Barreto (Dom Jerónimo) 1Origins and appointment
Barreto (Dom Jerónimo)
Original title: Barreto (D. Jeronimo)
Biography of D. Jerónimo Barreto (1543–1589), sixth bishop of Funchal (1574–1585), remembered chiefly for convening the island's first diocesan synod and promulgating the Diocesan Constitutions of 1578.
1Origins and appointment
Dom Jerónimo Barreto was the sixth bishop of Funchal. He governed this diocese from 1574 to 1585, and in that year he was transferred to the bishopric of the Algarve.
He came from noble and distinguished families, being the son of Gaspar Nunes Barreto and Dona Isabel Cardoso, lords of Farreriz and Penagate. He was born in the archdiocese of Braga in 1543.
After completing his course in theology at the University of Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra), and before he had yet reached the lawful age to exercise the episcopate, he was appointed bishop of Madeira in 1572. For that reason he could receive episcopal consecration only in 1573, when he reached the age required by canon law.
2Episcopate and the Constitutions
On 31 October 1574 he arrived in Funchal to take up the government of this diocese. He left behind him the most honourable of traditions, and his name is bound to the notable service of drawing up and publishing the Diocesan Constitutions, which had become indispensable for the proper conduct of the bishopric’s various religious affairs.
To this end he convened, for the first time on this island, a diocesan synod attended by the cathedral chapter, the parish clergy and other priests. In successive sessions the Constitutions were debated and drawn up, and they were solemnly promulgated in the Cathedral (Sé Catedral) on 18 October 1578, the anniversary of the consecration of that same Cathedral. These Constitutions were printed in Lisbon in 1585 in a volume of 188 pages. Bishop Dom Luiz Figueiredo de Lemos promulgated a set of supplementary constitutions (Constituições Extravagantes) in 1579, which were printed in 1601. Both sets still form today the particular canon law by which this diocese is governed in applying the general laws of the Church. Dom Jerónimo Barreto was extremely zealous in the discharge of his episcopal duties. Among the other measures he adopted in governing his diocese, mention should be made of the creation of several parishes and curacies and of the reform he introduced in the Chapter and the collegiate churches, in particular by reviving the observance of many points of ecclesiastical discipline that had fallen into disuse. Dom Jerónimo Barreto was transferred to the diocese of Silves in 1585 and died there in 1589, aged only 45.
In this article
Time
Years mentioned · 09-
Jerónimo Barreto, later bishop of Funchal, was born in the archdiocese of Braga.
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D. Jerónimo Barreto was appointed bishop of Madeira.
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Bishop Jerónimo Barreto received episcopal consecration.
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Bishop Jerónimo Barreto arrived in Funchal to govern the diocese.
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Madeira's first diocesan synod, held in Funchal Cathedral under Bishop Jerónimo Barreto, drew up and promulgated the Diocesan Constitutions, which among other things forbade plays in churches without the bishop's licence.
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Bishop Luís Figueiredo de Lemos promulgated the Constituições Extravagantes.
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The Constituições Synodaes do Bispado do Funchal of Bishop Jerónimo Barreto's 1578 synod were printed in Lisbon, and Barreto was transferred to Silves.
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D. Jerónimo Barreto died in Silves aged 45.
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Bishop Luís de Figueiredo had the diocesan Constitutions reprinted in Lisbon by Pedro Craesbeeck together with the Constituições Extravagantes.
Place
Places mentioned · 09
Abroad
- Algarve
Portugal. Diocese to which Barreto was transferred in 1585.
The Algarve is a region of mainland Portugal that supplied many early Madeiran settlers, notably from Boliqueime, and probably cattle. Zarco guarded its coast as captain, and Bartolomeu Perestrelo died there. Simão Gonçalves da Câmara put in there on his aborted voyage to Spain.
- Braga
Portugal. Archdiocese where Barreto was born.
Braga is a city, district and archdiocese in mainland Portugal and the country's second densest district, with about 140 inhabitants per km². D. José da Costa Torres headed the archdiocese from 1806 and died there. The Corpo Nacional de Escutas was founded in Braga in 1923, and the city gives its name to the requinta instrument.
- Funchal
Seat of the diocese Barreto governed.
The capital of the archipelago and seat of the principal captaincy, where settlement began; it was made a vila c.1451–52. Its bay, the widest in the archipelago, lies between Ponta do Garajau and Ponta da Cruz and offers sheltered anchorage, though its harbour had never been studied oceanographically. The Elucidário discusses it as a health resort with climate data and records the January 1906 disturbances, the Danish prince's visit in May 1846 and recent volcanic cones in the area.
- Funchal Cathedral (the Sé)
Funchal. Where the Constitutions were promulgated in 1578.
The Sé do Funchal is the cathedral of Funchal, in the parish of Sé. It was begun in 1493, became a parish seat in 1508 and a cathedral in 1514. It was the starting point of processions and the place of the vow to São Tiago, and bishops are buried there.
- Lisbon
Portugal. Where the Constitutions were printed in 1585.
The Portuguese capital, seat of the Relação court and of the Misericórdia whose privileges and statutes were extended to Funchal. Henrique Franco de Sousa studied at its Royal Academy of Fine Arts, and Luiz José Baiardo moved there in 1821.
- Silves
Portugal. Seat of the Algarve diocese where Barreto died.
Town and former seat of the Algarve diocese in Portugal. The Elucidário records that Henrique Moniz was its alcaide-mor, and that Tristão Vaz and D. Jerónimo Barreto died there.
- University of Coimbra
Portugal. Where Barreto studied theology.
The University of Coimbra, in mainland Portugal, was supported by Madeira through tithes and attended by many Madeirans. Several of them graduated there, mostly in law, and others, such as António da Gama and Vitúrio Lopes Rocha, also taught there. Júlio Augusto Henriques held its chair of botany.
People
People mentioned · 04- Jerónimo Barreto1543–1589
Sixth bishop of Funchal (1574–1585) who issued the Diocesan Constitutions of 1578 before transfer to the Algarve.
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Father of Bishop Jerónimo Barreto, lord of Farreriz and Penagate.
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Mother of Bishop Jerónimo Barreto, lady of Farreriz and Penagate.
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Bishop of Funchal who promulgated the Constituições Extravagantes, printed in 1601.