The Roman Catholic Diocese of Condom was a French
bishopric based in
Condom from 1317 to 1801.
It comprised four archdeaconries : Condom itself, Bruilhois, Villefranche and Nérac. In 1763 these totaled circa 140 parishes.
Abbey of Condom
The diocese grew out of a much older abbey at Condom whose origin remains obscure. After the original monastery's destruction during the ninth century Norman raids or, more likely, the Saracene mid tenth century raids, on its ruins a
Benedictinecenobium with a church devoted to Saint Peter was built in 1041, which over time enjoyed many donations and received privileges, confirmed by Popes. One of its monks wrote the
Historia abbatiae Condomensis on its history, but it's held unreliable.
History
The Diocese of Condom was established as such on 17 July 1317[1] by transforming the abbey into a bishopric: its elevation was confirmed on 13 August 1317 by
Pope John XXII in the
papal bullSalvator noster, assigning to it a territory from its mother
Diocese of Agen south of the
Garonne. The abbey church became its cathedral, the last abbot Raymond de Galard was promoted its first bishop,
suffragan of the
Archdiocese of Bordeaux.
After great devastations and moral decay throughout the bishopric during the
Hundred Years' War, bishop Jean Marre rebuilt the cathedral and many churches and published an Enchiridion, as Christian doctrinal manual for the diocesan clergy. The religious wars against the
Huguenots brought more bloodshed and devastation, but the wreck of the cathedral was bought off.
Its most famous incumbent,
Bossuet, championed moral reveil and reasserted clerical discipline, calling a diocesan synod in 1761, grouped the parishes into 'conferences' within the four archdeaconries and resigned, unable to respect the duty of residence he has imposed on his clergy, due to his many obligations elsewhere
Under the Napoleonic
Concordat of 1801 it was formally restored, but only to be merged into its once mother see, the
Diocese of Agen, on 29 November 1801
On 29 June 1908 Condom's title was united with the
Archdiocese of Auch,[1] which from its 182 restoration had already acquired most of Condom's former territory
Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas,
Benedictine Congregation of Cluny (O.S.B. Clun.) (1496.10.26 – 1499.08.06), previously Bishop of
Lombez (France) (1473.07.05 – 1499.08.04), created
Cardinal-Priest of
S. Sabina (1493.09.23 – 1499.08.06); also Bishop of
Viviers (France) (1498.02.14 – 1499.08.06)
Antoine de Coues (1616 – death 1647), succeeding as previous
Titular Bishop of
Auzia (1604.03.15 – 1616) and Coadjutor Bishop of Condom (1604.03.15 – 1616)
Jean d'Estrades (1648.02.14 – 1658)), previously Bishop of
Périgueux (France) (1646.07 – 1648.02.14)