nent priests, glance at conspicuous peculiarities of life or opinion among the clergy, smile here and there at a so-called miracle, but such details would not interest the general reader. The number of suffragan sees in existence at the opening of the nineteenth century was the same as at the close of the seventeenth. That of Puebla had the same number of dignitaries, canons, and prebendaries as the metropolitan, and all its affairs were conducted with the utmost regularity. Its cathedral is one of the most magnificent buildings in Mexico.[1]
The chapter of the see of Oajaca consisted of a dean, four dignitaries, and eight canons. The rebuilding of the cathedral, founded in 1535, Was begun by the fifteenth bishop. Father Angel Maldonado, in 1702,[2] and completed by Bishop Santiago y Calderon, who took charge in 1730. The building has three naves besides the chapel, and is said to hold an arm of Saint Chrysostom, the skull of Saint Leontius, martyr, and a portion of the famous cross of Huatulco, to which countless miracles have been ascribed.[3]
- ↑ Between 1608 and 1802 it was controlled by 14 prelates. The most prominent of them were: Alonso de la Mota y Escobar, who gave the cathedral $50,000 in ornaments and jewelry; Juan de Palafox, and Diego Osorio de Escobar, who have been spoken of elsewhere; Manuel Fernandez de Santa Cruz, a native of Mexico, who had been bishop of Durango and Michoacan; Juan Antonio de Lardizábal, who declined the archbishopric of Mexico; and Francisco Javier Fabian y Fuero, afterward archbishop of Valencia in Spain.
- ↑ A bequest of $40,000 was left for the purpose of reconstruction. In 1721 there was much dissension between bishop and chapter about needed repairs. Oax., Asuntos, in Doc. Ecles. Mex., MS., ii. no. 2; Id., Repar. de la Cat., in Id., MS., iv. no. 2.
- ↑ Between 1605 and 1799 there were 18 bishops of this diocese, the last of whom was José Gregorio de Omaña y Sotomayor. Others worthy of mention were: Friar Baltasar de Covarrubias, Juan de Cervantes, Friar Juan Bartolomé Cataño de Bohorques, Alonso de Cuevas Dávalos, who became archbishop of Mexico, Nicolás del Puerto, Isidro Sarañana, and Thomas Montaño. All of them were natives of Mexico, and men of learning and character. Friar Angel de Maldonado, of the order of Saint Bernard, who was in charge of the see from 1702 to 1728, was noted for his humility and charity. Ho declined the mitres of Michoacan and Orihuela. The diocese of Michoacan had a chapter consisting of five dignitaries, ten canons, and 12 prebendaries. In early days, when the revenue was smaller, it had only nine prebends. The cathedral was begun in 1640 by Bishop Prado, with aid from the crown and people. It was rebuilt in 1680, and dedicated in 1706. The building is of mixed style, and of majestic appearance. Iglesias, Rel., 269-72, 233-6. From 1602 till 1809 there were 22 bishops, the last of whom was Márcos Moriana y Zafrilla. Soon after his death Doctor Manuel Abad y Queipo, the vicar--
