Pontifical Academy of Martyrs
Encyclopedia
The Pontifical Academy of Martyrs or Pontificia Academia Cultorum Martyrum (original founded as the Collegium Cultorum Martyrum) is an academic honorary society
established in Rome
by the Catholic Church
for the advancement of the cult of saints and martyrs
, the promotion and worship of the saints and the study of related early Christian
history including the catacombs
.
Is operates with guidance and support from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
and the Roman Curia
and is one of the ten such Pontifical Academies
established by the Holy See
.
, Adolfo Hytreck, Orazio Marucchi
and Enrico Stevenson (four distinguished scholars of sacred antiquity) and the Papal Academy, in conjunction with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
.
and increasing, through study, knowledge of the saints including examples of Witnesses of the Faith.
It is also responsible for the monuments to these saints from the first centuries of Christianity
, including the catacombs
beneath Rome
. The Academy organises and promotes celebrations of ancient Christian cemeteries, the catacombs and other sacred places, as well as religious functions and archaeological conferences. To this end it works closely with the Pontifical Academy of Archaeology
.
The Academy holds at least two General Meetings
each year, close to the Papal Institute of Christian Archaeology and the Collegio Teutonico
in The Vatican
.
The Papal Academy "Cultorum Martyrum" supports also, during Lent
, the unwinding of the ritual stand in honour of Carlo Respighi, Magister from 1931 until 1947.
or Bishop
s are appointed Defences.
The Academy's administrator is referred to as the Magister; an office appointed (and renewed) by the Pope
. The Magister, in accordance with the Academy's Guiding Advice, can affiliate the Academy with other Pontifical Academies which have business related to a particular Martyrs' Sanctuary.
Its current Magister is Fabrizio Bisconti.
Learned society
A learned society is an organization that exists to promote an academic discipline/profession, as well a group of disciplines. Membership may be open to all, may require possession of some qualification, or may be an honor conferred by election, as is the case with the oldest learned societies,...
established in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
by the Catholic Church
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
for the advancement of the cult of saints and martyrs
Christian martyrs
A Christian martyr is one who is killed for following Christianity, through stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake or other forms of torture and capital punishment. The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς, mártys, which means "witness."...
, the promotion and worship of the saints and the study of related early Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
history including the catacombs
Catacombs
Catacombs, human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place can be described as a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman empire...
.
Is operates with guidance and support from the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
and the Roman Curia
Roman Curia
The Roman Curia is the administrative apparatus of the Holy See and the central governing body of the entire Catholic Church, together with the Pope...
and is one of the ten such Pontifical Academies
Pontifical Academy
A Pontifical Academy is an academic honorary society established by or under the direction of the Holy See. Some were in existence well before they were accepted as "Pontifical." Currently there are ten academies in Rome:...
established by the Holy See
Holy See
The Holy See is the episcopal jurisdiction of the Catholic Church in Rome, in which its Bishop is commonly known as the Pope. It is the preeminent episcopal see of the Catholic Church, forming the central government of the Church. As such, diplomatically, and in other spheres the Holy See acts and...
.
History
The Academy was established on 2 February 1879 by Mariano ArmelliniMariano Armellini
Mariano Armellini was an Italian archaeologist and historian. He is the author of Gli antichi cimiteri cristiani di Roma e d'Italia and Le catacombe romane , but became famous chiefly for Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX Mariano Armellini (1852–1896) was an Italian archaeologist and...
, Adolfo Hytreck, Orazio Marucchi
Orazio Marucchi
Orazio Marucchi was an Italian archaeologist and author of the Manual of Christian Archaeology. He served as Professor of Christian Archaeology at the University of Rome and director of the Christian and Egyptian museums at the Vatican Museums. He was also a member of the Pontifical Commission of...
and Enrico Stevenson (four distinguished scholars of sacred antiquity) and the Papal Academy, in conjunction with the Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments
The Congregation for Divine Worship and the Discipline of the Sacraments is the congregation of the Roman Curia that handles most affairs relating to liturgical practices of the Latin Catholic Church as distinct from the Eastern Catholic Churches and also some technical matters relating to the...
.
Functions
The Academy is tasked with promoting the cult of the Holy MartyrsChristian martyrs
A Christian martyr is one who is killed for following Christianity, through stoning, crucifixion, burning at the stake or other forms of torture and capital punishment. The word "martyr" comes from the Greek word μάρτυς, mártys, which means "witness."...
and increasing, through study, knowledge of the saints including examples of Witnesses of the Faith.
It is also responsible for the monuments to these saints from the first centuries of Christianity
Christianity
Christianity is a monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus as presented in canonical gospels and other New Testament writings...
, including the catacombs
Catacombs
Catacombs, human-made subterranean passageways for religious practice. Any chamber used as a burial place can be described as a catacomb, although the word is most commonly associated with the Roman empire...
beneath Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
. The Academy organises and promotes celebrations of ancient Christian cemeteries, the catacombs and other sacred places, as well as religious functions and archaeological conferences. To this end it works closely with the Pontifical Academy of Archaeology
Pontifical Academy of Archaeology
The Pontifical Academy of Archaeology is an academic honorary society established in Rome by the Catholic Church for the advancement of Christian archaeological study...
.
The Academy holds at least two General Meetings
Mass meeting
In parliamentary law, a mass meeting is a type of deliberative assembly, which in a publicized or selectively distributed notice known as the call of the meeting - has been announced:...
each year, close to the Papal Institute of Christian Archaeology and the Collegio Teutonico
Collegio Teutonico
The Collegio Teutonico or German College is a Roman College established and maintained at the Vatican for the education of future ecclesiastics of the Roman Catholic Church of German nationality....
in The Vatican
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
.
The Papal Academy "Cultorum Martyrum" supports also, during Lent
Lent
In the Christian tradition, Lent is the period of the liturgical year from Ash Wednesday to Easter. The traditional purpose of Lent is the preparation of the believer – through prayer, repentance, almsgiving and self-denial – for the annual commemoration during Holy Week of the Death and...
, the unwinding of the ritual stand in honour of Carlo Respighi, Magister from 1931 until 1947.
Membership and leadership
The Academy consists of Sodales and Associates of both sexes. At the age of 80 a Sodales becomes an Emeritus. Sodales who become CardinalCardinal (Catholicism)
A cardinal is a senior ecclesiastical official, usually an ordained bishop, and ecclesiastical prince of the Catholic Church. They are collectively known as the College of Cardinals, which as a body elects a new pope. The duties of the cardinals include attending the meetings of the College and...
or Bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
s are appointed Defences.
The Academy's administrator is referred to as the Magister; an office appointed (and renewed) by the Pope
Pope
The Pope is the Bishop of Rome, a position that makes him the leader of the worldwide Catholic Church . In the Catholic Church, the Pope is regarded as the successor of Saint Peter, the Apostle...
. The Magister, in accordance with the Academy's Guiding Advice, can affiliate the Academy with other Pontifical Academies which have business related to a particular Martyrs' Sanctuary.
Its current Magister is Fabrizio Bisconti.