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An Historical Overview of the Confraternity

It is widely known that confraternities were established as lay associations of the faithful to promote works of Christian charity or piety. These associations were guided by a Director and associates called themselves ‘Brothers’. They mainly dealt with the commemoration of the dead and funeral services, to which they still refer.

According to the Inventario delle cappelle, delle confraternite e degli spedali delle terre di Pietracatella (list of the chapels, confraternities and hospitals in Pietracatella), there were two confraternities referring to the parish church of San Giovanni Battista, where both had an altar: the Confraternity of the Blessed Sacramento, established in 1584, and the Confraternity of the Virgin Mary of the Rosary, established in 1609. A Confraternity of Monte dei Morti canonically erected on 26 May 1697 by the Archconfraternity of the Suffragio of Rome is also mentioned.

As regards the Confraternity of the Virgin Mary of Constantinople, there are no records relating to the year of its foundation. According to documentary evidence the Confraternity’s patron saint is St Vincent de Paul and it is likely that at a small group of people, following the precepts of the French saint, organized themselves into a confraternity of pious faithful called Carità, in line with the one founded in Rome in 1652. Evidence of this connection can be found on the cross of the Confraternity. On its base can be seen the portraits of St Vincent de Paul and of the Virgin Mary. There are also the images of the Monstrance as a symbol of the Blessed Sacrament Confraternity - which had probably merged with the Confraternity of the Virgin - and finally the image of the Sacred Heart of Christ. A further reference to St Vincent de Paul is his statue housed in the Church of Santa Maria in Pietracatella.

From this first aggregation probably derives the Confraternity that on 27 December 1754 received from King Ferdinand IV of Bourbon the royal assent for its Regole (rules on the moral integrity of the members and on the administration).

In the beginning the Confraternity focused on attracting new members and as such can be said to have been officially established in 1757 when a certain number of members was reached. Between 1754 and 1757 the first Council was committed to a vast and difficult campaign to convince the faithful to become members. In those days the Confraternity was probably already devoted to charitable work, assisting in moments of loss. This can be confirmed by graves found in the Church of San Rocco on whose ruins today’s church was built. There are single graves and two common graves, one of which was designated for Confraternity members.

On 28 May 1857, exactly a hundred years later, following a consideration from the Consiglio degli Ospizi (Council of the Hospices), the Council of the Confraternity, chaired by the Director Anselmo Pillarella, ruled to invoke a royal act of amnesty for the Confraternity. This request was necessary as the Confraternity had been established without requesting the necessary permission. The following is a quotation from the minutes of the said meeting:

“The Council has unanimously decided that, notwithstanding the long presence in this village of the pious Confraternity with the name of St Mary of Constantinople, and obtaining for its rules the royal assent on 27 December 1754, thus becoming a code of conduct for the members and for the administration, and given that there does not exist any document of title to foundation, nor the King’s act that legalizes and legitimizes its existence, it is indispensable to rectify this situation.”

“The Council itself has unanimously decided to plead for royal amnesty so as to cover and rectify the defect of form being considered.”

Amnesty was granted on 16 December 1857 by Ferdinand II of Bourbon, giving authority to the Confraternity. One of the most important records kept in the archive of the Confraternity is the Libro delle conclusioni che si fanno dalla consulta (a collection of the Council’s decisions), written for the first time in 1834, presumably on the occasion of a general reorganization to give encourage the activities of the Confraternity.

Referring further to the document, it is evident that the Confraternity was going through an intense and argumentative phase. The Council held regular meetings to discuss various proposals and resolutions to promote participation in the activities of the Confraternity, to embellish the church and to further strengthen devotion to the Virgin Mary.

Every two years the Director was changed as were the first and second assistants, besides the Reverend Fathers. Over the years the volume of minutes was reduced, apart from those regarding the vote to choose the new Director and the ‘tre uffìziali maggiori’, that is the two assistants and the Secretary.

Worth mentioning from this minute book is the testimony of Anselmo Pillarella, Director of the Confraternity from 1849. He was a genuinely compassionate man; a note of sadness can be traced in his request to be relieved from his duties given his age and because he was afraid he could no longer give his services to the Confraternity.

In 1885 Domenico Rocco stepped in after the Director’s death. In the following years there followed a period of routine calm. The detailed entries regarding income and expenditure, the works of maintenance of the church, the sale of the wheat harvest and part of the donated gold all testify prudent management, although quite a few of the members were indebted given the economic situation of the day.

With the appointment as Director on 21 March 1926 of Francesco De Rensis, a teacher, the Confraternity benefited from a renewed vitality. During the first council meetings the plan regarding the church restoration works was approved: “[the church] was in a terrible state, saturated with moisture, the walls were chipped, faded with age, dusty and in a state of neglect.”

The Rules of the Confraternity, in force since 1754 and partially modified on 16 January 1879, were amended, being no longer suitable for the “different conditions of the society and the perpetual evolution of man and civilization.” Moreover, both female and male associates were invited to settle their dues.

Mario Pasquale stepped in after Francesco De Rensis’ death. He managed the Confraternity as Director with enthusiasm and wisdom for a year. The Very Reverend Archpriest Nicola Votino followed as Commissioner for four years. With perseverance and tenacity he pressed to complete the works to the church.

On 14 December 1952 Pellegrino Giuliani was elected Director. Under his mandate, the church benefited from a renewed splendour and magnificence to reflect the dignity and majesty of the Virgin Mary. During this period, the Confraternity was extremely active. Thanks to the driving force of both the Director and of the Revered Father, to the participation of the Council and Committees and to the collaboration of all its members, the number of the associates received a substantial boost, totalling 673 members, of which 378 were men and 295 were women.

In 1957, on the bicentennial of the Confraternity’s institution, two gold crowns for the statue of the Virgin Mary and Baby Jesus were made thanks to the generous donations from devout villagers.

During the following years under the Directorship of Antonio Pasquale, doctor, further restoration works were carried out to the church and pews were installed to replace the chairs.

On 25 March 1980 Giorgio Giovannino endowed two fields to the Confraternity. In the same year the Council, chaired by Director Giuseppe Angiolillo, drew up a plan to repair the church roof. Unfortunately the area was hit by an earthquake and the works were only partially completed.

The years 1987-2006 under the Directorship of Enzo Salvatore Di Iorio was a thriving period for the Confraternity. A few examples in particular can be mentioned:

-         The drawing up of a new statute.

-         Women associates received voting rights the first time.

-         The number of board members was increased from three to seven.

-         The members archive was reorganized and membership cards were issued.

-         On 2 July 1987 the Italian Home Office issued a certificate declaring the Confraternity a religious association civilly recognized whose exclusive or main objective being a devotional and charitable purpose. As a body it obtained legal status.

-         A labarum was chosen as symbol of the Confraternity.

-         The square in front of the church was built.

Other important works aimed at the preservation of church were completed.

Of the many Confraternities once existing in Pietracatella, the Confraternity of the Virgin Mary of Constantinople whose headquarters is based in the church of the same name, is the only one still active.

The Confraternity is currently responsible also for the Corpus Domini and Sacred Heart celebrations.