San Paolo alle Tre Fontane
Encyclopedia
San Paolo alle Tre Fontane (Italian
), in English, St Paul at the Three Fountains is a church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle, at the presumed site of his martyrdom in Rome
. In Latin
it is known as Sancti Pauli ad Aquas Salvias (St Paul at Aquae Salviae).
Since 2010 the church is a cardinalitial
diaconia, with Mauro Piacenza
as its cardinal deacon.
pavements. It is also said that there was a stone pine
tree at the place where Paul was martyred, and the traditional identification of this place with the site of his martyrdom was strengthened when ancient stone-pine cones were found here during excavations in 1857.
The first church here was built in the 5th century. It was rebuilt in 1599 by Giacomo della Porta
for Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini
. The church belongs to the Trappist
Tre Fontane Abbey
.
There are three symbolic monumental covers to the fountains said to have sprung up at St Paul's death. The fountains were sealed in 1950 because pollution made it dangerous to drink the water.
A column in the church is said to be the one to which St Paul was bound when he was beheaded, but this seems to be a late story and it is probably just a column from Roman ruins nearby.
Remains of a late Roman mosaic floor are preserved in the nave. It was donated to the church by Pope Pius IX
and is said to have been brought here from Ostia
, Rome's port in the imperial period.
The 2010 appointment of Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
as Cardinal-Deacon of this ancient church marks its first use as a cardinalatial diaconia.
Cardinal Piacenza is said to have made the request for this to be his titular church because he has a long association with and strong devotion to Our Lady of Revelation - a shrine and pilgrimage site across the road from the Tre Fontane Church.
Italian language
Italian is a Romance language spoken mainly in Europe: Italy, Switzerland, San Marino, Vatican City, by minorities in Malta, Monaco, Croatia, Slovenia, France, Libya, Eritrea, and Somalia, and by immigrant communities in the Americas and Australia...
), in English, St Paul at the Three Fountains is a church dedicated to St Paul the Apostle, at the presumed site of his martyrdom 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...
. In Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
it is known as Sancti Pauli ad Aquas Salvias (St Paul at Aquae Salviae).
Since 2010 the church is a cardinalitial
Cardinal (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...
diaconia, with Mauro Piacenza
Mauro Piacenza
Mauro Piacenza JCD is an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman Curia since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 October 2010. He had previously served as Secretary from 2007 until becoming Prefect.Piacenza...
as its cardinal deacon.
History
Legend relates that, when St Paul was decapitated, his head bounced three times and fountains miraculously sprang up at each place where it touched the ground. However, the springs, called the Aquae Salviae, as in the Latin name for the church, were known in pre-Christian times, and excavations have revealed ancient mosaicMosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
pavements. It is also said that there was a stone pine
Stone Pine
The Stone Pine , is also called Italian Stone Pine, or Umbrella Pine , and Parasol Pine. It is in the pine family Pinaceae and occasionally listed under the invalid name Pinus sativa. The tree is native to the Mediterranean region...
tree at the place where Paul was martyred, and the traditional identification of this place with the site of his martyrdom was strengthened when ancient stone-pine cones were found here during excavations in 1857.
The first church here was built in the 5th century. It was rebuilt in 1599 by Giacomo della Porta
Giacomo della Porta
Giacomo della Porta was an Italian architect and sculptor, who worked on many important buildings in Rome, including St. Peter's Basilica. He was born at Porlezza, Lombardy and died in Rome.-Biography:...
for Cardinal Pietro Aldobrandini
Pietro Aldobrandini
Pietro Aldobrandini was an Italian Cardinal and patron of the arts.He was made a cardinal in 1593 by his uncle, Pope Clement VIII. He took over the duchy of Ferrara in 1598 when it fell to the Papal States...
. The church belongs to the Trappist
TRAPPIST
TRAPPIST is Belgian robotic telescope in Chile which came online in 2010, and is an acronym for TRAnsiting Planets and PlanetesImals Small Telescope, so named in homage to Trappist beer produced in the Belgian region. Situated high in the Chilean mountains at La Silla Observatory, it is actually...
Tre Fontane Abbey
Tre Fontane Abbey
Tre Fontane Abbey , or the Abbey of Saints Vincent and Anastasius, is a Roman Catholic abbey in Rome, currently held by the Trappist Fathers of the Cistercian Order. It is known for raising the lambs whose wool is used to weave the pallia of new metropolitan archbishops. The Pope blesses the lambs...
.
There are three symbolic monumental covers to the fountains said to have sprung up at St Paul's death. The fountains were sealed in 1950 because pollution made it dangerous to drink the water.
A column in the church is said to be the one to which St Paul was bound when he was beheaded, but this seems to be a late story and it is probably just a column from Roman ruins nearby.
Remains of a late Roman mosaic floor are preserved in the nave. It was donated to the church by Pope Pius IX
Pope Pius IX
Blessed Pope Pius IX , born Giovanni Maria Mastai-Ferretti, was the longest-reigning elected Pope in the history of the Catholic Church, serving from 16 June 1846 until his death, a period of nearly 32 years. During his pontificate, he convened the First Vatican Council in 1869, which decreed papal...
and is said to have been brought here from Ostia
Ostia Antica
Ostia Antica is a large archeological site, close to the modern suburb of Ostia , that was the location of the harbour city of ancient Rome, which is approximately 30 km to the northeast. "Ostia" in Latin means "mouth". At the mouth of the River Tiber, Ostia was Rome's seaport, but, due to...
, Rome's port in the imperial period.
The 2010 appointment of Cardinal Mauro Piacenza
Mauro Piacenza
Mauro Piacenza JCD is an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He currently serves as Prefect of the Congregation for the Clergy in the Roman Curia since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 7 October 2010. He had previously served as Secretary from 2007 until becoming Prefect.Piacenza...
as Cardinal-Deacon of this ancient church marks its first use as a cardinalatial diaconia.
Cardinal Piacenza is said to have made the request for this to be his titular church because he has a long association with and strong devotion to Our Lady of Revelation - a shrine and pilgrimage site across the road from the Tre Fontane Church.