The Cathedrals of Southern FranceMansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)
History
The Cathedrals of Southern France
Mansfield, M. F. (Milburg Francisco)
Cathedrals -- France; France -- Description and travel
Albi was separated from Bourges (1317), and raised to the rank of a
metropolitan see; to which were added as suffragans Cahors, Rodez, and
Mende, with the newly founded bishoprics of Castres and Vabres added.
Toulouse was formed into an archbishopric in 1327; while St. Pons and
Alet, as newly founded bishoprics, were given to the ancient see of
Narbonne in indemnification for its having been robbed of Toulouse. The
ancient diocese of Poitiers was divided into three, and that of Agen
into two by the erection of suffragans at Maillezais, Luçon, Sarlat, and
Condom. By a later papal bull, issued shortly after their establishment,
these bishoprics appear to have been abolished, as no record shows that
they entered into the general scheme of the revolutionary suppression.
On August 4, 1790, all chapters of cathedral churches, other than those
of the metropoles (the mother sees), their bishops, and in turn their
respective curés, were suppressed. This ruling applied as well to all
collegiate churches, secular bodies, and abbeys and priories generally.
Many were, of course, reëstablished at a subsequent time, or, at least,
were permitted to resume their beneficent work. But it was this general
suppression, in the latter years of the eighteenth century, which led up
to the general reapportioning of dioceses in that composition of Church
and State thereafter known as the Concordat.
[Illustration: _The Concordat_ (_From Napoleon's Tomb_)]
Many causes deflected the growth of the Church from its natural
progressive pathway. The Protestant fury went nearly to fanaticism, as
did the equally fervent attempts to suppress it. The "Temples of Reason"
of the Terrorists were of short endurance, but they indicated an unrest
that has only in a measure moderated, if one is to take later political
events as an indication of anything more than a mere uncontrolled
emotion.
Whether a great future awaits Protestantism in France, or not, the
power of the Roman Church is undoubtedly waning, in attracting
congregations, at least.
Should a Wesley or a Whitfield arise, he might gain followers, as strong
men do, and they would draw unto them others, until congregations might
abound. But the faith could hardly become the avowed religion of or for
the French people. It has, however, a great champion in the powerful
newspaper, _Le Temps_, which has done, and will do, much to popularize
the movement.
The Protestantism of Lot and Lot et Garonne is considerable, and it is
of very long standing. It is recorded, too, that as late as October,
1901, the Commune of Murat went over _en masse_ to Protestantism because
the Catholic bishop at Cahors desired his communicants to rise from
their beds at what they considered an inconveniently early hour, in
order to hear mass.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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