelli IV, p. 980. Cappelletti XIII, p. 468. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 358, note 1.
Chapter and cathedral
The cathedral originally had a Chapter, composed of six canons, headed by the Archpriest, each with a prebend. By 1512, at the beginning of the administration of Bishop Filippo Sauli (1512–1528), there were only three canons, and Pope Leo X ordered the bishop to raise the number to the original six.Zolesi, pp. 348-349. The bishop and canons had evidently entered into a number of agreements (conventiones) with the commune of Genoa, probably from 1133; they were required to take oaths to observe the agreements every four years. The earliest recorded example dates from 1241.Zolesi, pp. 350-351.
Diocesan synods A diocesan synod was an irregularly held, but important, meeting of the bishop of a diocese and his clergy. Its purpose was (1) to proclaim generally the various decrees already issued by the bishop; (2) to discuss and ratify measures on which the bishop chose to consult with his clergy; (3) 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.
Bishop Nicolò Mascardi (1579–1584) held a diocesan synod in 1581. Bishop Francesco Durazzo (1640–1652) held a diocesan synod for Brugnato at Sestri Orientale on 21 April 1643, and published the constitutions.Constitutioni e decreti fatti e pubblicati nella Sinodo diocesana Brugnatense, celebrati dall'ill. e rev. signore, signor Francesco Durazzo, vescovo di Brugnato, nel luogo di Sestri Orientale l'anno 1643 alli 21 aprile. . Roma: nella stamperia Apostolica, 1644. Bishop Giambattista de Dece (1663–1696) held a diocesan synod on 23 May 1675, and Bishop Domenico Tatis another in 1762.Synodi diecesane ab illustriss. et reverendiss. Joanne Baptista De-Dece habitæ anno MDLXXV. Confirmatio celebrata ab illustriss. et reverendiss. D. D. Dominico Tatis abbate Congregationis Benedictino-Olivetanæ, episcopo Brugnatensi, et comite, &c. Anno MDCCLXII. , (Genuæ: typographia Gessiniana 1762).
Gains and losses On 4 July 1797, Pope Pius VI, at the request of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, created the Diocese of Pontremoli (Apuana). In doing so, he asigned the new diocese some parishes which had belonged to the diocese of Brugnato.Pius VI, bull "In Suprema", in: Bullarii Romani Continuatio, , Vol. 6, part 3 (Prati: Aldina 1849), pp. 3011-3018, at p. 3014, § 6: "et in Brugnatensi dioecesi praedicta sitae, videlicet una sancti Petri Pontremoli, alia sanctae Mariae de Teglia, et reliqua sancti Laurentii de Zirio etiam respective nuncupatae, et respective locorum etiam respective existentium apostolica auctoritate praedicta perpetuo quoque respective dismembramus, dividimus, et separamus." Ritzler & Sefrin, Hierarchia catholica VI, p. 92, note 1.
On 25 November 1820, the diocese of Brugnato was united aeque personaliter with the Diocese of Luni e Sarzana to form the Diocese of Luni, Sarzana e Brugnato.Pope Pius VII on 25 November 1820 in the Bull Sollicita. The editors mistakenly date the bull to 8 December 1820, reading Idus where the bull actually says Kalendas.
1854: Lost territory to the Diocese of Massa Carrara 1855: Lost territory to the Diocese of Pontremoli
On 12 January 1929, the diocese of Brugnato lost territory to establish the Diocese of La SpeziaActa Apostolicae Sedis vol. 21 (1929), pp. 144-146.
On 26 July 1959, the diocese of Brugnato gained territory from the Diocese of Pontremoli and exchanged territory with Diocese of ChiavariActa Apostolicae Sedis vol. 51 (1959), pp. 827-829: "Pariter e dioecesi Clavarensi separetur paroecia S. Andreae Ap. in I/Ago una cum Sanctuario B. M. V. a Roverano et dioecesi Brugnatensi aggregetur, mutatis hac ratione utriusque dioecesis finibus." "A dioecesi Brugnatensi seiungantur paroeciae : S. Laurentii in Arzeno, S. Mariae Assumptae et S. Michaelis in Nascio, S. Apollinaris in Repia, S. Bartholomaei in Statale, S. Mariae a Nazareth, S. Antonii, S. Margaritae « di Fossa Lupara », S. Pauli « di Pila in Gromolo », S. Stephani « del Ponte », S. Petri Ap. « in Riva », S. Sabinae « in Trigoso », S. Bartholomaei « della Ginestra », S. Bernardi « delle Cascine », quae omnes in civitate Sestri Levante exstant, insuper paroeciae S. Michaelis Arc. in Casar za Ligure, S. Laurentii in Verici, S. Petri Ap. in Barassi, Ss. Rochi et Caietani in Campegli, et dioecesi Clavarensi adiungantur, mutatis hac ratione utriusque dioecesis finibus."
Diocesan reorganization of 1986 The Second Vatican Council (1962–1965), in order to ensure that all Catholics received proper spiritual attention, decreed the reorganization of the diocesan structure of Italy and the consolidation of small and struggling dioceses. It also recommended the abolition of anomalous units such as exempt territorial prelatures.In its decree Christus Dominus, section 22, it stated: "Concerning diocesan boundaries, therefore, this sacred synod decrees that, to the extent required by the good of souls, a fitting revision of diocesan boundaries be undertaken prudently and as soon as possible. This can be done by dividing dismembering or uniting them, or by changing their boundaries, or by determining a better place for the episcopal see or, finally, especially in the case of dioceses having larger cities, by providing them with a new internal organization.... At the same time the natural population units of people, together with the civil jurisdictions and social institutions that compose their organic structure, should be preserved as far as possible as units. For this reason, obviously, the territory of each diocese should be continuous."
On 18 February 1984, the Vatican and the Italian State signed a new and revised concordat. Based on the revisions, a set of Normae was issued on 15 November 1984, which was accompanied in the next year, on 3 June 1985, by enabling legislation. According to the agreement, the practice of having one bishop govern two separate dioceses at the same time, aeque personaliter, was abolished. Instead, the Vatican continued consultations which had begun under Pope John XXIII for the merging of small dioceses, especially those with personnel and financial problems, into one combined diocese.
On 30 September 1986, Pope John Paul II ordered that the dioceses of Luni, Sarzana e Brugnato be merged into one diocese with one bishop, with the Latin title Dioecesis Spediensis-Sarzanensis-Brugnatensis. There was to be one episcopal seat, in La Spezia, the largest town and the civil provincial capital. The cathedrals of the dioceses of Sarzana and Brugnato were to become co-cathedrals, and their Chapters called Chapters of the co-cathedrals. The clergy and parishes of the individual suppressed dioceses were to become the clergy and parishes of the Diocese of La Spezia-Sarzana-Brugnato. The bishop was granted the power to move whichever diocesan offices he wished.Acta Apostolicae Sedis vol. 79 (1987), pp. 789-791.
Bishops of Brugnato Erected: 1133 Latin Name: Brugnatensis Metropolitan: Archdiocese of Genoa From 1133 to 1500
Ildeprandus (1133– )Kehr VI, p. 369, no. 4. Hieronymus Laumellinus ( 1147–1172)Gams, p. 818, col. 1. Lanfranc (( 1178)Cappelletti XIII, p. 467. Albertus (( 1178)Albertus: Ughelli IV, p. 986. Cappelletti XIII, p. 467. Guillelmus SpinolaUghelli IV, p. 985. Cappelletti XIII, p. 467. Sinibaldus Fieschi (1200–1230)Sinibaldo was the son of the Count of Lavagna and uncle of Pope Innocent IV. He died on 26 November 1230. Ughelli, p. 986. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 148. Guillelmus Contardi (1230–after 1250)Guillelmus was still bishop-elect in 1234. Zolesi, p. 350, note 1. Ughelli IV, p. 986. Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 148. Balduin Fieschi ( 1252)Eubel, Hierarchia catholica I, p. 148. Philippus Pallavicini ( 1262–1264)Eubel I, p. 148. Sorleone, O.P. (1265–1280)Serlus: Ughelli IV, p. 986. Eubel I, p. 148. Philippus Passano (1281– ) Harduinus de Franchi Jacobus de Pontremoli (1300–1320?)Eubel I, p. 148. Gerardus, O.Min. (1321–1339)Gerardus: Cappelletti XIII, p. 469. Eubel I, p. 148. Lambertus (1340–1344) Tropetus da Cancellis (1344–1362) Ludovicus Gandolfi, O.F.M. (1363–1390) Lando Plancio (1390–1400) Roman Obedience Simon de Fanascheriis (1418)Simon was elected, and approved by Pope Martin V on 9 March 1418. He died later in the same year. Eubel I, p. 149. Thomas de Henriginis (1418–1438)Thomas: Eubel I, p. 149; II, p. 111. Antonio Vergafalce (1438–1467)Eubel II, p. 111. Barthelemy Uggeri (1467–1479) Antonio Da Valditaro (1478–1491) Simone Chiavari, O.S.B. (1492–1502 Resigned)
From 1500 to 1820
Lorenzo Fieschi (1502–1510 Appointed, Bishop of Ascoli Piceno) Melchiorre Grimaldi (1510–1512) (in Latin) Filippo Sauli (1512–1528)Sauli, a native of Genoa, was only 21 years old when appointed by Pope Julius II. He attended the Fifth Lateran Council under Leo X in 1517. He died in 1528 at the age of 35. Cappelletti XIII, pp. 471-472. Eubel III, p. 141. Cardinal Girolamo Grimaldi (1528–1535 Resigned) AdministratorThe Genoese Cardinal Grimaldi was appointed administrator by Pope Clement VII on 25 September 1528. Cappelletti XIII, p. 472. Eubel III, pp. 20, no. 11; 141. Cardinal Francesco Cornaro (1535–1539) AdministratorEubel III, pp. 20, no. 15; 141. Cardinal Agostino Trivulzio (1539–1548) AdministratorCardinal Trivulzio, a native of Milan, was appointed on 21 February 1539 by Pope Paul III (Farnese). He died in Rome on 30 March 1548. Cappelletti XIII, p. 472. Eubel III, p. 17, no. 37; 141. Antonio Cogorno, O.P. (1548–1565 Resigned) Giulio Sauli (1565–1570 Died)