Le confraternite laicali nelle disposizioni sinodali seicentesche della Chiesa pesciatina

Abstract

This article examines the effects of the Catholic reform movement of the sixteenth century in a small Tuscan prelacy (Pescia) that in 1519 was exempted from the jurisdiction of the bishop of Lucca. Using the synodal legislation issued between 1606 and 1717, the article brings to light a tightening of control over local confraternities, and especially over their administration, accounts, liturgy, and morality, that went hand-in-hand with the powerful growth of the liturgical and sacramental figure of the parish priest. The restrictions and the liturgical limitations imposed on confraternities in Pescia eventually extinguished the associative spirit of these confraternities that, until that point, had been nurtured by ancient organizational and devotional autonomy.