540th Anniversary of the Entrustment of the Parish S. Maria in Traspontina to the Carmelites

On Friday, November 15, the Carmelites will be celebrating the 540th anniversary of presence at S. Maria in Traspontina. Pope Innocent VIII gave responsibility for the church to the Carmelites in the bull Sacrosanctae et militantis Ecclesiae.

The founding of the church has been documented back to 772 under the papacy of Adrian I. It was always dedicated to Mary, the Mother of Jesus. The church building was located very close to Castel San Angelo when the Carmelites took possession during the papacy of Innocent VIII in 1484. The intent was to move closer to the Vatican where they popes had decided to maintain their permanent residence after the Council of Constance which ended the Western Schism (1378-1418). Plans to expand the defenses of Castel San Angelo with a ring of ramparts forced the destruction of the old church and the need for the Carmelites to build a new one. The prior general at the time, Nicolas Audet (1523-1562) insisted the Order remain close to the Vatican. The Carmelites were eventually allowed to move even closer to the Vatican, to the current location, with the foundation stone put in place by Giovanni Rossi (1562-1578).

For the celebration on November 15, the schedule is:

6 pm: Rosary

6:30 pm: Mass and prayer of suffrage for all deceased Carmelites in the community

7:15 pm: Organ concert, Gratias agimus tibi, given by Jordi-Agustí Piqué i Collado, OSB, a professor of Theology, Liturgy, and Music at the Pontifical Ateneo Saint’Anselmo in Rome.

8 p.m.: Aperitif in the parish hall.

Concelebrants are requested to bring white surplice and stole with them.

The website of the parish is: www.parrocchiatraspontina.it

(Photos courtesty of parish website and William J. Harry, O. Carm.)