20th Century Church Birdwalking II

Chiesa di Nuestra Signora di Vilme
This is the parish church connected with "The Work of the Church," a 50-year old movement started by Mother Trinidad, originally from Dos Hermanas, near Seville, Spain. It was in the town of Dos Hermanas that devotion to Mary with the title of Our Lady of Valme originated. It is said that King Fernando III carried her statue into battle in 1248 and was successful in taking Seville back from the Moors.



The church is in a dense residential neighborhood of apartment buildings on the slope of the Portuense hill as it goes down toward the Tiber River.
Chiesa di Nuestra Signora di Vilme was built between 1992-1996 and designed by Ferdinando Sciamanna and Cinzia Spina. The liturgical space is a square under a massive coffered concrete ceiling with two expansive walls of glass for the absidal wall and the entrance of the church.
Spanish (Baroque) influence can be seen in the chandeliers as well as in details of the shrine behind the altar that contains a painted image of Our Lady of Vilme.

The Eucharistic Chapel (with Perpetual Adoration) is to the left of the sanctuary, behind a glass wall covered with iron gates in a style that matches the chandeliers.

Next door "The Work of the Church" has a villa that welcomes Bishops visiting the Vatican for their Ad Limina visits. These visits are required by Canon Law. It is the obligation of bishops to send a report on the status of their dioceses to the Vatican every five years, visit the tombs of Sts. Peter and Paul and "appear before the Roman pontiff."

20th Century Church Birdwalking

Chiesa di Santi Aquila e Priscilla

The first trip with my new book (GUIDA ALL'ARCHITETTURA SACRA. ROMA 1945-2005) to find a 20th Century Roman Church took me to Quartiere Portuense and the west bank of the Tiber River. Tucked among some industrial buildings I found the church dedicated to Saints Aquila and Priscilla. It was designed by Ignazio Breccia Fratadocchi and built between 1989 - 1992.

The entrance doors: outside (above) and inside (below)

The interior, which is a central plan, rather than a basilica plan, is dominated by a large suspended cross and some sort of historical image of the Virgin behind the altar. To the right, beyond the baptismal and through stained glass windows, is the Eucharistic Chapel.
The cross, hanging from an "industrial" ceiling, has a wrapped element near the bottom that probably alludes to the Resurrection.
The tabernacle makes a monumental statement in a space illuminated by light coming through polychromed stained glass windows designed by Costantino Ruggeri, a Franciscan priest.

Note: Aquila was a 1st century Jewish tentmaker and Priscilla was his wife. They were converted to Christianity and entertained the apostle Paul in Corinth and Ephesus. Their house in Rome was used as a Christian meeting place.

Lunedì Letterario

New Book for Birdwalking

Visitors and residents say that Rome has churches everywhere. Generally they are referring to the countless churches that are scattered throughout the historic center. However, most visitors never see the churches beyond the walls of the ancient city and residents usually are only aware of the one or two churches in their own neighborhood.




For Christmas I received a book from Vincenzo that will be a source for many birdwalks in the months (and maybe even years!) ahead.

GUIDA

ALL'ARCHITETTURA SACRA

ROMA 1945-2005

by Stefano Mavilio

The volume was done in collaboration with the Italian Episcopal Conference and contains information about 226 churches built in the Diocese of Rome between World War II and 2005. The churches are organized by geographical region and each entry includes pictures to accompany a commentary that gives the name of the architect, date of construction and details about the building.

I am looking forward to new neighborhoods that will be discovered as I search out many of the churches in this book. Watch for reports about my 20th Century Church Birdwalking as I post them here on this blog.

Bancomat

This is a Bancomat (ATM) in the center of Rome. Americans are often amazed that they can get EURO with their ATM card at an Italian Bancomat!

Babbi Natale at Condo Christmas Party

On December 23rd our neighbors had a Christmas party in the entrance to our condo complex. There was food, drink and carol singing. Even Babbo Natale made a special appearance!

Here is Babbo Natale checking his hair and beard
before joining the party.

Merry Christmas

Bobbo Natale wishes you a very Blessed Christmas season!

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 24

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Gate on Via di San Teodoro

This gate opens to the south-west zone of the Palatine Hill. In this area are some of Rome's most ancient ruins, including Iron Age huts with burial grounds. (This could be the site of the caves of Romulus, Rome's legendary founder.) This part of the Palatine was also the site of the Temple of Magna Mater, dedicated to the religion of Cybele, brought to Rome in 204 BC during the 2nd Punic War.

Advent Prayer to Jesus

You are our eternal salvation,
The unfailing light of the world.
Light everlasting,
You are truly our redemption.
Grieving that the human race was perishing
through the tempter's power,
without leaving the heights
You came to the depths in your loving kindness.
Readily taking our humanity by Your gracious will,
You saved all earthly creatures, long since lost,
Restoring joy to the world.
Redeem our souls and bodies, O Christ,
and so possess us as Your shining dwellings.
By Your first coming, make us righteous;
At your second coming, set us free:
So that, when the world is filled with light
and you judge all things,
We may be clad in spotless robes
and follow in Your steps, O King,
Into the heavenly hall.
Unknown Author, 10th century