The Order of Minors has always placed devotion to the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary at the center of its Marian spirituality.
The defense of the Marian privilege of the Immaculate Conception, has been a passionate pursuit of Franciscan scholars over several centuries, scholars such as St. Anthony of Padua, St. Bonaventure, Blessed Duns Scotus, Friars William of Ware, Francis of Mayrone, Pietro Filareto, right up to the Minister General Francesco Nani, called “Samson,” and finally, the Conventual Franciscan Pope Sixtus IV, who originated the traditional novena in honor of the Virgin. Moreover, he instituted the official veneration of the Immaculate Conception in the solemn liturgical office by means of his famous Apostolic Constitution: Cum praecelsa dated February 27, 1477.
The cult of the Immaculate Conception had its greatest manifestation at our own our Parish Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome. It contains a remarkable room that gives us a glimpse of the former Basilica. Behind the Basilica’s present day Chapel of St. Anthony of Padua, a portion of the former apse-chapel of St. Eugenia was recently discovered. At the center of the frescoes decorating the wall of the chapel there is a niche, which until 1650, held one of the very first images of the Immaculate Conception known as the “Greek Madonna” or also the “Madonna of Constantinople.” The image is now on display in the Basilica’s St. Bonaventure Chapel. The painting was commissioned by Cardinal Bessarion, the first titular of the Basilica, who promoted her cult and chose the Chapel of St. Eugenia as his burial place. The lower part of the image of the Virgin bears an inscription, half-hidden by its present-day frame, which reads: “Concepta sine ulla labe.” Thus, it depicts Our Lady venerated in the mystery of her Immaculate Conception. There is no doubt that it is one of the earliest examples of this particular iconography in Rome.
Once again this year, with great solemnity, the traditional novena in honor of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, Patroness of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual, was celebrated at our beloved Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome.
From November 29 through December 7, 2022, a different cardinal presided over each of the evening Masses, which always concluded with the choir singing the “Tota Pulchra,” a work composed by our confrere Friar Alexander BORRONI (1820-1896). The choir performed at each of the novena Masses under the direction of Friar Robert CALLEIA.
The Eminent Cardinals Marcello SEMERARO, Fernando VÉRGEZ ALZAGA, Leonardo SANDRI, Luis Antonio TAGLE, Giuseppe BERTELLO, Mauro GAMBETTI, Mauro PIACENZA, Mario GRECH and Gianfranco RAVASI took turns presiding over the Masses.
The Mass on the day of the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, December 8, 2022, was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN, Vatican Secretary of State. Also present were several Ambassadors accredited to the Holy See. Their flags of state were placed around a statue of St. Francis of Assisi, as a sign of their commitment to harmony among nations. After the Mass, a fraternal agape meal was served in the “Sala Immaculata” parish hall.
Friars from the General Houses in Rome also attended the Masses. Our clerical students from the Seraphicum College in Rome provided liturgical service under the guidance of Friar Valdo Raimundo NOGUEIRA.
Earlier that day, Friar Francesco CELESTINO, the Guardian and Pastor of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, together with some other friars and clerical students, went to Rome’s Piazza di Spagna, as the friars do every year, to welcome the many faithful who had come to pay homage to the statue of the Virgin there. The statue stands atop a column almost twelve meters [forty feet] high in the Piazza. It was placed there in 1857, three years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Pope Francis visited in the afternoon and placed a floral tribute at the base of the column. He led a prayer to Mary Immaculate and invoked the gift of peace through her intercession.
Friar Dominic CASTIGLIONE
