Santi Angeli Custodi
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Santi Angeli Custodi | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | Holy Guardian Angels |
| Dedication: | |
| Denomination: | |
| Type: | Parish church |
| Clergy: | Caracciolini |
| Titular church | Agostino Cacciavillan |
| Built: | |
| Architect(s): | Gustavo Giovannoni |
| Artists: | |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 1 Via Alpi Apuane 00141 Roma |
| Phone: | 06 86 89 94 80 |
| Fax: | 06 86 89 94 37 |
Santi Angeli Custodi is a church dedicated to the Guardian Angels.
Contents |
[edit] History
The church was built as a parochial church in 1922 in a new quarter of the city, the Città Giardino, on orders from Pope Benedict XV. It was designed by Gustavo Giovannoni.
The Clerics Regular Minor of S Francesco Caracciolo, also known as the Caracciolini, started working in the area on 7 April 1922, and on 8 December the church was consecrated and granted to them by Pope Pius XI. The church was dedicated to the Guardian Angels because of Pope Pius XI's particular devotion to them, and in memory of the demolished church of Sant'Angelo Custode al Tritone. The parish was formally established in 1926.
It was established as a cardinalitial titular deaconry by Pope Paul VI in 1965, and the first titular cardinal was Alfredo Pacini, appointed in 1967. The present titular is Agostino Cacciavillan, who was created cardinal in 2001.
[edit] Exterior
The church is built in a Neo-Classical style, inspired by the Italian Renaissance. The façade is preceded by a small staircase. It has a travertine doorway, and a basilical baldachino.
In the Piazza Sempione outside the church is a statue of the Immaculate Conception by Gino Giammei, made in 1949.
[edit] Interior
It has a single nave with side chapels.
The dome is decorated with frescoes by [][Aronne del Vecchio]], painted in 1961. The motif is The Angels in Paradise with the Most Holy Trinity and the Blessed Virgin. The pendants have depictions of The Evangelists.
The altarpiece is a copy of Guercino's St Michael the Archangel from San Pietro in Vaticano.
On the right side is the Chapel of the Most Holy Crucifix (Santissimo Crocifisso). The plaster crucifix that gave the chapel its name has been moved to the Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament, where the Caracciolini encourage perpetual adoration of the Most Holy Eucharist.
At the doorway to the sacristy is a large painting of The Deposition by Aronne del Vecchio.
On the left is the Chapel of the Madonna of Mercy (Madonna delle Misericordia) with a statue from 1925 of the Blessed Virgin.
By the side entrance is another painting by del Vecchio, made in 1962, of The Birth of the Saviour.
In the Chapel of St Francis Caracciolo is a painting by Romano Coradetti depicting Saints in Adoration of the Blessed Eucharist.
[edit] Liturgy
The feast of St Francis Caracciolo is celebrated on 4 June. The Guardian Angels are celebrated on 2 October. The Madonna of Mercy is the patron of the quarter of the city, and she is celebrated with a festival at the end of May.
There is a daily exposition of the Blessed Eucharist. Please observe silence in the church, and do not disturb the adoration.
