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The former French Catholic diocese of Comminges existed at least from the sixth century, to the French Revolution. The seat of the bishops was at Saint-Bertrand-de-Comminges, now no more than a village, in the modern department of Haute-Garonne in south-west France. The territory of the old diocese now belongs to the archdiocese of Toulouse. The name of Comminges was incorporated into the titulature of the Archbishop of Toulouse on 19 January 1935. He is now the Archbishop of Toulouse-Saint Bertrand de Comminges-Rieux.
History
The earliest Bishop of Comminges known by name is Suavis, who assisted at the Council of Agde in 506, along with thirty-four other bishops. Sidonius Apollinaris, however, speaks of the persecutions suffered at the hands of the Arian Goths in the fifth century by a bishop of Comminges.
Among the bishops of Comminges were:
In the church of St. Bertrand of Comminges (The gothic church is of the XIV century), baptism was administered with peculiar ceremonies: the baptismal water was placed in a silver dove with wings displayed (a symbol of the Holy Spirit), and enclosed in a cupola surmounting the font; at the moment of baptizing the dove was lowered over the head of the child by a pulley, and through its open beak the baptismal water was poured (as though grace from heaven).