Diocese of Brixen

Please help support the mission of New Advent and get the full contents of this website as an instant download. Includes the Catholic Encyclopedia, Church Fathers, Summa, Bible and more — all for only $19.99...

A Prince-Bishopric ofAustria, suffragan ofSalzburg, embracing the greater part of Northern Tyrol (with the exception of the part east of the Zillerbach, which belongs to Salzburg), as well as all Vorarlberg, and containing c. 6,705 square miles, and over 440,000 inhabitants.

History

The Diocese of Brixen is the continuation of that of Saben (Sabiona), which, according to legend, was founded by St. Cassian. As early as the third centuryChristianity penetrated Sabiona, at that time a Roman custom station of considerable commercial importance. The firstBishop of Saben vouched for by history is Ingenuin, mentioned about 580, who appears as suffragan of thePatriarch ofAquileia. The tribes who pushed into the territory of the present Diocese of Brixen, during the great migratory movements, especially the Bajuvari and Langobardi, acceptedChristianity at an earlydate; only theSlavs of the Puster valley (Pustertal) persisted inpaganism until the eighth century. In the second half of the tenth century Bishop Rihpert (appointed 967) or Bishop Albuin I (967-1005) had the seat of thediocese, which since 798 has been under theMetropolitan ofSalzburg, transferred to Brixen, Bishop Hartwig (1020-39) raised Brixen to the rank of a city, and surrounded it with fortifications. The diocese received many grants from the German emperors: thus from Conrad II in 1027 the Norital, fromHenry IV in 1091 the Pustertal. In 1179Frederick I conferred on thebishop the title and dignity of a prince of theGerman Empire. This accounts for the fact that during the difficulties between thepapacy and the empire, the Bishops of Brixen generally took the part of the emperors; particularlynotorious is the case of Altwin, during whose episcopate (1049-91) the ill-famed pseudo-synod of 1080 was held in Brixen, at which thirtybishops, partisans of the emperor, declaredPope Gregory VII deposed, and set up asantipope theBishop of Ravenna.

The temporal power of thediocese soon suffered a marked diminution through the action of thebishops themselves who bestowed large sections of their territory in fief on temporal lords, as for example, in the eleventh century courtships in the Inntal and the Eisacktal granted to the Counts of Tyrol, and in 1165 territory in the Inntal and the Pustertal to the Counts of Andechs-Meran. The Counts of Tyrol, in particular, who had fallen heir in large part to the territories of the Count of Meran, constantly grew in power; Bishop Bruno (1249-88) had difficulty in asserting his authority over a section of his territory against the claims of Count Meinhard of Tyrol. Likewise Duke Frederick IV, who was called the Penniless, compelled the Bishops of Brixen to acknowledge his authority. The dissensions betweenCardinal Nicholas of Cusa (1450-64), appointed byPope Nicholas VBishop of Brixen, and Archduke Sigmund were also unfortunate; the cardinal was made aprisoner, and although thepope placed the diocese under aninterdict, Sigmund came out victor in the struggle.

TheReformation was proclaimed in the Diocese of Brixen during the episcopate of Christoph I von Schrofenstein (1509-21) by German emissaries, like Strauss, Urban Regius, and others. In 1525, under Bishop Georg III ofAustria (1525-39), a peasants' uprising broke out in the vicinity of Brixen, and severalmonasteries and strongholds were destroyed. The promise of King Ferdinand I, civil ruler of Tyrol, to redress the grievances of the peasants restored tranquility, and at a diet held atInnsbruck, the most important demands of the peasants were acceded to. Although in 1532 these promises were withdrawn, peace remained undisturbed. Ferdinand I and his son Archduke Ferdinand II, in particular, as civil rulers took active measures against the adherents of the new teachings, chiefly theAnabaptists, who had been secretly propagating theirsect; thus they preserved religious unity in the district of Tyrol and the Diocese of Brixen. At this time important services were rendered in safeguarding theCatholicFaith by theJesuits,Capuchins,Franciscans, andServites. Chief among thebishops of the period were: Cardinal Andreas ofAustria (1591-1600), and Christoph IV von Spaur (1601-13), who in 1607 founded aseminary fortheological students; enlarged thecathedralschool, and distinguished himself as a great benefactor of the poor and sick. The seventeenth and eighteenth centuries saw a great reawakening ofreligious life in the Diocese of Brixen; manymonasteries were founded, new missions for thecure of souls established, and the religious instruction of the people greatly promoted; in 1677 theUniversity of Innsbruck was founded. The most prominentbishops of this period were: Kaspar Ignaz, Count von Kunigl (1702-47), who founded manybenefices for the care ofsouls, madediocesan visitations, kept a strict watch over the discipline and moral purity of hisclergy, introduced missions underJesuit Fathers, etc.; Leopold, Count von Spaur (1747-78), who rebuilt theseminary, completed andconsecrated thecathedral, and enjoyed the high esteem ofEmpress Maria Theresa; Joseph Philipp, Count von Spaur (1780-91), a friend of learning, who, however, in hisecclesiastical policy, leaned towards Josephinism. The Government of Emperor Joseph dealt roughly with church interests; about twentymonasteries of thediocese were suppressed, a generalseminary was opened atInnsbruck, andpilgrimages and processions were forbidden.

It was Bishop Franz Karl, Count von Lodron (1791-1828), who was to see the collapse of the temporal power of thediocese. In 1803 the principality was secularized, and annexed toAustria, and thecathedral chapter dissolved. During the brief rule ofBavaria the greatest despotism was exercised towards theChurch; the restoration ofAustrian supremacy (1814) improved conditions for the diocese. By thepapal Bull "Ex imposito" (2 May, 1818) a new circumscription was given to the diocese which in this way received a considerable increase in territory; Vorarlberg, in particular, which had previously been divided among the threedioceses ofChur,Constance, and Augsburg, was added to the Diocese of Brixen. Vorarlberg was, as a matter of fact, to form a separate diocese, with Feldkirch as see, but this plan has never been put into execution; Vorarlberg is now administered by avicar-general residing at Feldkirch, who, as a rule, is theauxiliary bishop of Brixen. In 1825 thecathedral chapter was reestablished. All during the nineteenth century theepiscopal see was occupied by distinguished men who safeguarded the unity of the Faith in thediocese, as is instanced in the enforced removal in 1830 of theProtestantfamilies of the Zillertal, who actively championed therights and privileges of theChurch, and by missions anddiocesan visitations, and by the introduction ofreligious orders endeavored, with success, to raise thereligious life of their diocese to a higher level. Karl Franz was succeeded byBernhard Galura (1828-56), Vincenz Gasser (1856-79), Johann IX von Leiss, Laimburg (1879-84), Simon Aichner (1884-1904), who resigned 5 March, 1904, and Joseph Altenweisel (1904).

Statistics

According to the figures for 1907 the Diocese of Brixen includes at the present time 438,448Catholics in 501 spiritual charges. There are 28 deaneries, 6 in Vorarlberg, 380parishes, 75 stations (Exposituren), 215benefices and chaplaincies, and 725 primaryschools with 1,333 classes. Thecure of souls is exercised by 879secular priests, and 580regulars, 14 members ofreligious orders being at present outside the diocese. Thecathedral chapter consists of 3 dignities (1 mitredprovost, 1 dean, and 1 scholasticus), 4 capitular and 6 honorary canons. The prince-bishop as well as the members of the chapter, with the exception of theprovost, are appointed by the emperor. In addition to thecathedral chapter there is a collegiate chapter of six canons at Innichen, aprovost at Ehrenburg, and one at St. Gerold. Of the spiritual charges, 180 are subject to the free collation of thebishop, in 97 the municipality has the right of patronage, in 47 the right of patronage belongs to privateindividuals, in 87 to the Government or exchequer, in 15 to the religious fund, in 76 to religious corporations andmonasteries. For the training oftheologians there is atheological faculty at theUniversity of Innsbruck with 17 professors, members of theSociety of Jesus, and 352theological students (many of them from theUnited States). There is adiocesantheologicalschool in Brixen, with 8 professors; aseminary at Brixen, with 113 candidates forHoly orders (30 of them from otherdioceses); the Seminarium Vincentinum (adiocesan preparatoryseminary and gymnasium) with 21 professors; and the Cassianeum, with 3 professors and 51 students. Moreover, there are religious professors in the civil Higher Gymnasium at Brixen, and six other intermediateschools for boys conducted by the State.

Religious congregations of men possess 44 houses, and in 1907 numbered about 1,213 members, including 594priests, 185clerics, 348lay brothers, 86novices. There are two houses ofAugustinian canons (at Neustift and Wilton), with 97 Fathers, 8clerics, 3lay brothers, and 4novices; 2Cistercian foundations (at Stams and Mehreran), with 84 Fathers 9clerics, 25lay brothers, and 16novices; 3Benedictine foundations (at Fiecht, Marienberg, and Bregenz), with 48 fathers, 5clerics, 25lay brothers, and 5novices; 1Benedictinepriory (atInnsbruck), with 3 branch houses, 8 Fathers, 7clerics, 61lay brothers, and 19novices, 3Jesuitcolleges (atInnsbruck, Feldkirch, and Tisis), with 100priests, 59clerics, 66lay brothers, and 17novices; 2Redemptorist colleges, with 19 Fathers, 13 brothers, and 1novice; 3Servitemonasteries, with 18 Fathers, 16clerics, 10 brothers, and 4novices; 8Franciscanmonasteries, with 100 Fathers, 23clerics, 69 brothers, and 3novices; 13Capuchinmonasteries with 100 Fathers and 59 brothers, 1 foundation of theSociety of the Divine Word (Salvatorians), with 9priests and 8 brothers, 1 mission house of St. Joseph at Brixen (with a branch at Mill Hill), with 6priests and 11clerics; 1 house of the Congregation of the Sons of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus, with 5 Fathers, 13clerics 9lay brothers and 17novices; 1 foundation of the School Brothers, with 11clerics. Besides the houses oftheological studies for the members of the different orders, among the orders already mentioned, theBenedictines conduct in Fiecht aKonvikt (house of studies) for boys, and aschool, theCistercians in Mehreran aKonvikt for boys, theJesuits a boardingschool and gymnasium at Feldkirch (the celebrated institution known as the Stella Matutina), the School Brothers aseminary for teachers and a tradeschool, theSalvatorians acollege, the Sons of the Most Holy Heart of Jesus an Apostolic school, and theFranciscans a Higher Gymnasium at Halle.

Religious congregations ofwomen have established 234religious houses with branches, about 2,644 sisters being within the limits of thediocese; these include 490 choir sisters, 1,884 lay sisters, and 270novices. The various houses are divided as follows: thePoor Clares, 2 with 65sisters; theDominicans, 4 with 173sisters; theDominicans of theThird Order 2 with 38sisters; theRedemptorist sisters, 1 with 18 members; theUrsulines, 2 with 136sisters; theCarmelites 1 with 18sisters; the Salesian Sisters, 1 with 54 members; theCistercians, 1 with 39 members; the Sisters of Divine Adoration, 1 with 51 members; the English Ladies, 1 institute with 79 members; the Tertiary Sisters, 6 houses and 13 branches, with 158sisters; the Ladies of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, 1 with 99sisters; the Poor-School Sisters of Notre Dame, 2 with 27 members; theBenedictines, 1monastery with 5sisters; the Sisters of the High German Order, 1 house with 3 sisters. TheSisters of Mercy have a mother-house in Innsbruck with 92 branch houses and 931sisters, and one at Zams with 72 branches and 608 sisters. TheSisters of Mercy of the Holy Cross have 1 provincial house atInnsbruck with 26 branches and 131 sisters. The orders and congregations ofwomen are engaged almost exclusively in the training of girls, and the care of the sick, children, and the aged, etc. The above-named congregations have charge of 8educational institutions, 1 lyceum for girls, 12 industrialschools, 82schools for girls, 41schools for boys and girls, 46 creches, 3hospitals, 7orphan asylums, 23 asylums, 3 sanatoria, 56 homes for thepoor, 2 publicinsane asylums, 2 houses forlepers, 1 institution for the deaf and dumb, 4 homes for servants, 1 asylum forpriests in ill health, and about 25 othercharitable institutions. Thecathedral of the Diocese of Brixen dates, in its present form, from the eighteenth century, having been built between 1745 and 1758. The only remains of the earlier Gothic building is thecloister, which contains frescoes and monumentsdating from the thirteenth to the fifteenth century. Other prominentecclesiastical buildings of thediocese are: the Court orFranciscan church atInnsbruck, in which is the celebrated monument to Emperor Maximilian I; theJesuit church atInnsbruck, built between 1620 and 1640 inbarocco style; the Gothiccathedral at Feldkirch, built in 1478; theCistercian church at Mehreran; the fifteenth centuryparish church of Schwaz, built inGothic style, and others. Among the places ofpilgrimage are: Absam, St. Georgenberg near Feubach, Maria Waldrast near Deutsch-Matrei, thepilgrimage church on the Frauenberg near Rankweil, that on the Gebhardsberg near Bregenz, and others.

CONTACT US |ADVERTISE WITH NEW ADVENT