150 YEARS OF THE NAZARETH SISTERS

In the footsteps of Blessed Frances Siedliska in Rome (53)

Sr. M. Beata Rudzińska, CSFN

Quirinal (1880) – Via del Quirinale II

The street where we began our journey in our last Facebook post ends with an inconspicuous and unremarkable complex of buildings. However, beneath the gray-black dust, probably deposited by thousands of cars passing by every day, we find not only architectural gems, but also human stories. The first building is the monastery and church of St. Joachim and St. Anne, built at the beginning of the 17th century by the Discalced Carmelites who came from Spain. They remained here until 1809, when Rome came under French rule for several years. It was then purchased by the Spanish royal family and handed over to the Sacramentine Sisters, whom we already know, who lived here until 1839, before moving to the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. In 1846, it became the property of the Belgian College, one of several dozen such national institutions in Rome that help educate seminarians and priests from a given country, often welcoming other students. This was the case in 1946, when the young priest Karol Wojtyła came from Poland to Rome to study at the Pontifical Angelicum University. He lived here, at the Belgian College. As he himself writes, on his way to the university, he would stop every day to pray at St. Andrew’s on the Quirinal Hill. In 1972, the College moved to a newly built building near the Cornelia metro station, where we get off to get to the Generalate of the Nazareth Sisters. The Church of St. Joachim and St. Anne was closed. However, the plaques above the entrance to both the church and the former Carmelite monastery, and later the College, remain as witnesses to the history of these places.

The last building, standing at the intersection with via Quattro Fontane (Four Fountains), is the Church of St. Charles Borromeo (San Carlo), popularly known as San Carlino due to its size. Although small, it is one of the most peculiar works of Francesco Borromini, Bernini’s rival and, along with him, the greatest master of the Baroque. The construction of the monastery and church was commissioned by the Spanish Trinitarians, an order founded at the end of the 12th century. Master Borromini had to face two limitations: limited space and limited funds. The construction took place in stages, from 1634 to practically 1680, but the result was astonishing and innovative. Using the most modest materials: plaster and stucco, Borromini gave them the most exquisite shapes, including the undulating facade of the church and the oval dome.

In addition to the church, Borromini also built a courtyard with two floors of cloisters (which can be viewed for a modest fee) and monastery buildings. It has been calculated that Borromini’s entire structure fits within a single pilaster supporting the dome of St. Peter’s Basilica. This gave rise to the saying that “St. Peter’s is beautiful because of its greatness, and San Carlino because of its smallness.”

Elisabeth Canori Mora, a tertiary of the Trinitarian Order and patron saint of those betrayed, abandoned, and suffering because of their spouses, is buried in the church. As a wife and mother of two children, she experienced everything she should not have from her husband: betrayal, abuse and ridicule, loss of property, and temporary abandonment. However, Elizabeth loved her husband heroically and offered everything for his conversion. Her trust was so great that one day she said to him, “It may seem unbelievable, but one day you will say Mass for me!” However, she did not live to see this prophecy fulfilled. Despite the changes taking place in Krzysztof, he spent the night she died with another woman. It was only her death that shook him so much that he began a period of true repentance and conversion. He joined the Conventual Franciscans and was ordained a priest. He died in the opinion of sanctity. And it was probably her husband’s conversion, and not only Elizabeth’s mystical visions and works of mercy, that were the best proof of her holiness. The Church confirmed this by beatifying Elizabeth Canori Mora in 1994. In a small museum next to the church, you can see Elizabeth’s mementos, as well as antique chasubles.

Sacramentines, Capuchins, Dominicans, Nazareth Sisters, Carmelites, Jesuits, Trinitarians… saints and blessed, whether proclaimed by the Church or not… how beautiful the Church is, how beautiful Rome is—even on just one street!

Photos: CSFN
View of the churches of St. Joachim and St. Anne and St. Charles
Facade of St. Charles Church
Presbytery and dome of St. Charles Church
Altar with relics of Blessed Elizabeth Canori Mora
Display cases with memorabilia of Blessed Elizabeth