Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore
Encyclopedia
Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore or the shrine of Our Lady of Divine Love is a shrine dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary that consists of two churches: an old church built in 1745 and a new church added to the sanctuary in 1999.
, a votive image of the Madonna and Child. In 1740, a pilgrim was attacked by angry dogs, adjacent to a the gatehouse, and was reported to have been saved through the intercession
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a result of the number of pilgrims drawn to this site, a chapel was built, and the image of the Madonna was transferred to it.
During World War II, Pope Pius XII and many Romans visited the shrine to pray for the Holy Mother's intercession that the city be spared. The shrine presently on the site is new, and was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II on July 4, 1999.
The mosaics in the apse
are modern, and shows Christ in the centre, and the miracle on the left. It's dark, but there is a light switch in the apse.
In the crypt one will find the tomb of the married couple Bl. Luigi (Aloysius) Beltrame Quattrocchi and Bl. Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi. He died in 1951, and she in 1965. After their deaths, a beatification process was started. They were beatified on 21 October 2001 by Pope John Paul II, and this was the first time that a married couple had been beatified together. Their relics were moved here on 28 October 2001.
. This means that the faithful who take part in certain pious act here obtain indulgences.
In summer, pilgrim walks are arranges from the obelisk of Axum outside the FAO building, near the Circo Massimo Metro station. It starts late on Saturday evening, and reaches the shrine in time for Mass. The walks have traditionally been for men only, but this may have changed.
The feast of Bl. Luigi and Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi is now (since 2001) celebrated on 25 November, their wedding day.
To reach the sanctuary you can take the Bus from the Lateran and from Porta San Paolo up to Via Ardeatina km 12.
History
On the wall of the gatehouse of the Castel di Leva was a Medieval frescoFresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
, a votive image of the Madonna and Child. In 1740, a pilgrim was attacked by angry dogs, adjacent to a the gatehouse, and was reported to have been saved through the intercession
Intercession
Intercession is the act of interceding between two parties. In both Christian and Islamic religious usage, it is a prayer to God on behalf of others....
of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a result of the number of pilgrims drawn to this site, a chapel was built, and the image of the Madonna was transferred to it.
During World War II, Pope Pius XII and many Romans visited the shrine to pray for the Holy Mother's intercession that the city be spared. The shrine presently on the site is new, and was inaugurated by Pope John Paul II on July 4, 1999.
Exterior
Behind the chapel is a staircase that leads down to the gate where the miracle occurred in 1740.Interior
The miraculous painting is enshrined above the altar.The mosaics in the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
are modern, and shows Christ in the centre, and the miracle on the left. It's dark, but there is a light switch in the apse.
In the crypt one will find the tomb of the married couple Bl. Luigi (Aloysius) Beltrame Quattrocchi and Bl. Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi. He died in 1951, and she in 1965. After their deaths, a beatification process was started. They were beatified on 21 October 2001 by Pope John Paul II, and this was the first time that a married couple had been beatified together. Their relics were moved here on 28 October 2001.
Special notes
Pope John Paul II decided to include the shrine in the pilgrim itinerary for the Holy Year 2000, replacing San Sebastiano fuori le MuraSan Sebastiano fuori le mura
San Sebastiano fuori le mura , or San Sebastiano ad Catacumbas , is a basilica in Rome, central Italy...
. This means that the faithful who take part in certain pious act here obtain indulgences.
In summer, pilgrim walks are arranges from the obelisk of Axum outside the FAO building, near the Circo Massimo Metro station. It starts late on Saturday evening, and reaches the shrine in time for Mass. The walks have traditionally been for men only, but this may have changed.
The feast of Bl. Luigi and Maria Corsini Beltrame Quattrocchi is now (since 2001) celebrated on 25 November, their wedding day.
To reach the sanctuary you can take the Bus from the Lateran and from Porta San Paolo up to Via Ardeatina km 12.