The Archdiocesan Council of Archbishop Wacław Hieronim Sierakowski of 1765

Abstract

The second Latin metropolis in Poland, in terms of chronology, fulfilled in its territory a glorious role, despite the fact that it was exposed to a series of various difficulties and denominational struggles. The trend of the Tridentine regeneration in the Lvov archdiocese was initiated by the provincial council of Archbishop Piotr Tarto on November 8. 1564. Later archdiocesan councils, which generally very rarely took place, would go back to those decisions.

The Council of Archbishop Wacław Hieronim Sierakowski look place in Lvov in 1765 and drew on to the Tridentine reform. The proceedings of that Council lasted three days and each of them constituted a separate conciliar session, each of which started with a Holy Mass. The opening of each session was foreworded by conciliar address. Only at the end of the council did the archbishop himself delivered two addresses: one for the clergy, and the other for the laity in which he exhorted people to abide by all the decisions of the council. The remaining addresses stressed the joy of calling up the council, the merits of the archbishop, and expressed hope to improve pastoral work and entreated people to abide by the conciliar resolutions in everyday of their parishes. The proceedings of the first session of the council basically embraced two questions, the Catholic Creed and reading out the pastoral letter of Archbishop and Metropolitan Bishop Wacław Hieronim Sierakowski of May 15. 1761. The letter treated about sacerdotal discipline, proclaiming the Word of God. religious life, unification of the liturgical rules on the dispensation of the Holy Sacraments, private chapels and protection of the properties of the Church. The second session regulated the administrative matters in the archdiocese, such as separation of the decanate’s and parochial networks, erection of new archdeacon’s residence, establishing parochial schools, and norms about lasts and Eastern Communion. The thiiu session dealt with the appointment of diocesan judges, councillor examiners, reform of seminaries, and charitable issues.

The councillor statutes of Archbishop Wacław Hieronim Sierakowski of 1765 made an important stage in carrying out the Tridentine reform in the Lvov archdiocese. At the same time they concluded the Polish councillor legislation before the partitions of Poland.