Storia della Chiesa della Consolazione

Chiesa Santa Maria della Consolazione al Foro Romano

Luogo di Fede, Carità e Consolazione

Fondazione e prima Consacrazione: 03/11/1470

“On that street corresponding to the ancient Vicus Iugarius stood the granaries of the Mattei, Roman patricians. In the portico of these there was an image of the Blessed Virgin, to whom a devout mother, whose innocent son had been imprisoned and condemned to death for sorcery, commended herself. The Virgin told her, consoling her, that her son would not die, but would be miraculously saved from the gallows. After this, the faithful often offered gifts to this image and its care was entrusted to the Confraternity of S. Maria in Portico. Near those granaries there was also a small hospital, beside which the church of Our Lady of Consolation was later built. These events took place shortly before 1460” (Armellini, p. 536).

The church of Santa Maria della Consolazione is a Catholic place of worship in Rome, located in the rione Campitelli, overlooking the square of the same name, near the Roman Forum and at the foot of the Tarpeian Rock.

Church of Santa Maria della Consolazione at the Roman Forum, founded on 03/XI/1470

The origin of the church is linked to two events:

The first dates back to 1385, when a nobleman condemned to death, Giordanello degli Alberini, left in his will two gold florins so that an image of the Virgin Mary would be painted here to “console” the final moments of those condemned to death, hence the origin of the building’s name. The small icon was painted on the outer wall of a granary belonging to the Mattei family, which stood right below the Tarpeian Rock, and it remained there for almost a century.

The second event dates back to 1470, when, according to tradition, an innocent young man condemned to death for murder was hanged, but when the rope tightened around his neck it was noticed that he was not suffocating, even though he was hanging, and he was therefore immediately freed. The young man recounted that the Madonna had spoken to him, saying, “Go, for you are consoled!”, and that an invisible hand had supported him. The event caused such a stir that a collection was soon begun to house the painting inside a devotional church, which was built in four months in that same year, 1470, with the approval of Pope Paul II.

The first church, very small and with a single altar, was built to a design by Baccio Pontelli and entrusted to the Archconfraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which ran a small nearby hospital. The church was erected, at the expense of the Roman people, in the second half of the 15th century and was consecrated on 3 November 1470. It was called “della Consolazione” because here the families of those condemned to death, whose sentences were carried out until 1550 beneath the Tarpeian Rock, received spiritual support. It was rebuilt between 1583 and 1606 to a design by Martino Longhi the Elder.

Three words have been a constant over these 550 years: Faith, Charity and Consolation. The Faith of the Roman people in the intercession of the Virgin; this faith generated Charity, and charity Consoled the most needy and afflicted.

The Church of the Consolation has always had the sublime mission of consoling those who suffer; for this reason, every Friday at 4:30 p.m. the Rosary is recited and at 5:00 p.m. Mass is celebrated in honor of Saint Leopold Mandić, patron saint of cancer patients. Saint Leopold Mandić, a Capuchin saint, was proclaimed patron of cancer patients on 11 February 2020. On the Altar of the Stigmata of Saint Francis is kept the “ex corpore” relic of the holy confessor, which arrived in this church from the Sanctuary in Padua on 8 March 2020. 

The first church, very small and with a single altar, was built to a design by Baccio Pontelli and entrusted to the Archconfraternity of Santa Maria delle Grazie, which ran a small nearby hospital. Hospital of Santa Maria delle Grazie

The church was erected, at the

Tre parole sono una costante in questi 550 anni: Fede, Carità e Consolazione

La fede del popolo romano nell'intercessione delle Vergine era una Fede viva e operante che portava alla Carità ai più bisognosi e a Consolare gli afflitti.

La Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione ha la missione sublime di consolare quelli che soffrono, pertanto ogni venerdì alle ore 16:30 si recita il Rosario e alle ore 17:00 si celebra la Messa e la novena in onore a San Leopoldo Mandić per tutti i malati oncologici, per i loro famigliari.

La Chiesa di Santa Maria della Consolazione al Foro Romano è la dimora di San Leopoldo Mandić a Roma. Il santo è stato proclamato patrono dei malati oncologici l'11 febbraio 2020. Sull'Altare delle Stimmate di San Francesco si custodisce la reliquia "ex corpore" del santo confessore, giunta da noi dal suo Santuario a Padova l'8 marzo 2020.

San Leopoldo Mandić fu un santo frate cappuccino e un confessore misericordioso molto benvoluto. Dal'11 febbraio è stato proclamato patrono dei malati oncologici.

Dietro l'abside della chiesa è situata una bella edicola (nella foto 1) dove vi è dipinta la "Madonna delle Grazie", opera di Niccolò Berrettoni, risalente al 1658: definita "Consolatrix Afflictorum", come recita anche l'iscrizione, fu qui posta a memoria e riconoscenza per la liberazione della città da una terribile pestilenza, come si legge nell'epigrafe: "CHR(ist)O REDEMPTORI AC SANCTISSIMAE EIUS GENITRICI MARIAE URBE A PESTILENTIA LIBERATA GLORIA SEMPITERNA". Il dipinto, racchiuso da una cornice quadrata sotto un vetro tripartito, rappresenta la "Madonna col Bambino" con il braccio alzato benedicente. Sopra la cornice vi è un baldacchino a spicchi orlato con frange ed al di sotto vi è dipinta, direttamente sul muro, una raggiera con nuvole e cherubini. L'edicola fu restaurata nel 1787 e fu in questa occasione che vi fu aggiunta l'altra iscrizione rivolta ai passanti: "QUI CON DIMESSA FRONTE O PASSEGGIER T'ARRESTA QUI DELLE GRAZIE È IL FONTE DI DIO LA MADRE È QUESTA MIRALA PIANGI E PREGA CHE ELLA A DEVOTI SUOI GRAZIE NON NEGA A D MDCCLXXXVII".