SACRED ART, DIOCESAN COMMISSIONS for II. — These are the organs of episcopal activity in the field of sacred art and are answerable to the Pontifical Central Commission.
Only a few more diligent dioceses had such commissions when the circular of the Secretariat of State of His Holiness dated 1 September 1924 (the same circular that established the Pontifical Central Commission) required ordinaries to found them in all dioceses.
Particular difficulties or local needs may make it advisable to provide for the needs of two or more dioceses through a single interdiocesan or regional commission.
These commissions are required to: compile lists of sacred buildings and inventories of works of art, according to the models of forms prepared by the central commission, to be drawn up in triplicate; oversee the establishment and organization of diocesan museums for artistic objects that are disused or only infrequently used, or that are otherwise in danger; examine plans for new buildings, extensions, decorations, restorations, etc.; supervise the state of preservation of buildings and works of art; promote artistic taste and culture in the diocese and organize into societies those friends of art who can further the dignity of the church; submit all the more serious cases to the Pontifical Central Commission and report to it each year on the activities carried out.
In the years from their establishment until the outbreak of the Second World War, many Italian dioceses saw the creation of diocesan commissions, and quite a few of these had already compiled or expanded the inventories and lists required of them. For their operation, the Central Commission drew up model regulations, which were favorably received and applied. The sacred-art weeks for the clergy provided a highly useful opportunity for all those working in this field to meet, and several sessions were reserved specifically for representatives of the Diocesan Commissions.
Among the diocesan museums already in existence or newly established, we may mention those of Trento, Pienza, Bressanone, Gandino, S. Gimignano, Palermo, Aquila, Bergamo, and Verona.