Arciconfraternita del gonfalone (Rome, Italy)

The Arciconfraternita del Gonfalone, probably a derivative of the ascetic movement promoted by Ranieri Fassani, was founded in 1264 at S. Maria Maggiore in Rome by twelve noble standard-bearers (gonfalonieri) as the Compagnia dei Raccomandati della SS. Vergine. St. Bonaventure (ca. 1217-1274), then inquisitor general and later superior general of the Franciscan Order, sponsored their formation and received them into spiritual communion with the Franciscans. Their way of life, or rule, was drawn up, and a habit designed (white with a red cross on the right shoulder). The chapel of the Madonna della Pieta in the basilica of S. Maria Maggiore was assigned as their station. Their purpose was defined as the ransom of captives.

From the beginning, with the approval of Clement IV (1265), the members of the confraternity called themselves the raccomandati della SS. Vergine. In 1354 during the turbulence in Rome because of the death of Cola di Rienzo, the members of the Raccomandati della SS. Vergine rose in opposition to the violence of the Roman lords whom they perceived as oppressive. They unanimously elected as the vicar of the pope Giovanni Cerone, a popular older Roman who was also a governor of the Campidoglio. He gave the society the name of Gonfalone since it was under the standard of liberty, country, and justice that they had helped restore liberty to the city of Rome. It was on this occasion that the Roman pontiffs assigned the raccomandati to the Church of SS. Pietro e Paolo. The members of the Gonfalone also had the care of the miraculous statue of the Madonna preserved at Santa Maria Maggiore.

Gregory XIII raised the confraternity of the Gonfalone to an archconfraternity and gave it the task of redeeming slaves. With his constitution of October 12, 1576, he granted many indulgences for reciting the rosary by these brothers according to the prescriptions of St. Bonaventure and to other prayers as noted in their statutes. Sixtus V granted these privileges only to the congregations established in the colleges of the Jesuits (constitution Cum benigna, April 1, 1586). This collection was acquired by the ASV in 1950 and 1957.