The Church of Saint Susanna at the Baths of Diocletian ( it, Chiesa di Santa Susanna alle Terme di Diocleziano) is a
Roman Catholic
Roman or Romans most often refers to:
*Rome, the capital city of Italy
*Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD
*Roman people, the people of ancient Rome
*''Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a letter ...
parish church
A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activitie ...
located on the
Quirinal Hill
The Quirinal Hill (; la, Collis Quirinalis; it, Quirinale ) is one of the Seven Hills of Rome, at the north-east of the city center. It is the location of the official residence of the Italian head of state, who resides in the Quirinal Palace ...
in
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus ( legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
, Italy. There has been a
titular church
In the Catholic Church, a titular church is a church in Rome that is assigned to a member of the clergy who is created a cardinal. These are Catholic churches in the city, within the jurisdiction of the Diocese of Rome, that serve as honorary de ...
associated to its site as far back as AD 280. The current church was rebuilt from 1585 to 1603 for a monastery of
Cistercian nuns
Cistercian nuns are female members of the Cistercian Order, a religious order belonging to the Roman Catholic branch of the Catholic Church.
History
The first Cistercian monastery for women, Le Tart Abbey, was established at Tart-l'Abbaye in the ...
founded on the site in 1587, which still exists there.
The church served as the
national parish
National parish is a type of Catholic parish distinguished by liturgical rites or nationality of the congregation; it is found within a diocese or particular Church, which includes other types of parishes in the same geographical area, each parish ...
for residents of Rome from the United States from 1921 to 2017, during which period it was assigned to the care of the
Paulist Fathers, a society of priests founded in the United States. The Paulist Fathers' ministry to United States Catholics subsequently moved to
San Patrizio (Saint Patrick).
Architectural history
Roman era
About AD 280, an early Christian house of worship was established on this site, which, like many of the earliest Christian meeting places, was in a house (''domus ecclesiae''). According to the 6th-century ''
acta'' of Susanna, the ''
domus
In Ancient Rome, the ''domus'' (plural ''domūs'', genitive ''domūs'' or ''domī'') was the type of town house occupied by the upper classes and some wealthy freedmen during the Republican and Imperial eras. It was found in almost all the m ...
'' belonged to two brothers named Caius and
Gabinus Saint Gabinus (commonly anglicized as Saint Gavin or Saint Gabin) is the title given to two personages.
*Saint Gabinus, who died as a martyr at Porto Torres, Sardinia, Italy (the ancient Turris) sometime in the second century under Emperor Hadrian ...
, prominent Christians. Caius has been identified both with
Pope Caius
Pope Caius (died 22 April 296), also called Gaius, was the bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 to his death in 296. Little information on Caius is available except that given by the '' Liber Pontificalis'', which relies on a legendary account of ...
and with
Caius the presbyter, who was a
prefect
Prefect (from the Latin ''praefectus'', substantive adjectival form of ''praeficere'': "put in front", meaning in charge) is a magisterial title of varying definition, but essentially refers to the leader of an administrative area.
A prefect's ...
and who is a source of information on early Christianity. Gabinus or Gabinius is the name given to the father of the semi-legendary
Susanna of Rome. Her earliest documented attestations identify her as the patron of the church, not as a martyr, and previously the church was identified in the earliest, fourth-century documents by its title "of Gaius" by the
Baths of Diocletian or as "''ad duas domos''" ("near the two houses"). It is mentioned in connection with a Roman synod of 499.
The Church of Santa Susanna is one of the oldest titles in the city of Rome. The early Christian church, built on the remains of three Roman villas still visible beneath the monastery, was situated immediately outside the wall of the Baths built by Diocletian and the
Servian Wall, the first walls built to defend the city. According to tradition, the church was erected on Susanna's house, where she was martyred. In the 4th century it was marked with the designation ''ad duas domos'' (at the two houses). This first three-aisled basilica was almost certainly built under the pontificate of
Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III (died 12 June 816) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 26 December 795 to his death. Protected by Charlemagne from the supporters of his predecessor, Adrian I, Leo subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position ...
(795–816).
According to tradition, the structure became a church around 330, under Emperor
Constantine I, when the
basilica
In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica is a large public building with multiple functions, typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek East. The building gave its name ...
s of numerous house churches came to be adapted for liturgical use. The basilica was T-shaped with a central nave with twelve columns on each side, flanked by side aisles. All that is left of these two side aisles, after the late 16th-century rebuilding, are the two side chapels of the basilica church. In the Synod of 565, the church is first referred to by the title of
Susanna; the church has been dedicated to her veneration ever since. In the ''acta'', Susanna is martyred with her family when the girl refuses to marry the son of Emperor
Diocletian; the occasion of Susanna's martyrdom is a literary
trope that is familiar in other
"passions" of
virgins in the
Roman Martyrology
The ''Roman Martyrology'' ( la, Martyrologium Romanum) is the official martyrology of the Catholic Church. Its use is obligatory in matters regarding the Roman Rite liturgy, but dioceses, countries and religious institutes may add duly approved ...
Pope Sergius I
Pope Sergius I (8 September 701) was the bishop of Rome from 15 December 687 to his death, and is revered as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected at a time when two rivals, Paschal and Theodore, were locked in dispute about w ...
restored it at the end of the 7th century, but
Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III (died 12 June 816) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 26 December 795 to his death. Protected by Charlemagne from the supporters of his predecessor, Adrian I, Leo subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position ...
, the fourth pope who had been pastor of this church, rebuilt it from the ground in 796, adding the great
apse
In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an '' exedra''. ...
and conserving the relics of the saints in the crypt. A vast mosaic of Christ flanked by Leo and the Emperor
Charlemagne
Charlemagne ( , ) or Charles the Great ( la, Carolus Magnus; german: Karl der Große; 2 April 747 – 28 January 814), a member of the Carolingian dynasty, was King of the Franks from 768, King of the Lombards from 774, and the first Em ...
, and Saints Susanna and
Felicity on the other side, was so badly damaged in the 12th century by an earthquake that the interior was plastered over in the complete renovation that spanned the years 1585–1602, and frescoed by Cesare Nebbia.
A façade, in travertine, remained to be constructed. The present church of Santa Susanna on its ancient foundations was the first independent commission in Rome for Carlo Maderno, who had trained as an assistant to his uncle
Domenico Fontana
Domenico Fontana (154328 June 1607) was an Italian architect of the late Renaissance, born in today's Ticino. He worked primarily in Italy, at Rome and Naples.
Biography
He was born at Melide, a village on the Lake Lugano, at that time joint ...
, the chief architect of Pope Sixtus V. In 1603, Maderno completed the façade, a highly influential early Baroque design. The dynamic rhythm of columns and pilasters, crowding centrally, and the protrusion and increased central decoration add further complexity to the structure. There is an interplay of relationships, none exactly symmetric on any one mirror side. The entrance and roof are surrounded by triangular pediments. The windows are replaced by niches. There is an incipient playfulness with the rules of classic design, still maintaining rigor. The statues of the higher level (
Pope Caius
Pope Caius (died 22 April 296), also called Gaius, was the bishop of Rome from 17 December 283 to his death in 296. Little information on Caius is available except that given by the '' Liber Pontificalis'', which relies on a legendary account of ...
and
Genesius of Rome) are by Giovanni Antonio Paracea, those of the lower level (Susanna and
Felicitas of Rome) are by
Stefano Maderno.
The church of Santa Susanna was accounted so successful that in 1605
Pope Paul V
Pope Paul V ( la, Paulus V; it, Paolo V) (17 September 1550 – 28 January 1621), born Camillo Borghese, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 16 May 1605 to his death in January 1621. In 1611, he honored ...
named Maderno architect of
Saint Peter's Basilica, where he completed the nave and constructed the great façade.
Modern era
Pope Sixtus IV
Pope Sixtus IV ( it, Sisto IV: 21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484), born Francesco della Rovere, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 to his death in August 1484. His accomplishments as pope include ...
(1475–1477) proceeded to rebuild the church, probably a single nave with two side chapels. In 1588 it became the last great rebuilding effort of Cardinal
Girolamo Rusticucci
Girolamo Rusticucci (1537 – 14 June 1603) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and bishop. He was personal secretary to Cardinal Michele Ghislieri, later Pope Pius V, who made Rusticucci a cardinal. He occupied numerous important positions, ...
,
Cardinal protector of the
Cistercian Order
The Cistercians, () officially the Order of Cistercians ( la, (Sacer) Ordo Cisterciensis, abbreviated as OCist or SOCist), are a Catholic religious order of monks and nuns that branched off from the Benedictines and follow the Rule of Sain ...
, with construction running from 1595 to 1603. One of the objectives pursued with greater commitment from Rusticucci as the
vicar general
A vicar general (previously, archdeacon) is the principal deputy of the bishop of a diocese for the exercise of administrative authority and possesses the title of local ordinary. As vicar of the bishop, the vicar general exercises the bishop's ...
of
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
was to renew the life of the religious orders. A reflection of that action can be seen in a figurative program decorating the walls of the church. The main themes are: defense of chastity against corruption of morals and the victory of the true faith over any temptation to idolatry and heresy. They were joined by the exaltation of the virginal choice of Susanna and her prayerful attitude. Rusticucci wanted to highlight and connect these themes to the inseparable bond that his church had with the Cistercian nuns whose monastery occupied the site.
Rusticucci, a lover of "tradition", chose from the best of that time, which came from the fruitful artistic outpouring from the
Counter-Reformation. Consequently, he gave the assignment to
Carlo Maderno (1556–1629) for architectural renovations made to the church. It was he who was the designer of its
travertine
Travertine ( ) is a form of terrestrial limestone deposited around mineral springs, especially hot springs. It often has a fibrous or concentric appearance and exists in white, tan, cream-colored, and even rusty varieties. It is formed by a pro ...
facade. The frescoes of the central hall (six scenes from the life of the chaste Susanna) are by
Baldassare Croce
Baldassare Croce ( Bologna, 1558–November 8, 1628) was an Italian painter, active during the late- Mannerist period, active mainly in and around Rome.
Biography
He trained in Bologna, and moved to Rome by 1581. Known as a prolific academic pa ...
of
Bologna
Bologna (, , ; egl, label=Emilian language, Emilian, Bulåggna ; lat, Bononia) is the capital and largest city of the Emilia-Romagna region in Northern Italy. It is the seventh most populous city in Italy with about 400,000 inhabitants and 1 ...
(1563-1638). To
Cesare Nebbia, a native of
Orvieto (1536–1614), can be attributed the frescoes in the dome and apse curve in which are reproduced some scenes from the life of Susanna.
The
altarpiece
An altarpiece is an artwork such as a painting, sculpture or relief representing a religious subject made for placing at the back of or behind the altar of a Christian church. Though most commonly used for a single work of art such as a painting ...
of the
high altar
An altar is a table or platform for the presentation of religious offerings, for sacrifices, or for other ritualistic purposes. Altars are found at shrines, temples, churches, and other places of worship. They are used particularly in pagani ...
, depicting the beheading of Susanna, is by
Tommaso Laureti of
Palermo
Palermo ( , ; scn, Palermu , locally also or ) is a city in southern Italy, the capital of both the autonomous region of Sicily and the Metropolitan City of Palermo, the city's surrounding metropolitan province. The city is noted for it ...
(1530–1602). Camilla Peretti, sister of Pope Sixtus, was a great benefactor of the Cistercian nuns, and helped build their residential quarters, including the Chapel of St Lawrence whose frescoes are the work of
Giovan Battista Pozzo (1563-1591). The painting of the altar depicting the martyrdom of the holy
deacon
A deacon is a member of the diaconate, an office in Christian churches that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions. Major Christian churches, such as the Catholic Chur ...
is also by Nebbia. Large statues of the major prophets and two of
Peter and
Paul are attributed to
Giovanni Antonio Paracea, called Valsoldo. Through the glass floor of the
sacristy can be seen part of the early Christian Church and the remains of the Roman house, which is said to be the home of the father of Susanna. A Roman sarcophagus with fragments of painted plaster was discovered in modern times. The excavations also unearthed a
tympanum depicting the
Lamb of God
Lamb of God ( el, Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ, Amnòs toû Theoû; la, Agnus Dei, ) is a title for Jesus that appears in the Gospel of John. It appears at John 1:29, where John the Baptist sees Jesus and exclaims, "Behold the Lamb of God wh ...
on a blue background and flanked by
John the Baptist
John the Baptist or , , or , ;Wetterau, Bruce. ''World history''. New York: Henry Holt and Company. 1994. syc, ܝܘܿܚܲܢܵܢ ܡܲܥܡܕ݂ܵܢܵܐ, Yoḥanān Maʿmḏānā; he, יוחנן המטביל, Yohanān HaMatbil; la, Ioannes Bapti ...
and
John the Evangelist
John the Evangelist ( grc-gre, Ἰωάννης, Iōánnēs; Aramaic: ܝܘܚܢܢ; Ge'ez: ዮሐንስ; ar, يوحنا الإنجيلي, la, Ioannes, he, יוחנן cop, ⲓⲱⲁⲛⲛⲏⲥ or ⲓⲱ̅ⲁ) is the name traditionally given t ...
; a Madonna and child between
Agatha and Susanna; plus five beautiful busts of other saints.
Behind the
chancel
In church architecture, the chancel is the space around the altar, including the choir and the sanctuary (sometimes called the presbytery), at the liturgical east end of a traditional Christian church building. It may terminate in an apse.
...
, separated by an iron grating, is located the splendid monastic choir, a large rectangular room. It was built in 1596 by Rusticucci, as attested by the
coat of arms
A coat of arms is a heraldic visual design on an escutcheon (i.e., shield), surcoat, or tabard (the latter two being outer garments). The coat of arms on an escutcheon forms the central element of the full heraldic achievement, which in it ...
in the center of the choir's rich, carved wooden-coffered floor. The
choir stall
A choir, also sometimes called quire, is the area of a church or cathedral that provides seating for the clergy and church choir. It is in the western part of the chancel, between the nave and the sanctuary, which houses the altar and Church t ...
s were donated by Pope Sixtus and are repeatedly mentioned in the old guides as one of the finest choirs existent in Roman monasteries. The walls are adorned with frescoes depicting saints and scenes from the
Old Testament
The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
. The artist who created these paintings was Francesco Di (1676–1702). Also in the choir, in the four branches of the two niches that preserve the
reliquaries, appear
Benedict of Nurcia and
Scholastica (left) and
Bernard of Clairvaux
Bernard of Clairvaux, Cistercians, O. Cist. ( la, Bernardus Claraevallensis; 109020 August 1153), venerated as Saint Bernard, was an abbot, Mysticism, mystic, co-founder of the Knights Templars, and a major leader in the reformation of the Bened ...
and Susanna (on the right), all by the
Umbria
it, Umbro (man) it, Umbra (woman)
, population_note =
, population_blank1_title =
, population_blank1 =
, demographics_type1 =
, demographics1_footnotes =
, demographics1_title1 =
, demographics1_info1 =
, ...
n painter
Avanzino Nucci (1599). In 1719,
Filippo Fregiotti painted the frescoes in a chapel inside the enclosure.
St. Susanna Church in
Dedham, Massachusetts
Dedham ( ) is a town in and the county seat of Norfolk County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 25,364 at the 2020 census. It is located on Boston's southwest border. On the northwest it is bordered by Needham, on the southwest b ...
was named by Cardinal
Richard Cushing for Santa Susanna.
Interior

The church consists of a single nave, with a circular apse forming two side-chapels. The frescoes of the central nave by
Baldassare Croce
Baldassare Croce ( Bologna, 1558–November 8, 1628) was an Italian painter, active during the late- Mannerist period, active mainly in and around Rome.
Biography
He trained in Bologna, and moved to Rome by 1581. Known as a prolific academic pa ...
represent six scenes from the life of Susanna found in the Book of Daniel. The frescoes on the curved side of the apse show Susanna being threatened by
Maximian
Maximian ( la, Marcus Aurelius Valerius Maximianus; c. 250 – c. July 310), nicknamed ''Herculius'', was Roman emperor from 286 to 305. He was ''Caesar'' from 285 to 286, then '' Augustus'' from 286 to 305. He shared the latter title with his ...
, but defended by the angel of God, and to the right, Susanna refusing to worship the idol
Jupiter
Jupiter is the fifth planet from the Sun and the largest in the Solar System. It is a gas giant with a mass more than two and a half times that of all the other planets in the Solar System combined, but slightly less than one-thousandt ...
.
Nebbia's frescoes on the dome of the apse depict Susanna flanked on either side by angels with musical instruments. Behind the high altar, the painting depicting the beheading of Susanna is by
Tommaso Laureti.
Chapel of our Lady of Graces
The chapel of our Lady of Graces (whose painting was formerly on the altar) has on its walls two recent frescoes of Benedict of Nursia and Bernard of Clairvaux.
Chapel of Saint Lawrence
Domenico Fontana
Domenico Fontana (154328 June 1607) was an Italian architect of the late Renaissance, born in today's Ticino. He worked primarily in Italy, at Rome and Naples.
Biography
He was born at Melide, a village on the Lake Lugano, at that time joint ...
constructed the second side-chapel to the left, dedicated to
Saint Lawrence
Saint Lawrence or Laurence ( la, Laurentius, lit. " laurelled"; 31 December AD 225 – 10 August 258) was one of the seven deacons of the city of Rome under Pope Sixtus II who were martyred in the persecution of the Christians that the Roman ...
and commissioned by
Camilla Peretti, sister of
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
. The paintings are by the Milanese artist Giovanni Battista Pozzo (1563–1591). The altar painting by Cesare Nebbia depicts the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. In this chapel are venerated
Genesius of Rome, patron of actors, in the act of receiving baptism, and the bishop
Pope Eleuterus
Pope Eleutherius (died 24 May 189), also known as Eleutherus, was the bishop of Rome from c. 174 to his death. His pontificate is alternatively dated to 171-185 or 177-193. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
He is linked to a numb ...
.
Presbytery
The
presbytery is decorated with two frescoes. To the left,
Baldassare Croce
Baldassare Croce ( Bologna, 1558–November 8, 1628) was an Italian painter, active during the late- Mannerist period, active mainly in and around Rome.
Biography
He trained in Bologna, and moved to Rome by 1581. Known as a prolific academic pa ...
depicts the martyrdom of
Gabinus Saint Gabinus (commonly anglicized as Saint Gavin or Saint Gabin) is the title given to two personages.
*Saint Gabinus, who died as a martyr at Porto Torres, Sardinia, Italy (the ancient Turris) sometime in the second century under Emperor Hadrian ...
, while to the right,
Paris Nogari shows the martyrdom of
Felicitas of Rome and her seven sons.
Ceiling
The valuable ceiling of the nave and of the presbytery is made in polychromed gilt wood, carved to the design of Carlo Maderno.
Religious associations

* Entombed in the church are five early church martyrs and saints: Susanna, her father Gabinus,
Felicitas of Rome,
Pope Eleuterus
Pope Eleutherius (died 24 May 189), also known as Eleutherus, was the bishop of Rome from c. 174 to his death. His pontificate is alternatively dated to 171-185 or 177-193. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church.
He is linked to a numb ...
, and
Genesius of Rome.
* The commemoration of Saint Susanna has long been linked in the Roman calendar with
Saint Tiburtius, 11 August.
* Among the previous
cardinal priest
A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...
s of Santa Susanna was
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V ( la, Nicholaus V; it, Niccolò V; 13 November 1397 – 24 March 1455), born Tommaso Parentucelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 March 1447 until his death in March 1455. Pope Eugene made ...
(1446).
American national church
After
World War I
World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was List of wars and anthropogenic disasters by death toll, one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, ...
, the
Paulist Fathers, founded in
New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...
in 1858, had grown to such an extent that they felt the time had come to seek approval of their
religious institute
A religious institute is a type of institute of consecrated life in the Catholic Church whose members take religious vows and lead a life in community with fellow members. Religious institutes are one of the two types of institutes of consecra ...
from the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...
, in order to be able to work throughout the worldwide Catholic Church. They also wanted to establish a
procurator
Procurator (with procuracy or procuratorate referring to the office itself) may refer to:
* Procurator, one engaged in procuration, the action of taking care of, hence management, stewardship, agency
* ''Procurator'' (Ancient Rome), the title o ...
general there to coordinate their work with the Vatican. To this end, the
Superior General
A superior general or general superior is the leader or head of a religious institute in the Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the largest Christian church, with 1.3 billion baptized ...
of the Society, Thomas Burke, went to Rome in January 1921 to meet with
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV (Ecclesiastical Latin, Latin: ''Benedictus XV''; it, Benedetto XV), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, name=, group= (; 21 November 185422 January 1922), was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his deat ...
for this. During this trip, they first noticed Santa Susanna, as it was adjacent to the American Embassy to Italy at the time. Its location made it of interest to the Americans.
[The Church of Santa Susanna "Our History: The American Parish"]
The Paulists opened the office of the Procurator General in the city that following spring, headed by Thomas Lantry O'Neill. In the meantime, Burke's brother, also a member of the Society, had approached President
Warren Harding to make him aware of their interest in making use of the church to serve the growing American population of Rome. Harding made a request for this to the
Apostolic Delegate to the United States, Archbishop
Giovanni Bonzano, during the course of a meeting in June. Bonzano transmitted the request to the
Vatican Secretary of State, with the recommendation that it be granted as a gesture of good will to the United States.
In December 1921,
Pope Benedict XV
Pope Benedict XV (Ecclesiastical Latin, Latin: ''Benedictus XV''; it, Benedetto XV), born Giacomo Paolo Giovanni Battista della Chiesa, name=, group= (; 21 November 185422 January 1922), was head of the Catholic Church from 1914 until his deat ...
authorized the
Paulist Fathers to administer Santa Susanna as the
national church in Rome for the American residents of Rome and visitors from the
United States of America
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territor ...
. The abbess of the monastery gave the keys to the church to the new pastor on 1 January 1922. Cardinal William Henry O'Connell of Boston presided at the first public mass (liturgy), Mass for the American community of the city on 26 February 1922.
The cardinal who held the title to the church had died during the summer of 1921, leaving the church with no legal owner under Italian law. At the same time, electrical lights were installed in the church, to which Americans were accustomed but Roman people found shocking. The Ambassador of Romania also claimed the church as a national church for the people of his country. The ownership issue settled at the end of 1924, when Bonzano, the former Apostolic Nuncio and by then a cardinal himself, requested a transfer of his title to this church. Once that was accomplished, he appointed O'Neill as the Rector (ecclesiastical), rector of the parish.
From 1958 to 1985, the cardinal assigned to Santa Susanna as his titular church has been the Archbishop of Boston. Bernard Francis Law remained the titular cardinal until his December 2017 death, though he resigned as archbishop in 2002 in the wake of the Sexual abuse scandal in the Catholic archdiocese of Boston, sexual abuse scandal in his archdiocese.
Since August 2017, following a campaign by the Cistercian nuns who had maintained a presence at Santa Susanna since 1587, the American expatriate community relocated its national church to
San Patrizio.
Cardinal Priests of Santa Susanna since 494
List of the cardinal titulars of the church
* Asello (494–?)
* Rusticus (590–?)
* Conone (Pope Conon) (683?–686)
* Sergius (
Pope Sergius I
Pope Sergius I (8 September 701) was the bishop of Rome from 15 December 687 to his death, and is revered as a saint by the Roman Catholic Church. He was elected at a time when two rivals, Paschal and Theodore, were locked in dispute about w ...
) (683?–687)
* Johanes (745 – before 761)
* Leontius (761 – before 796)
* Leo (
Pope Leo III
Pope Leo III (died 12 June 816) was bishop of Rome and ruler of the Papal States from 26 December 795 to his death. Protected by Charlemagne from the supporters of his predecessor, Adrian I, Leo subsequently strengthened Charlemagne's position ...
) (795)
* Johannes (964 – before 1012)
* Johannes (before 1012 – before 1033)
* Johannes (1033 – before 1062)
* Petrus (1062 – before 1099)
* Pietro Gheradesca di Donoratico (1099–1106)
* Gezo (1106 – c. 1112)
* Pietro Gherardeschi (1117–1130); pseudocardinal of Antipope Anacletus II
* Stanzio (1130–1133)
* Giordano Bobone Orsini (1145–1165)
* Ermanno, called il Maestro (1165 or 1166 – c. 1170)
* Lesbio Grassi (1170–1173)
* Pietro de Bono (1173–1187)
* Alessio (1188–1189)
* Giovani Felice (1190–1194)
* Benedict of Porto e Santa Rufina (died 1216), Bendetto (1201–1212)
* Aldobrandino Gaetani (or Ildebrando) (1219–1221)
* Geoffroy Barbeau (or de Barro) (1281–1287)
* Pope Boniface VIII, Benedetto Caetani (1288–1294)
* Pierre d'Arrablay (or Arabloy) (1316–1328)
* Andrea Ghini Malpighi (Andrea Ghilini) (1342–1343)
* Pierre Bertrand de Colombier, Pierre Bertrand (or du Colombier) (1344–1361)
* Filippo Ruffini (or Gezza) (1378–1386)
* Francesco Carbone Tomacelli (1384–1392)
* Pierre de Thury (1385–1410)
* Antonio II Panciera (6 June 1411 – 3 July 1431)
* Guillaume-Hugues d'Estaing (1431–1446)
* Tommaso Parentucelli di Sanzana (
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V ( la, Nicholaus V; it, Niccolò V; 13 November 1397 – 24 March 1455), born Tommaso Parentucelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 6 March 1447 until his death in March 1455. Pope Eugene made ...
) (1446–1447)
* Filippo Calandrini (1448–1451)
* Alessandro Oliva di Sassoferrato (19 March 1460 – 20 August 1463)
* Jean Balue (13 May 1468 – 31 January 1483)
* Lorenzo Cibo de’ Mari (23 March 1489 – 14 March 1491)
* Juan de Borja Lanzol de Romaní, el mayor (31 August 1492 – 1 August 1503)
* Francesco Soderini (12 June 1503 – 15 September 1508)
* Leonardo Grosso della Rovere (15 September 1508 – 9 March 1517)
* Raffaello Petrucci (26 December 1517 – 11 December 1522)
* Antonio Sanseverino (27 April 1528 – 16 May 1530)
* Juan García de Loaysa y Mendoza (16 May 1530 – 22 April 1546)
* Georges II d'Amboise (7 September 1546 – 28 February 1550)
* Jacques d'Annebaut (22 March 1548 – 6 June 1557)
* Girolamo Seripando (10 March 1561 – 17 March 1563)
* Francisco Pacheco de Toledo (14 July 1564 – 7 February 1565)
* Bernardo Navagero (6 February 1565 – 13 April 1565)
* Francesco Alciati (3 June 1565 – 13 May 1569)
*
Girolamo Rusticucci
Girolamo Rusticucci (1537 – 14 June 1603) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and bishop. He was personal secretary to Cardinal Michele Ghislieri, later Pope Pius V, who made Rusticucci a cardinal. He occupied numerous important positions, ...
(9 June 1570 – 18 August 1597 or 1603)
* Anne d'Escars de Givry, Anne d’Escars de Givry (de Pérusse), O.S.B. (14 June 1604 – 19 April 1612)
Catholic Hierarchy
/ref>
* Gaspar Borja y Velasco (10 December 1612 – 17 October 1616)
* Scipione Cobelluzzi (17 October 1616 – 29 June 1626)
* Giulio Cesare Sacchetti (2 December 1626 – 29 April 1652)
* Giovanni Battista Spada (23 March 1654 – 27 January 1659)
* Francesco Pallavincio Sforza (1659–1660)
* Carlo Carafa della Spina (13 April 1665 – 27 May 1675)
* Bernhard Gustav of Baden-Durlach, Bernhard Gustave von Baden-Durlach (19 October 1676 – 26 December 1677)
* Marcantonio Barbarigo, Marc Antonio Barbarigo (30 September 1686 – 1 July 1697)
* Daniello Marco Delfino (30 March 1700 – 5 August 1704)
* Lorenzo Corsini (Pope Clement XII) (25 June 1706 – 16 December 1720)
* José Pereira de Lacerda (16 June 1721 – 28 September 1738)
* Raniero Felice Simonetti (15 May 1747 – 20 August 1749)
* Luca Melchiore Tempi (24 May 1756 – 23 May 1757)
* Ludovico Valenti (19 November 1759 – 20 December 1762)
* Carlo Crivelli (24 May 1802 – 19 January 1818)
* Giuseppe Della Porta Rodiani (24 July 1835 – 18 December 1841)
* Ignazio Cadolini (30 January 1843 – 11 April 1850)
* Alessandro Barnabò (19 June 1856 – 24 February 1874)
* Bartolomeo D’Avanzo (7 April 1876 – 20 October 1884)
* Francis Patrick Moran (30 July 1885 – 16 August 1911)
* François-Virgile Dubillard (30 November 1911 – 1 December 1914)
* Giorgio Gusmini (9 December 1915 – 24 August 1921)
* Giovanni Bonzano (18 December 1924 – 26 November 1927)
* Alexis Lépicier (22 December 1927 – 20 May 1936)
* Arthur Hinsley (16 December 1937 – 17 March 1943)
* Edward Aloysius Mooney, Edward Mooney (22 February 1946 – 25 October 1958)
* Richard Cushing (18 December 1958 – 2 November 1970)
* Humberto Sousa Medeiros (5 March 1973 – 17 September 1983)
* Bernard Francis Law (25 May 1985 – 20 December 2017)
Notes
See also
* National churches in Rome
* Paulist Fathers
References
*
Manfred Clauss, "Susanna" in ''Biographisch-Bibliographische Kirchenlexikon''
Full bibliography.
* :it:Santa Susanna (titolo cardinalizio)
External links
More the Church of St Susanna in Rome
Paulist Fathers
Chiesa Rettoria Santa Susanna Alle Terme Di Diocleziano
{{Authority control
Roman Catholic churches completed in 1603
Titular churches, Susanna
National churches in Rome, Susanna
Baroque architecture in Rome
4th-century churches
Catholic Church in the United States
Paulist Order
280 establishments
1603 establishments in Italy
Churches of Rome (rione Trevi), Susanna
17th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy
Carlo Maderno buildings