La Mostra    Urban Space and Worship    Processions, the Seven Churches and Holy Routes

St. Philip Neri and the pilgrimage to the Seven churches

In 1552, Filippo Neri, the founder of the Congregazione dell’Oratorio (1551), codified the collective ritual of the tour of the seven churches. In addition to the patriarchal basilicas, processions also took in the Churches of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, San Sebastiano, and San Lorenzo fuori le mura, all of which house precious Christian relics. The visit of the seven churches never did become a compulsory requirement for obtaining a Holy Year plenary indulgence. Nevertheless, the pilgrimage around the seven churches was encouraged as an enhancement of the devotional experience for Jubilee pilgrims, an activity especially championed by a number of Popes.

Pietro Giacomo Bacci, Vita di S. Filippo Neri fiorentino, fondatore della Congregatione dell'Oratorio, scritta già dal p. Pietro Giacomo Bacci prete dell'istessa Congregatione, et accresciuta di molti fatti e detti dell'istesso santo, cavati da i processi della sua canonizatione... per opera del... f. Giacomo Ricci..., Roma 1678

View of Chiesa Nuova St. Maria in Vallicella and Philippins Oratory

Built by San Filippo Neri will for the Jubilee of 1575, the Chiesa Nuova became from then on place of meeting for pilgrims leaving for the visit of the seven churches. The Borrominian building for the oratory complex has been described by Borromini and by his friend and patron Virgilio Spada between 1646 and 1647, in a work named Piena relatione della fabbrica. The two, though, couldn't print it and only in 1725 Roman publisher Sebastiano Giannini published it with the title of Opus architectonicum equitis Francisci Boromini.

[Veduta della Chiesa nuova Santa Maria in Vallicella e dell'Oratorio dei Filippini], from: Francesco Borromini, Opus architectonicum equitis Francisci Boromini ex ejusdem exemplaribus petitum; oratorium nempé, ædesque Romanæ rr. pp. Congregationis Oratorii S. Philippi Nerii additis Scenographia, geometricis proportionibus, iconographia, prospectibus integris, obliquis, interioribus, ac extremis partium lineamentis. Accedit totius ædificii descriptio, ac ratio auctore eodem equite Boromino nunc primum edita, Roma 1725

View of St. Lorenzo's fuori le Mura

Saint Lawrence's outside the walls is one of the three churches which, besides the four patriarchal basilicas, represented the classic legs of the visit to the seven churches.

Roma antica, e moderna o sia nuova descrizione di tutti gl'edifizj antichi, e moderni sagri, e profani della città di Roma..., vol. II, Roma 1765

View of St. Sebastian's fuori le Mura

Saint Sebastian's ouside the walls is one of the three churches which, besides the four patriarchal basilicas, represented the classic legs of the visit to the seven churches.

Roma antica, e moderna o sia nuova descrizione di tutti gl'edifizj antichi, e moderni sagri, e profani della città di Roma..., vol. I, Roma 1765

View of St. Cross in Jerusalem

St. Cross in Jerusalem is one of the three churches which, besides the four patriarchal basilicas, represented the classic legs of the visit to the seven churches.

Veduta di S.ta Croce in Gerusalemme, in: Pietro Rossini, Il mercurio errante delle grandezze di Roma, tanto antiche, che moderne... Con l’aggiunta delle fabriche fatte sino al presente, 10 ed., vol. II, Roma 1776

The Seven churches in "Le cose meravigliose dell'alma città di Roma"

The description of the seven churches opens all the editions of the socalled "cose meravigliose", the most important and well-known guidebooks to Rome.

Le cose maravigliose dell’alma città di Roma, co'l movimento delle guglie, & gli aquedotti. Le ample, & commode strade, fatte à beneficio publico dal Santissimo Sisto V p.o.m., et le chiese, rappresentate in disegno da Girolimo Francino, con le stationi, & reliquie de' corpi santi che vi sono... Le antichità di Roma brevemente raccolte..., nuovamente corrette & purgate da molti errori, & ampliate dal reverendo padre fra Santi di Santo Agostino, Roma 1595

Clement VIII visits the Seven churches during the Jubilee of 1600

Guido Bentivoglio, Memorie del cardinale Bentivoglio con le quali descrive la sua vita e non solo le cose a lui successe nel corso di essa, mà insieme le più notabili ancora occorse nella città di Roma..., Venezia 1668

About how to visit the Seven churches

Giovanni Severano, Memorie sacre delle sette chiese di Roma e de gl'altri luoghi, che si trovano per le strade di esse, vol. II (Parte seconda in cui si tratta del modo di visitar le dette chiese), Roma 1630

The Seven churches of Rome with their relics, stations and indulgences

Reprinted in 1660 ca. by Giovanni Giacomo de’ Rossi from plates by Giacomo Lauro and Antonio Tempesta, this publication first came out for the Jubilee of 1600. It was republished as a pilgrims’ guide in 1609, 1621, 1630 and 1636. De Rossi’s reprint was the first to feature the Basilica of St Peter’s with Bernini’s colonnade. The lower right-hand corner of the reproduced map shows the “nine churches circuit”, an extended version of the seven churches traditionally included on the tour: the Church of San Paolo alle tre fontane and the Church of the Annunziatella, both of which Filippo Neri sometimes included owing to their proximity to Saint Paul Outside the Walls.

Le sette chiese di Roma con le loro principali reliquie stationi et indul.tie, Roma 1660

The nine churches to visit to get indulgences

The seven churches circuit was on occasion extended to nine by adding the Church of San Paolo alle tre fontane and the Church of the Annunziatella, both of which were close to Saint Paul Outside the Walls. San Paolo alle tre fontane was traditionally thought to be located on the spot where the apostle Paul was decapitated. That church was later incorporated into the abbey complex. Consecrated in 1220 by Pope Honorius III and dedicated to Maria Annunziata, hence its popular name “Annunziatella”, the church was attached to a hospital that cared for pilgrims.

Les neuf eglises qu'on visite pour avoir les indulgences, in: François Jacques Deseine, Rome moderne, première ville de l'Europe, avec toutes ses magnificences et ses délices..., vol. VI, Leiden 1713

The church of Annunziatella

Sanctae Mariae Annuntiatae extra muros ecclesiae prospectus, in: La ville de Rome ou description abregée de cette superbe ville..., vol. III (Contenant la description du IV quartier du Champ de Mars, du V du Pont, du VI de Parione, du VII de la Regola, du VIII de Saint-Eustache & du IX de la Pigna), Roma 1778

St. Paul's at the Three Fountains

Sancti Pauli ad tres fontes ecclesiae prospectus, in: La ville de Rome ou description abregée de cette superbe ville..., vol. III (Contenant la description du IV quartier du Champ de Mars, du V du Pont, du VI de Parione, du VII de la Regola, du VIII de Saint-Eustache & du IX de la Pigna), Roma 1778

The visit to the Seven churches in Giggi Zanazzo's sonnets

Giggi Zanazzo, La visita a le sette Cchiese, in: Id., Tradizioni popolari romane, vol. II (Usi, costumi e pregiudizi del popolo di Roma), Torino 1908

Carnival

Rome’s Carnival, with its carts, races, processions and masks, has a long history and deep roots in the city’s social fabric. On multiple occasions, popes came out in favour of expanding and developing it, extending its duration to last over several days rather than being limited to the last Thursday before Lent and the following Sunday, as had been the case in mediaeval times. Carnival celebrations continued in Rome during holy years, despite attempts by popes from the mid-1600s onwards to minimize and even prohibit them. A number of liturgical celebrations and devotional practices were instituted specifically to counteract the carnival revelry. One such practice was the Quarant’Ore, or the visit of the seven churches, which Pope Gregory XIII instituted in 1575 after it was proposed by Carlo Borromeo, who was close to San Filippo Neri and the Congregazione dell’Oratorio.

Félix Benoist (draw.), Philippe Benoist (lith.), Rue du Corso et Palais Doria avec la corse des Barberi en temps de Carnaval. Via del Corso e Palazzo Doria colla corsa de' Barberi nel tempo di Carnevale, from: Rome dans sa grandeur. Vues, monuments anciens et modernes: description, histoire, institutions, dessins d'après nature par Philippe Benoist et Felix Benoist...,Paris 1870

The processions of the Archconfraternity of Francis' Holy Stigmata to visit the Forty hours during the Carnival

Rome’s Carnival, with its carts, races, processions and masks, has a long history and deep roots in the city’s social fabric. On multiple occasions, popes came out in favour of expanding and developing it, extending its duration to last over several days rather than being limited to the last Thursday before Lent and the following Sunday, as had been the case in mediaeval times. Carnival celebrations continued in Rome during holy years, despite attempts by popes from the mid-1600s onwards to minimize and even prohibit them. A number of liturgical celebrations and devotional practices were instituted specifically to counteract the carnival revelry. One such practice was the Quarant’Ore, or the visit of the seven churches, which Pope Gregory XIII instituted in 1575 after it was proposed by Carlo Borromeo, who was close to San Filippo Neri and the Congregazione dell’Oratorio.

Rituale della venerabile Archiconfraternita delle Sagre Stimmate del padre S. Francesco di Roma, Roma 1711

Processions in Rome for the Jubilee of 1575

Angelo Pientini, Le pie narrationi dell'opere piu memorabili fatte in Roma l'anno del giubileo MDLXXV..., Firenze 1583

The procession of the Archconfraternity of Trinity of pilgrims to St. Peter's to get the Jubilee of 1750

Distinto ragguaglio della solenne processione fatta dalla ven. Archiconfraternita della ss.ma Trinità de' pellegrini e convalescenti il giorno 26 luglio 1750, in occasione di essersi portata alla visita della Basilica di S. Pietro per l'acquisto del s. giubileo a tenore dell'indulto concessogli dalla santità di n. signore papa Benedetto XIV e del triduo di preparazione celebrato prima di portarsi a detta visita, Roma 1750

Statutes of venerable Archconfraternity of Most Holy Trinity of pilgrims and convalescents

Statuti della venerabile Archiconfraternita della santissima Trinità de' pelegrini & convalescenti nuovamente riformati e stampati, Roma 1578

Notice of 28 July 1749, signed by vicar cardinal Giovanni Antonio Guadagni, announcing the "second mission" of Leonardo da Porto Maurizio

On 13 July 1749 father Leonardo from Porto Maurizio, summoned to Rome by Benedict XIV to "better dispose Roman citizens to acquire the jubilee", had started in Piazza Navona a series of "holy missions", fourteen days of articulate offices which included moments of preaching, catechesis, liturgy and penance. On 28 July, at the end of the "first mission", cardinal vicar Guadagni announced the start of a "second mission" for the next 3 August, to take place beyond the river, in piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere.

Vicariate of Rome, Seconda notificazione per le sante missioni (28 luglio 1749), Roma 1749

Notice to parish priests on 28 July 1749, signed by vicar cardinal Giovanni Antonio Guadagni, about the "second mission" of Leonardo da Porto Maurizio

On 28 July 1749, at the end of Leonardo’s “first mission” from Porto Maurizio to Piazza Navona, in a second notification Cardinal Vicar Guadagni announced the start of a new cycle of missions on the far bank of the Tiber beginning on 3 August. He sent out a notice to parish priests that same day, inviting them to publicize the content of this second notification and to encourage believers to attend functions by offering them free access.

Vicariate of Rome, Avviso a' parochi (28 luglio 1749), Roma 1749

Notice of 16 August 1749, signed by vicar cardinal Giovanni Antonio Guadagni, announcing a third mission for confessors and penitent, to take place in the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva

On 16 August 1749, after the great success of his two missions on either side of the Tiber by the “most celebrated F. Leonardo”, Cardinal Vicar Giovanni Antonio Guadagni announced the start of a “third mission”, offering instruction for confession for confessors and penitents. This mission was held at the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva.

Vicariate of Rome, Notificazione per le sante istruzioni in luogo della terza missione (16 agosto 1749), Roma 1749

Statutes of Archconfraternity of SS. Crocifisso of St. Marcello's

The Confraternity of the Most Holy Crucifix was originally established in 1519, after the San Marcello al Corso church collapsed during a fire – the only thing to survive the fire was the old fourteenth-century wooden crucifix. This was considered to be a miracle, and a group of believers congregated to look after this most devout image. Three years later, in 1522, the city was struck by the plague. The miraculous crucifix was carried in a procession around town for sixteen days, after which the spread of the plague was halted. Thereafter, every Holy Thursday the confrères repeated the procession along a route from Via del Corso to St Peter’s, as established in its sixteenth-century charter. The procession became one of the highlights of Jubilee year Easter celebrations.

Statuti et ordini della venerabile Arcicompagnia del santiss. Crocefisso in Santo Marcello di Roma con l'origine d'essa, Roma 1565

Description of the machine, of the illuminations and of the order kept during the procession of the Archconfraternity of SS. Crocifisso of St. Marcello's on Maundy Thursday 1775

Distinta descrizione della machina, luminarj, ed ordinanza nella solenne processione fatta dalla venerabile Archiconfraternita del santissimo Crocifisso in S. Marcello di Roma nel portare l'immagine del nostro salvator Crocifisso alla Basilica vaticana la sera del giovedì santo nell'anno del giubileo MDCCLXXV..., Roma 1775

Processions of the Crocifisso of St. Marcello's and of the image of Mary patron of Rome during the Holy Year 1950

Le due grandiose processioni che mobilitarono tutta Roma: del Crocifisso di S. Marcello (24 marzo) e dell'immagine di Maria, protrettrice di Roma (31 ottobre), in: L'anno santo 1950. Cronistoria del grande giubileo a cura del Comitato centrale Anno Santo, vol. II, Città del Vaticano 1952

The Holy Father talks to the faithful at the end of the procession of Crocifisso of St. Marcello's during the Holy year 1950

Il santo padre parla ai fedeli a conclusione della processione del Crocifisso di S. Marcello, in: L'anno santo 1950. Cronistoria del grande giubileo a cura del Comitato centrale Anno Santo, vol. II, Città del Vaticano 1952

Lighting of the Cross in St. Peter's

Jean Louis Desprez (draw.), Francesco Piranesi (engr.), Prospetto interiore del Tempio Vaticano veduto nelle sere di giovedì e del venerdì santi al chiarore della gran Croce di metallo illuminata sospesa nella nave principale dinnanzi all'altar maggiore quando la santità sua si porta alla venerazione del volto santo (1787), Paris 1836

Devotion to St Peter's statue

Alphonse de Neuville, Baisement du pied de saint Pierre. Dessin de A. de Neuville d'après M. E. Delaunay, in: Le Tour du monde. Nouveau journal des voyages publié sous la direction de m. Édouard Charton et illustré par nos plus célèbres artistes, vol. XV, 1867

Notice of 14 September 1825, signed by vicar cardinal Placido Zurla, about indult granted to the Basilica of Santa Maria sopra Minerva for the Holy Year 1825

Vicariato di Roma, Notificazione d'indulto per il santo giubileo (14 September 1825), Roma 1825