Santuario della Madonna del... and other Rome, Italy Off The Beaten Path Tips

Santuario della Madonna del Divino Amore

Via del Santuario(via Ardeatina Km 12)

00134 ROMA

ITALY

Tel. 0039 6 71353302-3

fax. 0039 6 71353304

c/c Postale nē 721001


The manager of the pensionne insisted on personally taking us to the Sanctuary of our Lady of Divine Love. Since it wasn't in any of the guidebooks I had glossed over, I was rather halfhearted about going...but now it's the only place I'd ever go back to if I do return to Roma. Located in the outskirts of Rome, you take a bus to Divino Amore (which is invariably filled with tourists en route to the Catacombs, which are on the way to the Sanctuary). Divino Amore doesn't strike one as impressive, especially after you've seen the glorious cathedrals of Rome, but it holds a special significance for devout Italian Catholics.

The historical events of the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Divine Love started in the 12th century, when in that area of the Roman countryside there stood a kind of a fortress owned by the Savello-Orsini Family, which was called 'Castel di Leva'.
On one of the castle's towers there was an image of the Holy Virgin Mary sitting on a throne, holding the Child Jesus in her arms, with a dove descending upon her, as a symbol of the Holy Spirit, Who is Divine Love. The image, painted in fresco in that same period, was much venerated by the local shepherds.

In the spring of 1740, as he reached the neighbourhood of the tower, a traveler going to Rome was attacked by a pack of dogs and was about to be torn to pieces. The poor man raised his eyes towards the sacred image and asked the Mother of God for help. There followed a miracle: all of a sudden the dogs scattered , fleeing through the countryside.

In 1944 Rome was in danger of destruction by the events of the war. On January 24th the painting of the Holy Virgin Mary was carried to various churches in the city and finally to the Church of Saint Ignatius, where, on the 4th of June 1944 the Roman people, in order to obtain the liberation of Rome, made a vow to renew their life, to build a new sanctuary and to perform an act of charity in her honour. Our Lady worked the miracle and Rome was saved. On the 11th of June 1944 Pope Pius XII went to pray with the people of Rome and conferred on Our Lady of Divine Love the title of 'Saviour of City'.

Many faithful Italians have flocked to Divino Amore to plead for the Virgin Mother's intercession...and, from the number of paper, glass, and stone hearts strewn all over the lawns and hung in the chapel itself, it appears that their prayers were answered.

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