Celebración del primer concilio provincial de Valladolid (1887)

Abstract

The ecclesiastical province of Valladolid was created in the Spanish Concordat between the Holy See, Pope Pius IX, and Isabel II, the Queen of Spain. It was established on December 8, 1857, with is suffragan dioceses of Astorga, Zamora, Salamanca, Ciudad Rodrigo, Avila and Segovia. Of theses dioceses, Valladolid and Segovia had previously been part of the ecclesiastical province of Toledo; and the rest, of the ecclesiastical province of Santiago de Compostela. In 1882, don Benito Sanz y Fores was named the fourth Archibishop of the metropolitan see of Valladolid. He was previously the Bishop of Oviedo. His principal objetive was to create a Provincial Council with the aim of coordinating pastoral life in the entire province for the well-being of souls. In communion with the suffragan bishops, he obtained permission from the Holly See to hold the council. The council was duly prepared, and it was held in Valladolid from July 16 to August 2, 1887 with extraordinary solemnity and splendor. The themes treated at the Council were: the Catholic faith, the Church, the sacraments and sacramentls, divine worship, the formation of the clergy, Christian life, and the goods of the Church. All of the conciliar doctrines were written-down in 717 decrees, with were approved by the Sacred Congregation of Councils with only 26 minor corrections. The Council was highly praised by the Holy See. After the Council, in the years 1889-1891, diocesan synods were held in all of the suffragan sees, and in Segovia in 1991. The doctrines and disciplines of the Provincial Council were taught in all corners of the province, and the catechism of Fr. Astete was used as the official text for the formation of the faithful. The Council was truly revolutionary for all; it strenghened the faith of many, the doctrinal errors of the age were rejected, good customs were re-established, the clergy awakened from its lethargy, Christian life was renewed, the number of vocations increased greatly, and the seminaries and convents were regenerated. In 1930 the Second Provincial Council was held in Valladolid, which ratified all of the doctrines of the First Provincial Council, accommodatig some of the disciplinary teachings for that particular era. Doctrina from this council continued to be taught until Vatican II in 1965.