Diocese of Avezzano
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The Italian Catholic diocese of Avezzano has carried this name since 1986. Before that it was the diocese of Marsi. It is a suffragan of the archdiocese of L'Aquila.[1]
[edit] History
The diocese of Marsi had its seat at Pescina, taking its name from a people, and not from a city.
According to legend, the Gospel was preached to the Marsi in Apostolic times by Saint Mark, and Saint Rufinus, their bishop, was martyred about 240. The episcopal see was originally at Santa Savina, but, as this place was isolated and therefore insecure, Pope Gregory XIII permitted, in 1580, the removal of the bishop's residence to Pescina, where the cathedral was completed in 1596.
Among the bishops of the diocese was Saint Berardo of the family of the Counts of the Marsi. He was educated at Montecassino, and became pontifical governor of the Campagna. On account of his justice and of his severity in that office, he was imprisoned by Pietro Colonna, but Pope Paschal II made him a cardinal, and bishop of his native town. Other prelates of the Marsi were:
- Bishop Jacopo (1276), during whose government of the diocese dissensions arose between the canons of Santa Savina and those of Celano concerning the right to nominate the bishops;
- Angelo Maccafani (1445), treasurer general of the Marches;
- Cardinal Marcello Crescenzi (1533);
- Matteo Colli (1579), under whom the removal of the bishop's residence to Pescina took place; he was a prisoner for some time in the Castle of Sant'Angelo, but proved his innocence and was liberated;
- Gian Paolo Caccia (1648), who did much for the public schools;
- Diego Petra (1664);
- Francesco Corradini (1680);
- Nunzio de'Vecchi (1719).[2]
[edit] Notes
This article incorporates text from the public-domain Catholic Encyclopedia of 1913.
