Day 6 - Final Day
Wednesday, April 10
On the last day of our pilgrimage, we re-visited the Church of St. Alphonsus Liguori to visit the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. We also made our way back to the Sacred Heart Basilica which had been closed on a previous day.
On our way to the Pantheon, we walked by the Trevi Fountain and ended our day at the Basilica of St. Andrew.
Where we went
We had on our list today to visit the ancient Basilica of Saints Cosmas and Damian near the Roman Forum but it was closed when we arrived. Another reminder to check Church hours when you visit Rome!
1. Church of Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori
2. Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus
The Basilica of the Sacred Heart of Jesus was built between 1870 and 1887, according to the plans of the architect Francesco Vespignani. The church was commissioned by Pope Pius IX (1846-1878), but due to the annexation of Rome to the Kingdom of Italy, work was interrupted. It was only thanks to the tenacity of the priest John Bosco that construction was resumed in 1880 and completed in 1887. (Pilgrim Walks in Rome)
3. Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars
In the centre of Rome is the Capuchin Crypt – officially the Museum and Crypt of the Capuchin Friars, which is at once both shocking and fascinating. A series of small chapels beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini contain the bones and mummified remains of an estimated 4,000 individuals. Far from being a macabre spectacle, the Capuchin order believes the remains of former friars are a silent and poignant reminder of our mortality and the passage of life on Earth. Source
History of the Capuchin Crypt
The Capuchin Friars were members of the larger Franciscan order of monks. The religious order, founded in the 16th century, got its name from the hood or capuche attached to their habits (the cappuccino was also named for the friar's espresso-colored robes.) In the middle of the 17th century, the Capuchin friary of Rome's St. Bonaventure was moved to Santa Maria della Concezione. The Pope's brother commanded that the friars bring all their belongings to their new location. This included the bones of their dearly departed compatriots.
Friar Michael of Bergamo, the first overseer of the newly located ossuary, took to systematically arranging the bones in artful displays. The tradition continued after his death and as new friars died, long-buried corpses were exhumed in order to make room for the newly deceased. The exhumed skeleton parts were then added to the decorative motifs. Source
4. The Pantheon
This is one of the most remarkable and interesting architectural structures in the world. It was built in the year 27 B.C. by Marcus Agrippa, the intimate friend and counsellor of Augustus, as a temple in honour of Jupiter the Avenger, and of Mars and Venus, the tutelary deities of the Julian house; also as a memorial of Augustus’ victory over Antony at the battle of Actium (31 B.C.), which led to the downfall of the republic.
About a.d. 390 Theodosius the Great ordered it to be closed as a pagan temple, though it might still be used for public assemblies. In 610 Pope St. Boniface IV, with the permission of the Emperor Phocas, cleansed it from the defilement of heathen abominations, and consecrated it as a Christian church. The festival of All Saints was instituted either on this occasion or at the second dedication under Gregory IV (828—844).
In 663 the bronze tiles of the roof were carried off by the Emperor Constans II, to be used in some building at Constantinople, but they fell into the hands of the Saracens at Syracuse, and Constans was murdered by one of his soldiers. About the year 1640, the bronze panels of the ceiling in the portico, weighing 450,250 pounds, were removed by Urban VIII, the metal being used for Bernini*s baldacchino at St. Peter’s, and for the cannon of Castel S. Angelo.
The inscription on the Pantheon reads "Marcus Agrippa constructed this while being consul for the third time"
5. Basilica of Sant'Andrea della Valle
In the Corso Vittorio Emanuele, not far from the Gesù, is the noble Church of St. Andrew the Apostle, which takes its name from the Palazzo Valle on the other side of the street.
The chief objects of interest are the paintings by Domenichino in the vaulting of the apse; they represent the call of SS. Peter and Andrew, and the flagellation of St. Andrew. The large central painting of the martyrdom of St. Andrew is by Calabrese. (Pilgrim Walks in Rome)
