Tre Fontane Abbey

Tre Fontane Abbey, also known as Three Fountains Abbey or the Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius, is a Roman Catholic monastic complex in the southern part of Rome. It is held by monks of the Cistercian Order of the Strict Observance, commonly called Trappists. The site is best known for its three historic sanctuaries, its association with the traditional location of Saint Paul's execution, and the three springs that give the complex its name. The abbey consists of three principal churches. The Church of Saint Paul at the Three Fountains stands at the site traditionally identified as the place where Paul the Apostle was beheaded under Nero. According to Christian legend, Paul's head struck the ground three times and caused three springs to emerge; the springs remain part of the sanctuary. The second church, Santa Maria Scala Coeli, is dedicated to Mary as Our Lady of Martyrs and is associated with the martyrdom of Zeno and thousands of Roman soldiers during the reign of Diocletian. Its name refers to the altar of the Scala Coeli, or ladder to heaven. The third church and its monastery are dedicated to Saint Vincent of Saragossa and Saint Anastasius of Persia. The monastic foundation developed under Benedictine custody after Pope Honorius I established the church and monastery of Saints Vincent and Anastasius in the seventh century. Eastern monks fleeing religious persecution later found refuge at the site. The abbey acquired extensive lands and privileges during the medieval period, including major endowments traditionally associated with Charlemagne. In the tenth century it passed to the Cluniac movement, and in 1140 Pope Innocent II entrusted it to Bernard of Clairvaux and a Cistercian community from Clairvaux. Peter Bernard of Paganelli, one of the early abbots, later became Pope Eugene III. Over subsequent centuries Tre Fontane was governed through a combination of regular monastic superiors and commendatory abbots, many of whom were cardinals. The complex experienced restoration and institutional changes under several popes, including the restoration and consecration of the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasius by Pope Honorius III in 1221. From the early modern period it was connected with the Cistercian Congregation of Saint Bernard in Tuscany until the abbey was suppressed during the Napoleonic period in 1812. The sanctuaries were abandoned for a period after suppression. Attempts to place them under other religious administration initially struggled because the surrounding Roman Campagna was severely affected by malaria. In the nineteenth century, Cardinal Giuseppe Milesi Pironi Ferretti promoted environmental improvements and arranged for Trappists from La Grande Trappe to return in 1868. Following Italian unification, the religious community first rented and later purchased the former ecclesiastical properties from the government in 1886. Drainage works, eucalyptus planting, and other land-management measures helped reduce the area's unhealthy conditions. In addition to its religious and architectural importance, Tre Fontane has distinctive contemporary activities. The monks raise lambs whose wool is traditionally used to make the pallia presented to newly appointed metropolitan archbishops. The lambs are blessed by the pope on the feast of Saint Agnes on January 21, while the pallia are presented on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. In May 2015 the abbey became the eleventh Trappist monastery to produce and sell beer, adding a limited monastic food-and-drink enterprise to its heritage and devotional functions. Across the road is the Grotto of the Three Fountains, a separate shrine associated with a reported Marian apparition to Bruno Cornacchiola and his children in 1947. The event led to the grotto becoming a Catholic pilgrimage site. Tre Fontane Abbey therefore combines a functioning Trappist monastery, historic churches, pilgrimage destinations, agricultural and craft activities, and a recognizable Roman religious identity.

Tre Fontane Abbey occupies a site in Rome traditionally identified with the martyrdom of Saint Paul. Its name refers to the three springs said by legend to have appeared where Paul's head struck the ground three times after his beheading. The springs are located within the sanctuary of the Church of Saint Paul of Three Fountains. The complex also includes Santa Maria Scala Coeli and the church and monastery of Saints Vincent of Saragossa and Anastasius of Persia. The foundation dedicated to Vincent and Anastasius was established by Pope Honorius I in 626 and entrusted to Benedictine monks, who were expected to care for the two older sanctuaries as well as their own church. During the seventh century, Eastern monks displaced by religious conflict found refuge at the monastery. The abbey later received substantial territorial endowments, traditionally including lands and settlements granted by Charlemagne. Its abbot exercised ecclesiastical jurisdiction over portions of this extensive territory. In the tenth century the community was transferred to the Cluniac movement. In 1140 Pope Innocent II placed it under the authority of Bernard of Clairvaux, who sent a Cistercian colony from Clairvaux. Peter Bernard of Paganelli served as an early abbot before becoming Pope Eugene III. Under Cistercian administration, the church and monastic buildings were repaired and reorganized according to the order's practices. Several abbots later became cardinals, bishops, or papal legates. Pope Honorius III restored the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasius and consecrated it in 1221, with seven cardinals consecrating its seven altars. A system of commendatory abbots began in 1419 with Cardinal Branda da Castiglione. The office was frequently held by cardinals, including future popes Clement VII and Clement VIII. In 1519 Leo X allowed the resident religious to elect a regular claustral prior, while the commendatory abbacy remained in the hands of a cardinal. From 1625 the abbey was affiliated with the Cistercian Congregation of Saint Bernard in Tuscany. This arrangement continued until the suppression of the monastery during the Napoleonic invasion in 1812. One notable regular abbot during this period was Ferdinand Ughelli, a prominent ecclesiastical historian and author. The sanctuaries remained deserted after suppression. In 1826 Leo XII transferred their nominal care from the Cistercians to the Friars Minor of the Strict Observance, but the area's malaria and poor sanitary conditions prevented a stable community from taking root. In 1867 Pius IX appointed his cousin, Cardinal Giuseppe Milesi Pironi Ferretti, as commendatory abbot. Ferretti sought to improve the site and entrusted the monastery to the Cistercians. In 1868 monks from La Grande Trappe arrived to restore regular observance and rehabilitate the land. After the Papal States were incorporated into Italy in 1870, the religious community remained at Tre Fontane. The monks initially leased and later purchased the secularized properties from the government in 1886, including a further tract of approximately 1,234 acres. Drainage projects, eucalyptus planting, and other environmental measures reduced the stagnant conditions that had encouraged malaria. The work transformed an area once viewed as exceptionally unhealthy into a more viable monastic and agricultural setting. The modern abbey continues as a Trappist religious house and pilgrimage site. Its traditional lamb raising is linked to the production of wool for the pallia worn by metropolitan archbishops. The lambs are blessed on the feast of Saint Agnes, and the pallia are presented on the feast of Saints Peter and Paul. In 2015 the community added Trappist beer to its commercial activities. The neighboring Grotto of the Three Fountains became a Marian shrine after the reported 1947 apparition to Bruno Cornacchiola and his children, further strengthening the area's role as a religious destination.

• 2015

  Launch of Trappist beer production

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  Tre Fontane became the eleventh Trappist monastery to produce and sell beer.

• 1947

  Development of the Grotto of the Three Fountains shrine

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  A reported Marian apparition to Bruno Cornacchiola and his children led to the neighboring grotto becoming a Catholic shrine.

• 1886

  Purchase of former abbey properties

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  The monks purchased the secularized properties from the Italian government after initially renting them.

• 1868

  Return of the Trappists

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  A community from La Grande Trappe arrived to re-establish regular monastic life and improve the unhealthy surrounding land.

• 1812

  Napoleonic suppression

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  The abbey was suppressed during the Napoleonic period and the sanctuaries were subsequently deserted.

• 1419

  Beginning of commendatory abbots

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  Cardinal Branda da Castiglione became the first commendatory abbot, establishing a pattern in which the office was often assigned to cardinals.

• Foundation of the Saints Vincent and Anastasius monastery

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  Pope Honorius I established the church and monastery dedicated to Saints Vincent of Saragossa and Anastasius of Persia and entrusted them to Benedictine monks.

• Transfer to the Cistercians

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  Pope Innocent II entrusted the abbey to Bernard of Clairvaux, who supplied a Cistercian community from Clairvaux.

• Restoration and consecration

  [1]Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org

  Pope Honorius III restored the Church of Saints Vincent and Anastasius and consecrated it alongside seven altars.

A historic Roman Trappist monastery combining Catholic pilgrimage, medieval and early Christian heritage, monastic hospitality and agriculture, and certified-style Trappist production.

• Monastic beer · 2015

  Tre Fontane Trappist beer

  A beer produced and sold by the abbey from 2015. Its production extends the monastery's traditional agricultural and craft activities into a recognized Trappist beverage offering.

• Religious textile material

  Lamb wool for archiepiscopal pallia

  The abbey raises lambs whose wool is used in making pallia for newly appointed metropolitan archbishops. The lambs are traditionally blessed by the pope on the feast of Saint Agnes, and the finished pallia are presented on the solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

• 2015

  Entry into Trappist beer productionProduct launch

  Background

  The abbey sought to sustain contemporary monastic activity while maintaining its religious and agricultural identity.

  Action taken

  Tre Fontane began producing and selling beer, becoming the eleventh Trappist monastery associated with beer production.

  Aftermath

  Beer became one of the abbey's identifiable modern commercial offerings.

  Source

• 1886

  Acquisition and rehabilitation of the monastic estateStrategy

  Background

  Following Italian unification, the community needed a stable legal and economic basis for remaining at Tre Fontane, an area then associated with severe malaria.

  Action taken

  The monks purchased the secularized properties from the government and implemented drainage, tree planting, and other land-improvement measures.

  Aftermath

  The surrounding area became substantially healthier and more suitable for permanent monastic and agricultural use.

  Source

1. 1Tre Fontane Abbeyen.wikipedia.org
2. 2Tre Fontane Abbey official websiteabbaziatrefontane.it