Lorenzo D'Astiria

Lorenzo D'Astiria (1604 - 5 January 1678) was a Spanish Roman Catholic bishop of Malta in the 17th century.[1]

His Excellency

Lorenzo D'Astiria

O.S.Io.Hieros.
Bishop of Malta
ChurchRoman Catholic
DioceseMalta
Appointed16 June 1670
In office1670-1678
PredecessorLucas Buenos
SuccessorMiguel Jerónimo de Molina
Orders
Ordination22 April 1628
Consecration06 July 1670
by Carlo Carafa della Spina
RankBishop
Personal details
Born1604
Tarazona, Spain
Died5 January 1678
NationalitySpanish

Early life

D'Astiria was born in Tarazona in the province of Zaragoza, Spain in 1604. He was ordained priest of the Sovereign Military Order of Malta on April 22, 1628.

Bishop of Malta

On June 16, 1670 Pope Clement X appointed D'Astiria to succeed Lucas Buenos as Bishop of Malta and ordain bishop on 6 July 1670 by Cardinal Carlo Carafa della Spina.

During his episcopacy he visited and consecrated numerous churches among these are mentioned the visit to the church of Our Lady of Mercy in Xewkija, Gozo. It is reported that on this visit Bishop D'Astiria gave permission for the reopening of the church which had been closed. This took place because a certain Petronilla Pontremoli promised to celebrate the feast of Our Lady and to distribute bread to all the poor.[2] It is recorded that on 30 September 1671 Bishop Lorenzo D'Astiria made a pastoral visit to Mqabba. Bishop D'Astiria also blessed the chapel of St Angelo in Żejtun[3] and the chapel of Saint Anne located in an area called Pwales near St. Paul's Bay. The latter church was blessed on July 1, 1672.[4] On September 26, 1673 he also visited the chapel of the Annunciation in Balzan where he ordered the transfer of the buried corpses buried in this chapel to the parish church.[5] Also it is recorded that during this visit he also ordered that the main altar be transferred to the parish church as well. Bishop D'Astiria is also responsible for the reopening of the chapel of the Assumption, nowadays known as Ta' Pinu in Għarb, Gozo.[6] During his episcopacy about 11,300 people died as a consequence of a plague epidemic between 1675 and 1676. Lorenzo D'Astiria died on January 5, 1678 at the age of 74.

References
  1. "Bishop Lorenzo Astiria, O.S.Io.Hieros.", Catholic Hierarchy. Retrieved on 01 March 2015.
  2. "Xewkija - St Mary of Mercy (tal-Hniena)", Gozo Churches. Retrieved on 01 March 2015.
  3. "St.Angelo". Retrieved on 01 March 2015.
  4. "Il-Kappella ta Sant' Anna". Retrieved on 01 March 2015.
  5. "Il-Kappella tal-Lunzjata - Ħal Balzan -" Archived 2015-04-02 at the Wayback Machine, Kappelli Maltin. Retrieved on 01 March 2015.
  6. "L-Għarb fl-Imgħoddi u Ilum" Archived 2016-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved on 1 March 2015.
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