Chiesa del Divino Amore
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Chiesa del Divino Amore | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | Church of Divine Love |
| Dedication: | Cecilia and Blaise |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Type: | Confraternity church |
| Built: | C. 1131, rebuilt 1729 |
| Architect(s): | Filippo Raguzzini |
| Artists: | |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 12 Vicolo del Divino Amore 00186 Roma |
| Phone: | |
Chiesa del Divino Amore is the church of the Confraternity of the Madonna of Divine Love. It is formally called Santi Cecilia and Biagio.
Contents |
[edit] History
The first church here was built c. 1131 and was dedicated to St Cecilia. According to tradition, her father's house stood at this site. The church was later also dedicated to St Blaise.
In 1525, Pope Clement granted the church to the Confraternita dei Materassai, the Guild of Mattress-makers. It was the Guild that added the dedication to St Blaise, who was their patron. Pope Benedict XIII and the Guild had it rebuilt in 1729; the architect was Filippo Raguzzini.
It was then given to the Confraternity of the Madonna of Divine Love in 1801 or 1802 by Pope Pius VII. The confraternity had been founded in 1744, at the Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore. It received its present name at that point.
It was restored in 1972. During the restoration, an ancient inscription was found, which says that the faithful gathered here to pray for the intercession of St Cecilia.
[edit] Exterior
The 12th century bell-tower was preserved when the church was rebuilt.
The façade is simple, with two stories crowned by a tympanon.
[edit] Interior
The interior is on a rectangular plan with a barrel vaulted ceiling. It is decorated with 19th century frescoes by Filippo Prosperi.
By the high altar is a painting of the Virgin and Child attributed to Vincenzo Camuccini.
The sacristy is decorated with a fresco of Sts Cecilia and Valerian Crowned by an Angel, painted in the middle of the 15th century.
[edit] Liturgy
Feasts that are celebration with great solemnity in the church are the Presentation of Our Lord on 2 February, St Blaise on 3 February, Sts Valerian and Tiburtius (Cecilia's husband and brother-in-law) on 14 April and St Cecilia on 22 November.
