Priesterliche Vervollkommnung und Seelsorge im Raum der alten Diözese Brixen

The monograph deals with the history of a priests' federation (foedus) founded in Brixen in 1533, which has existed in unbroken continuity in the ancient diocese of Brixen and lives on to this day, now in separate organization in the dioceses of Bozen-Brixen and Innsbruck according to the reorganization of 1964.

The foedus reflects a priestly ideal, that especially in the 18th century has been developed on a high theoretical level. It condenses in cultivation of classical virtue ethics. In this regard, the foedus represents an integration to so many priestly associations founded in the 19th century, that were centrally steered and considered the individual priest as a member of the system.

In the 17th and 18th century features of a brotherhood in the broadest sense become visible. In this way research is breaking new ground. That is even more important, because the type of priestly brotherhood has been little researched internationally and not at all in Tyrol.

An online available appendix lists all members and provides biographical data. It forms the basis of analysis and argumentation and reduces the amount of the notes in the main part of the text.

Book presentation:

Erika Kustatscher, Priesterliche Vervollkommnung und Seelsorge im Raum der alten Diözese Brixen: Das Foedus Sacerdotale zwischen Katholischer Reform und Gegenwart, Brixen 2021.