The Ljubljana Archbishop Michael Leopold Freiherr von Brigido was acutely aware of the fact that he was managing a vast and demanding archdi-ocese and metropolis. From the appointment of Franz Philipp von Inzaghi to Gradisca d’Isonzo in 1788 until his installation at the end of April 1789, the western part of the new metropolis was without a residential bishop, which led the archbishop to his decision to act. For this short period, he appointed a metropolitan general vicar in spiritual matters who assumed bishop’s duties in the west of the metropolis. For this position, he appointed “a local” from Cor-mons, the Ljubljana cathedral canon Giovanni Antonio Ricci, who performed his work with distinction, for which he later received a commendation from none other than the Viennese court.The newly appointed general vicar embarked on his duties vigorously and in agreement with Bishop Inzaghi managed, in a very short time, to prepare the so-called Status dioecesis Goritiensis, i.e. a census of all 20 deaneries of the gen-eral vicarage in four parts, according to: 1. clergy, 2. parishes and local curacies, 3. parish and curacy churches, and 4. benefices. He received answers from 533 priests. At the ordinariate, the entire material was transcribed into 20 manu-script books, which are today kept in three boxes in the Archdiocesan Archives in Gorizia. In fact, there exists another box of “Ricci’s” material that is unbound; however, this material is not discussed or published in this monograph.Until today, the material has been known to only a handful of histori-ans; however, due to its valuable content it certainly deserves an independent publication and wider awareness. Hence, this publication strives to take a step forward in the research of the history of the Gorizia Archdiocese, Diocese of Gradisca d’Isonzo, and also of the Gorizia-Gradisca d’Isonzo Diocese, since the turbulent period of church history of this territory between 1784 and 1830 is poorly studied and deserves greater attention of researchers, not only historians.The material collected by General Vicar Ricci offers an insight into a se-ries of interesting facts. Some of the tables are filled in completely, others only include basic data. The first table, with 20 questions, pertained to clergy. Each cleric had to introduce himself with his name, surname, and function. He had to state his place of origin, titulus mensae, age, and the year he received his Rite of Ordination, the place and type of studies, the period spent working in pastoral care, posts performed, and potential benefices held. Other questions touched upon his ability in elocution, reading of appropriate books, and consequently the knowledge, habits, intelligence, behaviour, physical strength, virtues, flaws, and deficiencies, the manner of acceptance with the believers, possible repri-mands, etc. At the end, everyone had to present his financial situation.The second table inquired about parishes and local chaplaincies and in-cluded 12 questions. The name of the parish or local chaplaincy and the name of the priest or local chaplain and their associates (chaplains or expositi) had to be written. This was followed by questions regarding monastic life in the parish: the number and types of monasteries and convents in the parish and names of priests or nuns together with their age. Other questions pertained to foundation masses, the parish patron and lawyer, villages and neighbourhoods, midwives, offences, schools, distance to individual villages, the position of the parish, and the number of believers.The third table, including 11 questions, was dedicated to churches. The name of the parish church, its patronage and consecration, individual altars, filial churches and expositurae, brotherhoods, oratories and Way of the Cross, indulgences and altar privileges, lawyers, church accounts, caretakers, sextons and their income, and the financial state of churches had to be given.The last table, with 10 questions, pertained to benefices. The name and place of the benefice had to be given together with its founder and time of foun-dation, the holder of the benefice, his duties and the type of the benefice, the patron and lawyer of the benefice, as well as its subordination to a priest, the benefice’s home, the type of schools, their financing and maintenance, and ben-efice’s income.Each and every one of these tables as well as every answer to the given questions are certainly very interesting for the history of the discussed period and territory. Every person interested in the history of this era or area can find some useful information in the published source. This, in its own right, achieves the purpose of the publication.
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