Sunday 21 December 2014

Saint Camillus - Church of St.Mary Magdalene


Saint Camillus is the patron saint to the sick. He founded the Camillians and this Baroque style church which took 70 years to complete, holds his relics. 


While the curved Borrominesque Facade, is most unusual for a church ,  the inside nave is such a jaw dropping revelation, it's like looking at a Czar's Fabergé jewelbox from the inside out


The main altar holds the urn that stores Saint Camillus body. Painting above the altar is called the Penitent Magdalene Adoring the Cross by Michele Rocca, while the fresco beyond , depicts The Preaching of Christ by Aureliano Milani


All this info overload to the brain and my  eyes makes it necessary for me head to the .... 
Holy water receptacle . Yeah, gonna need this. 



Done that ? 
Ok we move on down to the Confessional booths dating back to 1762 


At the Chapel of St. Francis of Paola, there hovers a painting by Pietro Gagliardi depicting the saint performing a miracle healing on a child . All in there are quite a few chapels ...in all honesty I got a bit confused and lost count. I think the most important one is upstairs where The Crucifix is but um, I'm feeling a little bit uneasy in here. Must be due to the protection I'm carrying on me . 



Anyway, I'll just show you what I can.
There's so many frescoes , the ceiling is so dazzling and overwhelming , so let's not get too ambitious and focus on what's in front . Like this Byzantine Hodegitria painting of Our Lady, Health of the Sick  for instance. Bejewelled crowns were installed on the painting in 1668 but subsequently removed when that fell out of favour


The gilded bronze sarchophagus flanked by 2 angels is a sight to behold. It holds St.Camillus relics but the most important of all, which is his heart , has been relocated elsewhere,  away from this church , due to security reasons.
The big red cross by the way is his symbol. 


On your way out,look up so you do not miss the organ gallery above. Designed by a German it is still considered the most ornate ever found in a Roman church to this present day.
Glad I visited but even more glad to have stepped out. There's some presence in there I tell you. 


Location : Piazza della Maddalena, Rome

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