The Congregation of the Immaculate in the Greek College in Rome

On the feast of the Assumption of 15 August, we remember a Congregation that is no longer active, less known than the Marian Congregations or the numerous confraternities present in Rome: the Congregation of the Immaculate in the Greek College of Rome.

One of the reasons for its ‘disappearance’ from the collective memory is linked to the history of the Greek College, one of the many educational institutes that the Society of Jesus ran in Papal Rome and which, after 20 September 1870, was destined to decline and close.

The Confraternity had been established in 1864 and survived the fall of the Papal State: the minutes of the last meeting of the congregation are dated 12 June 1895.

Three registers containing the names of the congregants and the minutes of their meetings are preserved in the archives.

We reproduce the minutes relating to the foundation of the Congregation:

To the Greater Glory of God and the Immaculate Virgin as well as to Saint Athanasius Archbishop of Alexandria. In the year of Grace One thousand eight hundred and sixty-four, the Supreme Pontiff Pius IX reigning, the Most Illustrious Monsignor Annibale Capalti being Protector and President, the Rector of the same College being D. Filippo Tancioni Romano and Vice Rector D. Loreto Jacovacci Romano. On 2 June, in the newly erected Chapel, after a devout retreat, a new Congregation was founded under the title of the Immaculate Virgin and of St Athanasius Archbishop of Alexandria and aggregated to the First Primary of the Roman College[…].

The confraternity met monthly, the admission of new members was discussed at the meetings: it promoted the divine cult of the Immaculata.

Pictured is an image of the Immaculate Conception that was venerated by the members of the congregation, included in the register.

Maria Macchi