Sant Genís de Vilasar, 1921 – Barcelona, 2017.
In 1932 he entered the Concilite Seminary of Barcelona, where he studies his entire ecclesiastical career. He received the clerical tonsure in the historic monastery of Santa Maria de Pedralbes (Barcelona) and was ordained a priest on March 18, 1945. He celebrated his first Mass the next day, in his own town it was the feast of San Joseph.
A few months after the world war ended in 1945, began Studies of ecclesiastical history at the relevant Faculty of the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome, where he graduated in 1947 and Ph.D. in 1950, defending his doctoral thesis “El pasionario Hispanico”, which is a critical study of the history of the cult of saints in the church Visigoth-Mozarabic (century VII-XI). This work was published in two volumes by the Council for Scientific Research and he won the Gold Medal of Pope Pius XII and also “Prize Francisco Franco 1950” top rewards that in this year were given for research by the Gregorian University in Rome and also by the Higher Council for Scientific Research in Madrid.
During his stay in Rome he studied Palaeography, Diplomatic and Archives in the “Archivum Secretum Vaticanum”, which obtained a licentiate degree in 1947.
After this period of official studies he alternated his historical research with the performance of various pastoral positions in several parishes in the diocese of Barcelona. In 1948 he was librarian of the “Biblioteca Balmes” (Library of religious studies, in Barcelona). In 1950, S. E. Rvdma. the Bishop of Barcelona was appointed him “Deputy Secretary General of the XXXV International Eucharistic Congress”, held in this city two years later. In 1952 received the Commendation of the Order of Civil Merit. In 1954 founded the “School of Ecclesiastical History Balmesiana”, in which he has given several public workshops, lectures and lessons about the history of the Church. In 1954 was Professor of History at the Theological Seminary, first was teaching, History of Culture and in 1956 was Professor of ancient and medieval Church History and patristic, until his retirement in November 1972.
Linked to the Priestly institution since he was a young priest and also by the Obra Pia “Foment de Pietat” devoted a large part of their apostolic energy to the tasks performed by this institution, through its prestigious “Editorial Balmes”, he has done so much for promoting the more genuine and solid piety, liturgical and private. He was the Director of the Obra Pia since 1962.
In addition to his PhD, he has written several works of historical research, he has contributed to several scientific journals (domestic and foreign), and has participated in several international congresses of history. As a collaborator of the history magazine “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia” (Barcelona), “Hispania Sacra” (Madrid-Barcelona), “Anthologica Annua” (Rome), “Archivum Latinitatis Medii Aevi” (Belgium), etc. Also he sent some communication among others to, the International Congress organized by the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome in 1954, to commemorate the fourth centenary of its foundation (“Actitud de Pedro III el Grande de Aragón ante la propia deposición fulminada por el papa Martín IV”), the VI Congress of History of the Crown of Aragon, held in Cagliari-Alghero in Sardinia in 1957 (“Ajuda econòmica de l’Església a Jaume II d’Aragó per a la conquesta de Sardenya”).
His devotion to Santa Eulalia, virgin and martyr, patron saint of Barcelona, led him to write several studies and trials which crystallized later in his work “Santa Eulalia de Barcelona: a review of a historical problem” (published in Rome, 1958) which is a courageous defense of the historicity of our holy, and also he ride some Articles in “Eulalie de Barcelone” and “Eulalia de Mérida”, appeared on the famous “Dictionnaire d’Histoire et de Géographie Eclésiastique” (Paris).
He was Appointed Prefect of the Biblioteca Episcopal Seminary of Barcelona in 1964, he published the Catalogue of “quinientos Códices” guarded jealously.
In a matter of high historical disclosure are his works: “Santuarios Marianos de la diócesis de Barcelona: history, legend and folklore”, “Historia de los Concilios Ecuménicos”, “Labor pastoral de un gran pontificado”, which is the story of the reconstruction of each parishes of the diocese of Barcelona, destroyed in 1936, and the erection of the new ones under the Pontificate of His Excellency and Rt. Bishop Gregorio Modrego y Casaus, of blessed memory.
On February 13, 1964 he was appointed member of the “Archdiocesan Commission of Sacred Art”, and on July 23 in the same year was appointed Member of the “Provincial Board for the promotion of libraries, archives and archaeological museums of Barcelona”, dependent of the General Directorate of Archives and Libraries of the Ministry of Education and Science.
On August 5, 1965 he took possession of the sinecure of Clerk of the S. I. Cathedral Barcelona, after making the relevant academic competitions. Immediately he began the reorganization and restructuring of this rich archive of Barcelona, the experts say that is ones of the largest and most important in Europe with documents of the IX and X centuries. The installation and management of this archive is exemplary. The archive is visited and consulted by researchers from all European country and many American nationalities. At the opening of the archives, in 1969, he published the “Indice de las Series documentales del Archivo Capitular de la S. I. Catedral Basílica de Barcelona” was the first step toward for a complete catalog of these collections of documents of prime importance. From the first of March 1996 was appointed Archivist Emeritus.
On December 30, 1966, Rt. Bishop Gregorio Modrego, Archbishop of Barcelona, appointed him Rector of the “Priestly House Barcelona”, after the resignation for retirement of his predecessor, the Rev. Dr. Eudaldo Serra Buixó.
In 1968, Mr. Bishop was named him Consultant of the “Diocesan Commission on Liturgy” in Barcelona and Office censor of publications for ecclesiastical history.
With his new job as Canon “Cult and Factory Manager of the Cathedral” (commonly called “churchwarden”) began in 1969 the task of restoring, beautifying and artistically lighting the inside of a part of the Cathedral of Barcelona and its magnificent Gothic cloister, with a result that has earned and deserves unanimous congratulations from friends and strangers. These works of restoration and lighting of the Cathedral were opened on October 7, 1971, to celebrate the IV centenary of the victory of Lepanto.
He was an active member of the Organizing Committee of the commemoration of the fourth centenary of the Battle of Lepanto, who worked together with the “Diputación Provincial de Barcelona”. In recognition of the joyous work done, the Deputy Prime Minister, on 7 October 1971 awarded him with the Commemorative Medal of the IV centenary of the Battle of Lepanto, set out by decree of February 11 1971.
In September 1971 he was elected and appointed Vice President “Junta Nacional de la ‘Asociación Española de Archiveros Eclesiásticos'” (“National Spanish Association of Ecclesiastics Archivists”, under the “National Board of Treasury Documentary and Spanish Bibliographic Church”, an entity that is directly subordinate to the “Episcopal Conference of Spain”.
The National Council Board for Scientific Research in its delegation of Barcelona, on December 1 of that year 1971, appointed him Head of the “Department of Ecclesiastical History”, under the “Institution Milà i Fontanals” of the “Patronato Marcelino Menéndez y Pelayo”.
The Hon. Diputación Provincial de Barcelona, in an extraordinary plenary session, held on St. George, day April 23, 1973, awarded him the “Medal of Cultural Merit” in the Silver category, for his research in medieval history and restoration and beautification of the Cathedral of Barcelona.
To give their “effective cooperation to the important task entrusted to the Construction Board of the Temple of the ‘Expiatorio de la Sagrada Familia’, the most prestigious works of the great architect Mr. Gaudí”, His Eminence and Rt. Bishop Narciso Cardenall Jubany Archbishop of Barcelona, on July 20, 1974, appointed him “Chairman, Episcopal Delegate” of the said Board.
On 3 December in the same year, His Eminence the Cardinal Archbishop of Barcelona named him Member of the Board of the Foundation “Belloch-Pozzali” for his encouragement and promotion of the research studies of ecclesiastical sciences.
Since 1975 he is responsible for the Secretariat of Ecclesiastical Archivists of Catalonia.
At the Plenary Meeting dated May 21, 1975, the Royal Academy Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi appointed him, academic elected for the sumptuary and visual arts, the proposal was well accepted for the renowned academics Joan Bassegoda Nonell, Joan Antoni Maragall Noble and Frederic Marés Deulovol. Joined it on May 11, 1978 reading her speech “La vida quotidiana a la Catedral de Barcelona en declinar el Renaixement: any 1580”.
In 1980 he was appointed corresponding member of the Hispanic Society of America in New York. And in 1987 he was elected corresponding academic of the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando de Madrid.
In 1991 he was appointed Advisory Board member of the Museum Frederic Marés in Barcelona.
In 1999 the magazine “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia” paid tribute to him and editing a “Àngel Fàbrega Miscellany”.
From 1954 until now he has been asked several times by the archbishop of the Archdiocese of Barcelona, as a special consultant to clarify some serious historical problems. Among others, we can referring two reports of them, which acquired a genuine and real research category one of them about the authenticity of the remains of kings, queens and princes of the House of Aragon his remains rest in what is now called “Chapel of the Martyrs”, located in the cloisters of the Barcelona’s Cathedral, the other one is about the valuation of the relics of St. Joseph Oriol, saved from the iconoclastic fury of the years 1936-1939, and that gave a rise to a new discovery of relics of the great Barcelona’s miracle worker of the XVII (+1702) in its primitive original tomb.
Part of the expert commission of the Sacred Congregation for Divine Worship for the drafting of the new “Martyrologium Romanum”.
In 2005 he received the Gold Metal of Vilasar de Dalt Vila (birthplace) and edited a book on his life and work, with extensive photographic documentation from childhood to maturity.
PUBLICATION FROM 1947 TO 1998
Research Works
. “Pasionario hispánico (Siglos VII-XI)”.
Volume I: Estudio, 303 pag., 4º.
Volume II: Texto, 416 pag., 4º.
Madrid-Barcelona, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Instituto Enrique Flórez, 1953. [This work won the Gold Medal of the Gregorian University, and also the prize “Francisco Franco” (Section Arts), in 1950].
. “Santa Eulalia de Barcelona: Revisión de un problema histórico”. Roma. Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica, 1958, 4º, 155 pag.
. “Índices de los X primeros volúmenes de la revista de Historia Eclesiástica ‘Anthologica Annua'”. Roma, Instituto Español de Historia Eclesiástica, 1965, 4º. [Contiene los índices de: ‘Autores’, ‘General’ de la revista, ‘Regestas’ de todos los documentos publicados en la revista, ‘Onomástico’ de personas y lugares, ‘Correspondencia de la Nunciatura con la Santa Sede (1958-1621)’, ‘Fondos lulianos’ en las Bibliotecas romanas].
. “Catálogo del Archivo Capitular de la S. I. Catedral Basílica de Barcelona: 1, Indice general de las series documentales” (In collaboration with J. Baucells Reig). Barcelona, Archivo Capitular de la Catedral de Barcelona, 1969, 36 pag., 4º.
. “El ‘Missal de Santa Eulàlia’ de l’Arxiu Capitular de la catedral de Barcelona”. Barcelona, Caja de la Sagrada Familia (now “la Caixa”), 1977, 92 pag., fol., reproducciones cuadricromas 35 x 27 cm. [Estudio del ms. 116 del archivo antes citado y de sus espléndidas miniaturas, in collaboration with Prof. Pere Bohigas Balaguer. Bilingual edition two columns Spanish-Catalan].
. “La vida quotidiana a la catedral de Barcelona en declinar el Renaixement: any 1580”. Barcelona, 1978, 96 pag., 4º [Inaugural speech as an academia of the Reial Acadèmia Catalana de Belles Arts de Sant Jordi, readed in the Salón Dorado de la Casa Lonja de Mar, May 11, 1978].
. “Diplomatari de la Catedral de Barcelona (ss. IX-XIII)”. Barcelona, 724 pag. [Volume I: Introducción a todo el Diplomatario. Estudio analítico del Cartulario, esto es, de los ‘Libri Antiquitatum’. Cronología de esta documentación. Introducción al primer volumen del Diplomatario. Edición crítica de los primeros 350 documentos (ss. IX-X, años 844-1000). Índices y tablas de correspondencia].
Research studies (articles in scientific journals and communications in international history conferences)
. “El Necrologio de San Lorenzo del Munt” [In “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia”, 20 (1947), pag. 215-222].
. “Spanish manuscripts in foreign libraries: Copenhaguen Real Libraries” [In “Hispania Sacra”, 1 (1948), pag. 183-190].
. “Calendarios hispánicos anteriores al siglo XIII” [Articles in collaboration with Rev. José Vives, in “Hispania Sacra”, 2 (1949), pag. 119-146, 339-380; 3 (1950), pag. 145-161].
. “El ‘Ordo ad Pacem’ en la Liturgia mozárabe” [Excerpt from the “Study Sessions”, vol. II of the XXXV International Eucharistic Congress held in Barcelona, in 1952. Pag. 472-477].
. “Un Glosario del siglo X” [In “Archivum latinitatis Medii Aevi” (ALMA) (Bulletin Du Cange), 22 (1953), pag. 217-237].
. “Actitud de Pedro III el Grande de Aragón ante la propia deposición fulminada por el papa Martín IV” [Communication to the International Congress organized by the Pontifical Gregorian University in 1954, to commemorate the IV centenary of its foundation, published in “Miscellanea Historiae Pontificiae”, vol. XVIII: “Sacerdozio e Regno da Gregorio VII a Bonifacio VIII”. Pag. 161-180].
.”Els primitius textos catalans en l’Art de ben morir” [In “Collectanea E. Serra Buixó”: “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia”, 28 (1955), pag. 79-104].
. “Antics manuscrits litúrgics de la Parròquia de Sant Genís de Vilassar, in the diocese of Barcelona” [In “Archivum latinitatis Medii Aevi” (ALMA) (Bulletin Du Cange), 26 (1956), pag. 213-224].
. “Orígenes del culto a san Mateo en España” [In “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia”, 29 (1956), pag. 25-48].
. “‘Orientación’ tradicional de la plegaria litúrgica” [Research article published in “Apostolado Sacerdotal”, 14 (1957), pag. 141-153].
. “La dècima per a la conquesta de Sardenya en els pontificats de Bonifaci VIII i Benet XI” [Communication to VI Congress of History of the Crown of Aragon, held in Cagliari, Sardinia, in 1957: Acts of the referred Congress, pag. 461-475].
. “El P. Pedro Gil, S. I., y su colección de vidas de santos” [In “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia”, 31 (1958), pag. 5-25].
. “Gràcies de participació ‘in temporalibus et spiritualibus’ atorgades, als segles XIII i XIV, per abats de Sant Llorenç del Munt i de Sant Cugat del Vallès” [In “Analecta Montserratensia”, 9 (1962), “Miscel·lània Anselm M. Albareda”, I, pag. 261-264].
. “La idoneidad del candidato al Imperio, según la doctrina y la actuación del Papa Inocencio III” [Inaugural Lecture of the academic year 1962-1963, in the Seminario Conciliar de Barcelona, 31 pag.].
. “Ayuda económica de la Iglesia a Jaime II de Aragón para la conquista de Cerdeña” [In “Anthologica Annua”, 11 (1963), pag. 10-46].
. “Índice onomástico de la obra ‘Legaciones y Nunciaturas en España de 1466 a 1521’, de Justo Fernández Alonso” [Monumenta Hispaniae Vaticana, II (Sección Nunciatura), in colaboration with Rev. José Vives].
. “Eulalie de Barcelone” and “Eulalia de Mérida” [Artículos en el “Dictionnaire d’Histoire et de Géographie Ecclésiastique” (DHGE), vol. XV, cols. 1380-1385, Paris 1964].
. “Catálogo de los Manuscritos de la Biblioteca arzobispal del Seminario Conciliar de Barcelona (481 Manuscritos)” [In “Analecta Sacra Tarraconensia”, 37 (1964), pag. 273-318].
. “Revisión de las Lecciones históricas de los nuevos ‘Officia Propria’ de la diócesis de Barcelona”, 1965.
. “Santa Eulàlia de Barcelona (12 febrer) i Santa Eulàlia de Mèrida (10 desembre)”. [Noticias históricas en la “Gran Enciclopèdia Catalana”, vol. 7 (1975), pag. 189].
. “Barcelona: Cucufate”. [Notas históricas para el “Lexicon des Mittelalters”].
. “Los archivos eclesiásticos y la investigación histórica”. [Presentation of the First National Congress of Spain Church Archivist, held in Madrid from 20 to September 25, 1971: an published in The Archives of the Church of Spain”, León, 1978, pag. 35-55].
. “Els ‘Privilegis pontificis’ del temps del Cisma a l’Arxiu Capitular de la Catedral de Barcelona”. [Communications to Congress “Jornades sobre el Cisma d’Occident a Catalunya, les Illes i el País Valencià” as motive on the VI anniversary of Schism. Barcelona-Peñíscola, April 18-21, 1979].
. “L’ordinamento e l’inventario di un archivio ecclesiastico: l’Archivio del Capitolo Cattedrale di Barcellona”. [Ponencia en el ‘XIV Convegno degli archivisti ecclesiastici d’Italia’ (Roma, October 1982): publicada en las Actas del ‘Convegno’].
. “El Obituario de la Catedral de Barcelona del siglo XIII”. [In ‘Anuario de Estudios Medievales’ (Barcelona), 18 (1988): ‘Homenaje póstumo al Dr. Emilio Sáez’, pag. 193-215].
. “La Catedral, ente propulsor de cultura: la catedral de Barcelona”. [Seminar paper readed at the ‘VII National Congress of Archivists of the Church in Spain’. Published in the collection “Memoria Ecclesiae IV”, Madrid 1991, pag. 101-122].
. “Les lipsanoteques i les consagracions successives de l’altar major de la Seu de Barcelona”. [Collaboration in the “Miscel·lània en homenatge a Joan Ainaud de Lasarte” (vol. I), publicaded for the Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya (1993)].
. “L’altar major de la Seu de Barcelona i les seves lipsanoteques: Consagracions successives d’aquest altar en els anys 1058, 1338, 1599, (1920), 1932, (1939), 1944 i 1972”.
. “L’Arxiu Capitular de la Catedral de Barcelona. Aproximació a la seva història”. [In “Teologia actual”, del Instituto de Teología de Barcelona, nº 9, April 1995].
. “Inventari general de l’Arxiu Capitular de la Catedral de Barcelona: Documentació en paper (segles XIII-XX)”. [1. Archivo de la Obra. 2. Archivo del Capítulo Catedral. 3. Biblioteca de la ‘Schola’ de la Catedral: a. Códices (ss. VIII-XV) y b. Incunables: 98 unidades].
. “Lexicon für Theologie und Kirche”. Herder Verlag, 1997. [Pelagius, mártir de Córdoba; Raymundus Nonnatus (+Cardona); Ramundus, obispo de Roda de Isábena y Barbastro].
. “Diccionari d’Història Eclesiàstica de Catalunya”. [“Foment de Pietat Catalana”: personas (fundadores y redactores), instituciones filiales (surgidas en el sí del Fomento de la Piedad Catalana) y revistas publicadas por la entidad hasta el día de hoy: 41 pequeñas monografías históricas].
. “Catedral de Barcelona: notícia històrica”. [In “Diccionari d’Història Eclesiàstica de Catalunya”].
. “L’Arxiu Capitular de la catedral de Barcelona: notícia històrica”. [In “Diccionari d’Història Eclesiàstica de Catalunya”].
Historical works of high disclosure
. “Santuarios marianos de Barcelona: Historia, Leyenda, Folklore”. Barcelona, Ed. La Hormiga de Oro, 1954, 4º, 286 pag.
. “Historia de los Concilios ecuménicos”. Barcelona, Editorial Balmes, 1960, 4º, 334 pag.
. “Labor pastoral de un gran pontificado”. Barcelona, 1962, fol., 286 pag. profusamente ilustradas. [Reconstruction of each parishes of the diocese of Barcelona, destroyed in 1936, and the erection of the new ones since 1939].
. “Santoral completo”. Barcelona, Ed. La Hormiga de Oro, 8º, 192 pag. [3 edition: 1st in 1958, 2nd in 1965, 3rd in 1974].
. “La Catedral de Barcelona: Guía turística”. Barcelona, Archivo Capitular de la Catedral de Barcelona, vol. I de la III Serie de sus publicaciones “Monográficas”, 1968, 8º, 48 text pages and 32 lamina in four colours. [Edition in Spanish, Catalan, French, English, German and Italian].
. “Efemèrides històriques de l’ermita de la Mare de Déu de la Cisa (Maresme: Premià de Dalt)”. Premià de Dalt, 1995. [In “Milenario de esta advocación mariana: aa. 995-1995”].
. “Els ‘Sants Màrtirs’ de Vilassar de Dalt”. [In “Museo y parroquia de Sant Genís de Vilasar”, pag. 19-36, con ilustraciones].
. “L’arxidiòcesi de Càller dins el marc de la història de Sardenya”. [In “Parroquia de San Genís de Vilasar de Dalt 1623-1993”, pag. 11-29].
Notes and main historical disclosure items
. “Any Sant 1950” [Historical information of the main Christian monuments of the Eternal City, for the benefit of the pilgrims]. Editorial Balmes, 1950.
. “La Eucaristía, sello y garantía de la paz” [In “Paz cristiana”, revista oficial del XXXV Congreso Eucarístico Internacional. Barcelona 1952, pag. 73-74 (Cuaderno III)].
. “Congreso Eucarístico Internacional (Barcelona, 1952)”. [Chronicle of the big festival of the Eucharist, written in collaboration with the M. I. Dr. Isidro Gomá Civit, and incorporated in the ‘Enciclopedia Espasa-Calpe’, in the charge volume for the year 1952: pag. 379-423].
. “Santa Eulalia de Barcelona: Vida, martirio y culto”. Booklet published by Editorial Balmes, in 1956. Three editions.
. “Santa Eulàlia de Barcelona: vida, martiri i culte”. Booklet published by Editorial Balmes, en 1957. 2nd edition in 1970. 4th edition in 1982.
. “La Comunión de los niños en la antigua Iglesia”. [Separata de “Apostolado Sacerdotal”, enero de 1957].
. “Santa Eulalia [de Barcelona]”. [Pag. 9-24 of the booklet “Los Santos de Barcelona: Vidas ejemplares”, publicated in Barcelona by the historical Comission of the Conference on Glorification in Barcelona, 1958].
. “Santa Eulalia de Barcelona (12 febrero), y Santa Eulalia de Mérida (10 diciembre)”. [Hagiographical notes published in “Año Cristiano” (4 vols.) Library of Christian Authors (BAC). Madrid, 1959].