Territorial Prelature of Santa Lucia del Mela

The Territorial Prelature of Santa Lucia del Mela () was a Roman Catholic territorial prelature in Italy, located in the city of Santa Lucia del Mela, a commune (municipality) in the administrative Province of Messina on the island of Sicily. The incumbent was an abbot, and therefore a prelate; he might or might not also have been a titular bishop of some abandoned diocese. The Prelature of Santa Maria del Mela was not itself a diocese. In 1986, the Prelature was suppressed and merged into the Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela.

History

The territory on which the church of Santa Lucia was founded was originally a part of the diocese of Troina. When that diocese was suppressed it became part of the diocese of Messina (1090),Pirro I, p. 385 § 7. Gaetano Moroni, Dizionario di erudizione storico ecclesiastica Vol. 79 (Venice: Emiliana 1856), p. 78. and then part of the diocese of Patti (1131).D'Avino, p. 613, col. 1.

The office of capellanus major Regis existed by 1148, when Joannes de Nusco is found in that capacity, though he is not attached to any particular place, but served in the royal court at the head of the royal chapel (the main sicilian Royal chapel was the Cappella Palatina of the Royal Palace of Palermo).Pirro, p. 1335, col. 1A.

Establishment of the Prelacy

During the vacancy in the Churches of Patti and Lipari, following the death of Bishop Stephanus (1180 – 1199), the Emperor Frederick II established a royal chapel at Santa Lucia in 1206, using his authority as apostolic legate. He established Gregorius Mastaccio, his capellanus major, with all the quasi-episcopal rights, privileges, and powers as belonged to the diocese of Patti. In Sicilian councils, the abbot (prelate) holds a position after the archbishops and bishops, but before any of the other abbots in the kingdom.Pirro II, p. 1335, col. 2 A. D'Avino, p. 613. De Ciocchis, p. 72.

The episcopal palace, situated on the main square and with a garden attached, was a gift from King Philip III to Abbot Simone Rao (1602–1616) by an act of 8 November 1613.De Ciocchis, p. 78.

Abbot Girolamo Riggio (1585–1589) presided over a diocesan synod in 1590.Savagnone, p. 164. Abbot Antonio Franco (1616–1626) held a diocesan synod in 1618.Savagnone, p. 167. On 1 September 1679, Abbot Simone Impellizzeri (1670–1701) held a synod for the Territorial Prelacy of Santa Lucia del Mela.Savagnone, p. 179.

Churches and clergy The principal prelatial church of Santa Lucia was originally served by simple priests. It was the only parish church in the Prelacy. Bishop Simone Impellizzeri (1670–1701) abolished the existing system and established a collegiate church, with three dignities (the Archdeacon, the Deacon and the Cantor) and eighteen canons, with twelve mansionarii and two chaplains.De Ciocchis, p. 76. The total population of the Prelature was 4262, in 1742, at the time of the Visitation.The population of the city of Santa Lucia was 3000 perons. De Ciocchis, p. 72. There are now two other parishes in the city, San Michele and Annunciation.Pirro, p. 1344, col. 2.

The Prelature was served by 102 priests, and there was a Benedictine monastery in the city. There were also convents of Conventual Franciscans, Capuchins, and Observant Franciscans.De Ciocchis, p. 73.

Abbot Simone Impellizzeri (1670–1701) moved to establish a clerical seminary in 1700, in the oratory of Saint Philip Neri on the citadel, and made extensive efforts to find adequate funding. The seminary was in operation for four years, but after the death of the abbot in 1701, it was neglected. Another revival was attempted, with a wider base of students, and with the help of the commune, which was granted the right to name four pupils. During the royal Visitation of 1742, the Visitor ordered the creation of a committee to restore the seminary.De Ciocchis, p. 85.

Suppression On 30 September 1986, the Congregation for Bishops, in the decree "Instantibus Votis," suppressed the diocese of Lipari and the territorial prelacy of Santa Lucia del Mela, and united their territories to the renamed Archdiocese of Messina-Lipari-Santa Lucia del Mela. The changes were made necessary due to the new concordat of 1984 between the Papacy and the Italian republic, and consequent legislation.Acta Apostolicae Sedis , Vol. 79 (Città del Vaticano 1987), pp. 741-743: "Quod autem effecit ut haec studia adhuc magis urgerent atque opportuna evaderent, vis legis fuit die 3 iunii 1985 normis tributa, quae recentioribus Pactis initis inter Sanctam Sedem et Gubernium Italicum continentur ; quibus quidem normis statuitur hinc ( Circumscriptionem dioecesium (...) ab auctoritate ecclesiastica libere constitui» (art. 3/1 Pactorum diei 18 februarii 1984) ; illinc vero dioeceses iure canonico constitutas adipisci posse, iuridicam personalitatem in iure civili italico (cf. art. 29 Normarum quae approbatae sunt per Protocollum diei 15 novembris 1984). The Praelatial Church of Santa Lucia was granted the title and status of a co-cathedral, and its Chapter was to have the title of Chapter of the co-cathedral.AAS 79 (1987), p. 742: "3) Hodierna Ecclesia Cathedralis urbis Liparensis, hodierna Ecclesia Praelatitia Sanctae Luciae, necnon hodierna Ecclesia Archimandritalis Sanctissimi Salvatoris Messanae titulum sument Concathedralium, in memoriam earum inclitarum et veterum traditionum."

Territorial Prelates of Santa Lucia del Mela 1206 to 1700

Gregorius Mastaccio ( 1228)Pirro, p. 1335, col. 2C. ... Bartolommeo (de Antiochia) ( ? –1306)Bartolomeo was a blood-relative of Frederick II. In 1305 he was offered the bishopric of Syracuse, which he refused, and then the archbishopric of Palermo, which he accepted. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1A. Eubel I, p. 388. Damianus de Palitio (attested 1322)In 1302, Damiano was ambassador of Frederick III of Sicily to Pope Boniface VIII. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1C-D. Petrus de Pernis ( ? – 1346)Petrus was appointed bishop of Patti by Pope Clement VI in 1346. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1 D. Eubel I, p. 384. Orlando Brunello (d. 1355)A native of Messina, Orlando had been Vicar-general of Bishop Petrus of Patti. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1E. Francesco de Luca, O.S.A.De Luca: Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1 F. Dionisio de Murcia, O.E.S.A. ( ? – 1363)Dionisio studied in Paris and held a doctorate in theology. He became archbishop of Messina on 20 March 1363, and lived beyond 18 July 1380. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 1 F. Eubel I, p. 337. Philippus de Castro Johanne, O.Min. (1363 – ? )Filippo held a master's degree in theology: Pirro, p. 1336, col. 2 A. Ubertino da Corleone, O.Min. (attested 1372)Ubertino held a master's degree in theology. On 22 December 1372, he was named titular bishop of Coricos (Armenia) by Pope Gregory XI. He became bishop of Patti on 28 November 1373. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 2 A. Eubel I, p. 384. Philippus Crispus, O.E.S.A. ( ? – 1387?)A native of Messina, Filippo held a doctorate in theology. He became bishop of Squillace in 1394, and then, on 9 March 1392, was transferred to te diocese of Messina, and named papal legate to King Martin I of Sicily. He died in 1402. Pirro, p. 1336, col. 2 C. Eubel I, pp. 337 with note 10; 462 with notes 6 and 7. Philippus de Ferrario, O.Carm. ( ? – 1402?)Philippus held the degree of master of theology. He was named bishop of Patti on 8 July 1402. On 1 July 1414, he was named bishop of Agrigento by Benedict XIII (Pedro de Luna). Pirro, p. 1336, col. 2 D-E–1337. Eubel I, p. 79, 384. Thomas de Chrysafi, O.Min. (attested 1416)Thomas was a native of Messina. He was Provincial in Sicily of the Franciscan Order. He was nominated archbishop of Messina in 1402, but not consecrated until 1408. Pirro, p. 1337, col. 2 E. Eubel I, p. 337. Joannes de Stefano, O.Cist. (attested 1424)thomas was abbot of Santa Maria de Altofonte. Pirro, p. 1337, col. 2 F. Jacobus Portius ( 1435)A noble of Messina, Giacomo Porzio was a protonotary. He was promoted to the diocese of Patti on 18 December 1437, and then in 1449 to the archdiocese of Messina; he died however in 1449, before receiving his bulls. Pirro, p. 1337, col. 2 F. Jacobus GallaratJacobus had been Cantor of S. Petrus in Palatio, S. Maria de Ammirato, and in 1455 abbot of S. Maria de Terrana. Pirro, p. 1338, col. 1. Alemannus de SicarAlemannus had been a Cantor, perhaps of S. Petrus or S. Lucia. Pirro, p. 1338, col. 1. Puccius de Palitio (1452 – 1456)Puccio was appointed by Alfonso V of Aragon in 1452. Pirro, p. 1338, col. 1. Jacobus de Bonnano (attested 1457)Giacomo Bonnano: Pirro, p. 1338, col. 2. Jacobus Gagliardus (attested 1457)Giacomo Gagliardi: Pirro, p. 1338, col. 2. Gabriel Enguerra (1458 – 1467)Gabriel Enguerra: Pirro, p. 1338, col. 2. Angelo Stayri (1479 – 1483)Stayri was a native of Messina, and was vicar for the city for his relative the archbishop. He was appointed abbot and Magister Capellanus on 21 January 1479. Pirro, p. 1338, col. 2 – p. 1339. Leonardus de Albertis (1483 – 1484)Leonardo Alberti was appointed on 9 October 1483. Pirro, p. 1339, col. 1. Giovanni Martino de Vitali (1484 – 1485)De Vitali, a nephew of Ferdinand II of Aragon was archdeacon of Palermo and Cantor of S. Pietro de Palatio. He was appointed abbot and Magister Capellanus in 1484. Pirro, p. 1339, col. 1. Dalmatio de Tolosa (1485 – )Dalmatio: Pirro, p. 1339, col. 1. Alfonso d'Aragona (1497)Alfonso was the illegitimate brother of King Ferdinand of Aragon, who appointed him abbot and Magister Capellanus on 13 January 1497. Pirro, p. 1339. Joannes Michael de Mayo (1500) Jaime de Conchillos, O. de M. (1505 – 25 Feb 1509)Jacobus was appointed in 1505. He was transferred to diocese of Catania on 25 February 1509. Diego Herrera (1510 ? – Giovanni Ricci ( ? – 1530)Ricci was a protonotary apostolic, a canon, and Dean of the cathedral Chapter of Messina. He was named Archimandrite of Messina by Pope Clement VII in 1523. He died on 20 August 1530. Pirro, p. 1340, col. 1. Girolamo Zaffarana ( 1535 ? – 1576)A native of Messina, Pirro, p. 1340, col. 1. Pietro Butiron de Manriquez (1576 – 1585)Butiron held the degree of doctor of theology. He was appointed on 16 September 1576. Pirro, p. 1340, col. 1. Girolamo Riggio (1585 – 1589 Died) Juan d'Espinar (1590 – 1601 Died) Simone Rao Grimaldi (15 Aug 1602 – 12 March 1616 Died) Antonio Franco (bishop) (12 Nov 1616 – 2 Sep 1626 Died) Vincenzo Fimratura (24 March 1628 – 3 March 1648 Died) Martino La Farina (21 Sep 1648 – 17 Sep 1668 Died) Simone Impellizzeri (29 July 1670 – Aug 1701 Died)

1700 to 1986

Carlo Massa (4 Dec 1702 – 26 Dec 1704)Massa: Pirro, p. 1342, col. 2. Pedro Solerá Montoya ( 1709 – 31 March 1711) Francesco Barabàra (May 1712 – 15 Jan 1732)Barabàra was a native of Trapani, and studied at the Collegio Romano in Rome, where he took a doctorate in theology. He became a protonotary apostolic, and was sent to Madrid as theologian of the papal nuncio. Charles II of Spain granted him the monastery of S. angelo de Brolo (Basilian Order) on 4 July 1690. He returned to Sicily in 1709, and Philip V of Spain, and in MaY 1712 named him Capellanus Major of S. Lucia. He died on 15 January 1732. Pirro, p. 1343, col. 1. Antonio Ura (15 Oct 1732 – 28 Oct 1735 Died) Marcello Moscella (5 Jan 1736 – 10 April 1760 Died) Scipione Ardoino Alcontres, C.R. (19 Dec 1767 – 17 June 1771)A native of Messina, Ardoino, a Theatine, had been Vicar General of the Archimandrite of Messina, and Rector of the seminary of Messina and Synodical Examiner. Named prelate of Santa Lucia del Mela by Ferdinand III of Sicily on 24 October 1767 and confirmed by the pope on 19 December, he was appointed titular Bishop of Zenopolis (1768–1771) by Pope Clement XIII. He was consecrated a bishop on 5 March 1769. He was named Archbishop of Messina on 17 June 1771. He died in 1778. Ritzler-Sefrin, VI, p. 287 with note 6; 450 with note 4.