Once again, in 2024, the traditional novena in preparation for the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception of the Virgin Mary, was solemnly celebrated at our magnificent Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles in Rome. The Virgin Mary was established as the principal protectress of the Order of Friars Minor Conventual by Pope Clement XI on May 7, 1720, with his bull Ex injuncti nobis, at the request of the newly elected Minister General, Friar Carlo Giacomo ROMILLI (1719-1725).
The origin of the traditional novena in honor of the Immaculate Virgin dates back to Pope Sixtus IV. The original novena program read as follows: 5:45 p.m.: Rosary and Chanting of the Litany; 6:30 p.m.: Mass.
From November 29 to December 7, 2024, the Mass each evening was presided over by a different cardinal, namely, Their Eminences Cardinal João Braz DE AVIZ, Cardinal Lazzaro You HEUNG-SIK, Cardinal Mauro GAMBETTI, OFM Conv., Cardinal Dominique MAMBERTI, Cardinal Angelo DE DONATIS, Cardinal Claudio GUGEROTTI, Cardinal Fernando VÉRGEZ ALZAGA, Cardinal Robert Francis PREVOST and Cardinal François-Xavier BUSTILLO, OFM Conv. On December 8, the Mass was presided over by His Eminence Cardinal Pietro PAROLIN, Secretary of State of the Holy See. His Eminence Cardinal Dominique Joseph MATHIEU, OFM Conv., Archbishop of Teheran-Ispahan of the Latins in Iran, concelebrated at the beginning of the novena and again, at the Mass on December 4, (presided over by Cardinal GUGEROTTI, Prefect of the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches) and finally, at the Mass on December 8, the day of the Solemnity. Cardinal MATHIEU was created a cardinal during the consistory of December 7, 2024. Others concelebrating at the Mass on December 8 included His Eminence Cardinal Jozef DE KESEL, Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Malines-Brussels, Belgium, and the Most Reverend Lodewijk AERTS, Bishop of Brugge, Belgium.
As per tradition, at the conclusion of each Mass, the “Tota Pulchra” by Friar Alessandro BORRONI, OFM Conv. (1820-1896) was sung. It was performed by the Cappella Musicale Costantiniana, under the direction of its choirmaster, Friar Robert CALLEJA, OFM Conv. The same choir sang at all of the Masses. After the final Mass, a fraternal agape meal was served in the Sala dell’Immacolata [Hall of the Immaculata, adjacent to the basilica].
The Masses were attended by friars from the General Houses in Rome, namely, the Friary of St. Maximilian M. Kolbe, the Friary of St. Anthony at the Baths (“Vigna Antoniniana”), the Friary of St. Peter (College of Vatican Penitentiaries), and the Friary of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum International College).
Our clerical student friars from the Pontifical Theological Faculty of St. Bonaventure (Seraphicum) provided liturgical service under the guidance of our confrere, Master of Ceremonies Friar Valdo NOGUEIRA.
As he does every December 8, Friar Francesco CELESTINO, the Guardian of the Friary and Pastor of the Basilica of the Twelve Holy Apostles, together with some friars, clerical students and committed lay people, welcomed the faithful at Rome’s Piazza di Spagna. Many came there to pay homage to the simulacrum of the Virgin Mary atop a column measuring almost 12 meters [39 feet] high. This monument was inaugurated on December 8, 1857, three years after the proclamation of the dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Pope Francis went there again this year, on the afternoon of December 8, to place his usual floral tribute at the base of the column, and to recite the prayer to Mary Immaculate, invoking the gift of peace through her intercession.
Friar Domenico (Mimmo) CASTIGLIONE
