Madrid, Diocese of

MADRID, DIOCESI of. – Diocese and capital city of Spain.

The diocese has an area of 7,988.75 sq. km., with a population of 1,909,003 inhabitants, of whom 1,901,503 are Catholics; it has 28 parishes, 936 diocesan priests and 752 religious priests; two seminaries; 91 male and 360 female religious communities (Annuario Pont., 1951, p. 259).

The city of M. was of little importance until, in the 16th century, it was chosen as the natural and permanent residence of the Spanish monarchy, being the geographical center of the peninsula. Until then it had belonged ecclesiastically to the archbishopric of Toledo, and it was only with the Concordat of 1851 that the project for the diocese of Madrid prevailed; it was not, however, erected until 1885, that is, after the bull of Leo XIII of 7 March of that same year. In memory of the ancient and vanished diocese of Complutum, the name Alcalá was added to that of M., since this territory was included in the new diocese, which encompasses the entire central civil province. The first bishop, Narciso Martínez Izquierdo, fell victim to an assassination attempt on 12 April 1886 in the provisional cathedral of S. Isidoro Agricola, patron of the city, which still serves as the episcopal church, since the church of S. Maria de la Almudena has not been completed. It was begun in 1881 under the Toledan archbishop Card. Moreno, and its crypt has been open for worship since 1911. In the present Cathedral, built in the 16th century for the Society of Jesus, the incorrupt body of s. Isidoro Agricola and that of his wife, s. Maria della Cabeza, are preserved; the theologian Laynez and the mystic Nieremberg were also buried there. At Alcalá, formerly the seat of the celebrated Complutense University, one may admire the beautiful collegiate church of the SS. Justo and Pastor, built in 1136 and reconstructed in 1497 by Card. Ximénez de Cisneros.

(phot. Contreras)

The monastery of the Escorial (v.) is located in the diocese. Among the numerous educational institutions established by the Church, mention should be made of the Catholic Institute of Arts and Industries, founded by the Jesuit Fr. Pérez del Pulgar, which awards qualifications in electromechanical engineering that have recently been granted equivalence. The Catholic organizations provide prompt assistance for the moral and material needs of the suburbs. - See plate CXXI.