Il Gesù

English name:	Most Holy Name of Jesus
Dedication:	The name of Jesus Christ
Denomination:	Roman Catholic
Clergy:	Society of Jesus
Titular church	Eduardo Martinez Somalo
Built:	1568–1584
Consecrated:	1584
Architect(s):	Vignola, Giacomo della Porta
Address:	16 Via degli Astalli / Piazza del Gesù 00186 Roma
Phone:	06-69.70.01

  

Il Gesù is a 16th century convent church at the Piazza del Gesù in the rione Pigna. Pictures of the church at Wikimedia Commons. [1] There is an English Wikipedia page. [2]

Name

The dedication is to the Holy Name of Jesus, and the full official name is Santissimo Nome di Gesù all'Argentina. However, the church is universally known as Il Gesù (note the definite article -in English, "The Gesù").

The Name of Jesus referred to is the original Greek one -ΙΗΣΥΣ. The second letter of this is eta, a long "e". The first three letters became the monogram which is the symbol of the Jesuits, to be seen on the church façade -IHS. (Ignore all bad etymologies based on the mistaken belief that the second letter of this is an "h".)

Two other churches in Rome with names inspired by this one are Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano -the "Holy Name of Mary", and Gesù e Maria -the "Holy Names of Jesus and Mary".

Status

This is the mother church of the Society of Jesus, commonly known as the Jesuits, and is the successor of the first one that they had. It was also, until 1870, the church of the convent of those professed Jesuits living at Rome.

The convent of the Jesuit novices was at Sant'Andrea al Quirinale, and the Jesuit seminary or the Collegio Romano was at Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio. The latter is actually bigger than the Gesù. Two little churches survive locally from confraternities that the Jesuits founded, at San Francesco Saverio del Caravita and San Macuto.

The church has the municipality of Rome as a special patron. The diocesan web-page states: Chiesa di Patronato -Comune di Roma. This is indicated by the presence of the city's shield above the main door, with SPQR on it.

History

Santa Maria della Strada

The progenitor of this church was one called Santa Maria della Strada, which was not acually on the same site but just to the south, where the entrance to the Rooms of St Ignatius now is.

The origins of this church are very uncertain. When it emerged into history it was a parish church, which indicates that it might have been originally founded in the 10th century together with many other small parish churches in the Centro Storico. 

However the first documentary evidence only dates from 1337, when it had the name Santa Maria de Astariis. In an anonymous manuscript at the Vatican (Cod. Vat. 6311) entitled De Familiis Romanis, it is asserted that this name came from a family of patrons called the Astalli. This seems to be confirmed by a lost epigraph on the church's high altar, transcribed by Panciroli just before its demolition and reading: Astalli generosa domus cultuque sacrorum, atque opibus pollens opus hoc fecere decorum. It is thought that the family built or, more likely, rebuilt the church in the late Middle Ages. The name Strada emerged from a gradual corruption of Astalli.

The famous fresco icon that the church contained, the Madonna della Strada, was by undocumented tradition thought to have been a street icon (madonnella) originally, for which the Astalli family built the church. This seems to be a back-formation from Strada. The icon emerges into history when the De Grassi family built a chapel for it in the church in 1483.

When the old church was demolished in 1561, the icon was taken to San Marco. It was enshrined in its present location in Il Gesù in 1575.

Sant'Andrea de Pallacina

There was another little parish church somewhere on the city block taken over by the Jesuit convent, known as Sant'Andrea delle Botteghe Oscure or della Strada. This is identified with an earlier Sant'Andrea de Pallacina. A good guess as to its location is at the junction where Via delle Botteghe Oscure becomes the Via di San Marco, near the tram terminus.

Its former existence explains why there is a chapel dedicated to St Andrew in Il Gesù.

Arrival of Jesuits

The Basque nobleman and former soldier St Ignatius of Loyola founded the Society of Jesus at Montmartre in Paris in 1534, when he and a few companions undertook to live as missionary priests not bound either to any one diocese, the celebration of the Divine Office in common or to monastic enclosure. Since all this was novel and controversial, he was wise enough to establish the headquarters of his new Society at Rome. He obtained approval from Pope Paul III in 1540, and settled in a small house near Santa Maria della Strada with his companions two years later.

The house was owned by Camillo Astalli, of the family patrons of Santa Maria della Strada, and this facilitated the grant of the church to the Society in 1550. Meanwhile, St Ignatius had developed a strong devotion to the icon of Our Lady. Since Santa Maria was a parish church, its parish was united to that of San Marco.

Abortive attempts

The infant Society decided that their church was too small, and inaugurated a project to rebuild it as soon as they got possession of it. Planning started with the appointment of Nanni di Baccio Bigio as architect, but was immediately halted in the following year, 1551. The Society lacked funds but, more seriously, the Maestri delle Strade, who were in charge of maintaining the city's streets, refused approval on the grounds of a possible public nuisance.

Under the patronage and with the financial support of Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, the project was started again. This involved buying more land and altering the position of the proposed church, but the Maestri were still not happy and progress was suspended again in 1554. This was despite the offer of Michelangelo to work on it gratis.

Construction

St Ignatius died in 1556, and there was no progress for several years under Diego Laynez who was the Society's second Superior General. He died in 1565 and his successor, St Francis Borgia, decided to make a third start. Funding continued to be provided by Cardinal Farnese, who specified Vignola to be the architect together with the Society's own architect Giovanni Tristano. Giovanni De Rosis was also involved for two years from 1568. Vignola gave up the commission owing to sickness in 1571, and he died two years later. By then much of the church was complete, and Giacomo della Porta took over and completed the dome, sanctuary and façade. He made no major changes to the design, apart from adding the two chapels flanking the sanctuary, and worked until 1580.

The church was finally finished under the sole supervision of Tristano, and consecrated in 1584.

Architectural theory

The layout of the church was innovative. The Council of Trent did not directly decree anything on the layout of churches, but St Charles Borromeo wrote an extremely influential treatise on the architectural implications of the Council's teachings on the liturgy and sacraments. This, the Instructiones Fabricae et Supellectilis Ecclesiasticae (text is here) led to Vignola's layout which gave a very wide and spacious nave with side pulpits for preaching to large congregations. Further, and extremely importantly, a theatrical focus was elicited on the high altar and the celebration of Mass there. This meant the abandonment and disapprobation of the previous tradition of having high screens and perhaps choirs (scholae cantorum) in between the altar and the nave.

This innovative layout of Il Gesù became an important model for churches built during the Counter-Reformation, and is the type for celebration of Mass in the so-called Tridentine rite. Here it may be noted that northern European Catholic neo-Gothic architectural theorists in the 19th century, such as Pugin in England, were contradicting the developed Roman Catholic tradition in trying to return to the use of rood screens.

The present overwhelmingly ornate interior decoration makes one forget that the original decorative scheme of the interior was very austere and simple. For a hint of what the original church looked like, see Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini (although even here there are some 19th century embellishments).

Convent

After the church was finished, attention was turned to erecting a convent on the city block to the south. This was begun in 1599 under the patronage of Cardinal Odoardo Farnese, and care was taken to preserve the rooms in which St Ignatius had lived. The result was a large set of buildings, focusing on a rectangular cloister arcaded on the south side.

Baroque

St Ignatius was canonized in 1622. This was the beginning of the golden age of the Jesuits, lasting for the rest of the 17th century. The Society decided to use sacred art to illustrate both the triumphs of the Church and those of its own missionary activities, and so the church with its side chapels was duly redecorated in the Baroque style.

From 1670 to 1683, Giovanni Battista Gaulli (nicknamed Il Baciccia) frescoed the nave vault, dome and apse. The result was his masterpiece, and is considered one of the most important examples of Baroque art in existence. The influence of Bernini is obvious.

From 1696 to 1700, the Chapels of St Ignatius and St Francis Xavier were fitted out by Andrea Pozzo, a Jesuit artist who had already proved his genius at the nearby church of Sant'Ignazio di Loyola a Campo Marzio. These altars are the apotheosis of the Baroque-style-as-theatre, and a mighty contrast to the Baroque-style-as-mathematics as demostrated by the works of Borromini (look in at Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza to appreciate the contrast).

Disaster

The Society of Jesus was founded on the premiss of absolute and direct obedience to the Pope. As a supra-national organization of great power and ability, it attracted vicious hostility in the 18th century from nominally Catholic monarchs such as in France and Spain who subscribed to the doctrine of absolutism. Under pressure, Pope Clement XIV suppressed the Society in 1773.

The church and convent reverted to papal ownership, and the former was put in the care of secular clergy. Apparently, many sacred objects were alienated. The most notable example of looting was the silver and copper-gilt statue of St Ignatius on his altar, which was melted down for bullion on the orders of Pope Pius VI in 1798 in order to pay the reparations demanded by the French in the Treaty of Tolentino. (An apologetic myth, still perpetrated, was later confected alleging that the statue was looted by French occupying forces.)

Modern times

The Jesuits were re-founded (actually, they have never been completely suppressed) in 1814, and were given back the church and convent.

In 1840, there was an unfortunate re-ordering of the sanctuary and high altar by Antonio Sarti. From 1858 to 1861, polychrome marble decorations were added to the nave.

In 1873, together with almost all other Roman convents, the Jesuit convent here was sequestered by the government. However, the Jesuits were left in possession of the church, the Rooms of St Ignatius and enough accommodation to administer these. The convent has since been seriously altered and adapted for secular use.

The last notable alteration to the interior of the church was the remodelling of the Chapel of the Sacred Heart by Aristide Leonori in 1920.

This church remains one of the most important pastoral outlets for native Romans in the Centro Storico. 

Cardinalate

Oddly, despite its importance the church was only made titular in 1965 when Michele Pellegrino was appointed as cardinal priest. He died in 1986.

The current titular of the church is H.E.Eduardo Cardinal Martinez Somalo, appointed in 1988.

Exterior

Layout and fabric

The plan of the church is that of a Latin cross. Structurally it has a nave with side aisles, but the aisles inside are converted into five identical self-contained square spaces by blocking walls. Six of these are side chapels, and two are side entrance vestibules.

The transept is just slightly wider than the nave and aisles on each side, and has a dome over its crossing. The sanctuary is a transverse rectangle with an external semi-circular apse, and is flanked by a pair of square side-chapels. This gives the church eight self-contained side-chapels in total, plus two major ones in the ends of the transept.

The fabric is in pink brick, with architectural details in travertine limestone. The blocking walls of the side aisles are extended upwards beyond the aisle roofing to form three massive, solid buttresses that support the central nave side walls and the weight of the nave vault.

The nave, each side of the transept and the sanctuary each have their own pitched and tiled roof which meet at the drum of the dome. The apse has its own lower roof, a semi-dome in lead.

The rooflines of the transept end in large triangular pediments with bare tympani in brick.

Dome

Because of the narrowness of the streets around the church it is not easy to appreciate the dome close-up, but it is an important part of the city's skyline and a good view can be had of it from the Campidoglio. It is not ornate.

The drum is octagonal, in bare pink brick with a large rectangular window on the four diagonal faces. Each of these has a stone frame, and a triangular pediment with a broken cornice. The drum ends in a stone cornice with modillions (little brackets), and on this is an attic plinth in brick. Each face of the attic has a square window intruding into the dome itself, with a small triangular pediment.

The dome itself is a low segment of an ellipsoid, in lead with eight ribs springing from the corners of the attic. These ribs meet at the tall lantern in the form of a circular aedicule, having eight tall and narrow arched openings with its own lead cupola and ball finial.

Campanile

Given the size and status of the church, the campanile is very understated. It is over the left hand side wall of the sanctuary, and is a bellcote formed of two arches side by side with a trapezoidal pediment designed by cutting the top off a triangle.

Façade

The façade, designed in 1575 by della Porta, is one of the earliest example of Counter-Reformation architecture and has been called "the first truly Baroque façade". It was enormously influential, being replicated worldwide wherever the Jesuits established a presence.

It has two storeys, is entirely in travertine limestone and sits on a plinth so that the entrances are accessed via a patio with stairs on three sides. The first storey has the dominant design feature of six pairs of Corinthian pilasters, each pair having two separate pedestals (two of these pilasters are actually columns -see below). These pilasters support an entablature, running across the façade and separating the storeys. The frieze of this has an inscription extolling Cardinal Alessandro Farnese, Vice-Chancellor at the papal court:

Alexander Cardinalis Farnesius, S[anctae] R[omanae] E[cclesiae] Vice-Can[cellarius], fecit MDLXXV.

Della Porta's design had an eye on avoiding the façade looking like a cliff. The second pairs of pilasters either side of the entrance are brought forward slightly compared to the third pairs occupying the outer corners of the storey, and above these the entablature is also brought forward slightly as a wide post in shallow relief. The outer member of these pilaster pairs is doubletted along its outer edge. 

The main entrance is much bigger than the two side entrances. It has a molded doorcase, over which is a swag and then a segmental pediment with a winged putto's head in the tympanum. The cornice of this pediment is continued across the façade as a string course, being interrupted by the pilasters. Above the pediment is a large sculpture made up of a dish with festoons and winged putto's heads containing the monogram IHS in bronze. This work is by Bartolomeo Ammannati, 1576.

The two inner pilaster pairs flanking the entrance actually have the two nearest pilasters as free-standing columns, and the entablature has two vertical steps each side above to match. Above the entablature over the columns is a triangular pediment, and this is enclosed in a larger segmental pediment.

The smaller side entrances are tucked in between the first and second pilaster pairs on each side. They have triangular pediments over swags. Above these, over the string course, are two stucco statues in rectangular niches with scallop shells beneath segmental pediments on block and strap corbels. The left hand one depicts St Ignatius Loyola, trampling a figure representing Heresy, and the right hand one is St Francis Xavier treading on Paganism.

The second storey has an attic plinth, into which the entrance pediments intrude. On top of this, the central nave frontage has eight Composite pilasters in four pairs, supporting a crowning triangular pediment with a rather undersized relief of the Farnese coat-of-arms in its tympanum. The central portion of the pediment is brought forward slightly over the two inner pilaster pairs, again to avoid the cliff effect.

This storey is a large round-headed central window with a molded frame, flanked by a pair of Ionic columns supporting a triangular pediment on blocks above the capitals. The window has a balustrade. In between the pilaster pairs on either side are two empty round-headed niches with triangular pediments.

The second storey includes a pair of buttresses for the central nave side walls. These feature two enormous double curlicues.

Interior

Layout

The church has a single-aisle nave, with short transepts, flanked by side chapels. Through Vignola's design, focus is set on the high altar, which is visible from all parts of the church. This is a result of a new way of thinking about sacred buildings, which put the liturgical needs before the personal wishes of the architect. The effect was lessened somewhat when Baroque decorations were added, as bare plaster was covered by frescoes.

Nave

The vault was painted by Il Baciccio between 1672-1685. In his fresco of The Triumph of the Name of Jesus, the figures seem to break through the vault. The stucco figures are by Antonio Raggi.

Dome

The cupola was designed by Vignola and completed to his design by della Porta. It has frescoes depiticing persons from the Old Testament by il Baciccio.

Sanctuary

The altar of St Robert Bellarmine, with a bust of the saint by Bernini, stands on the left side of the sanctuary.

A new high altar was made by A. Sarti, 1834-1843. It is in the Neo-Classical style, far removed from the Baroque opulence of the rest of the church.

​Chapel of St Francis Xavier

The right transpet is home to the Chapel of St Francis Xavier, which was built between 1674 and 1678 by Giacomo della Porta. According to some sources it was built by Pietro da Cortona. As it was built after Cortona's death, in 1669, this is impossible, but della Porta may have based his work on a design left by the artist. A reliquary contains one of the saint's arms. Above the Baroque altar is a realistic painting of the Death of St Francis Xavier by Carlo Maratta, 17th century.

​Chapel of the Sacred Heart

The Sacred Heart Chapel is attributed to Giacomo della Porta. The frescoes are by Baldassare Croce, 1599. The painting of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, well known from reproductions in many Catholic homes, was made by Pompeo Batoni in the 18th century.

​Chapel of the Madonna della Strada

The chapel to the left of the sanctuary is dedicated to the Santa Maria degli Astalli. It holds the icon known as the Madonna della Strada, Madonna of the Road. The 15th century painting is connected to the early history of the Jesuits. It was kept in the church on this site that was demolished so that this church could be built, and illustrates the growth of the order. The name comes from its original position on a street leading to Capitol.

​Chapel of St Ignatius Loyola

The Chapel of St Ignatius in the left transept was designed by Andrea Pozzo, SJ, in 1695-1699. More than 100 artists have contributed to the chapel; among the most well-known are Pierre Legros, Bernardino Ludovisi, Il Lorenzone and Jean-Baptiste Théodon. A gilded bronze urn from 1637 by Alessandro Algardi underneath the altar holds his relics. The statue above the altar is by Pierre Legros, made in 1697. It was made entirely of silver, but, in 1797, it was damaged after the French invasion. There are two versions of waht happened: either it was damaged by French soldiers or Pope Pius VI had some of the silver melted down to satisfy Napoleon's greedy demands after the Treaty of Tolentino. It was later partly reconstructed by Canova, who used bronze. The monument is crowned by the Holy Trinity, and the globe held by the Father is a single piece of lapis lazuli. You should also note Pierre Le Gros the Younger's sculptural group,The Triumph of Faith over Heresy and Hatred (1695-99), which is an allegory of the ambitions of the Jesuit order.

​Chapel of St Francis Borgia

The Chapel of St Francesco Borgia has an altar by Andrea Pozzo, S.J. The paintings are by P.F. Mola, made c. 1600.

Rooms of St Ignatius

Ignatius built the order's first Generalate next to the church. His rooms are incorporated in the present residence for Jesuit seminarians and may be visited. Ask at the main door, and follow the signs at the end of the corridor you're sent down. The rooms contain memorabilia of the Society and Jesuit saints. A painting shows a young Ignatius in a soldier's uniform. There are two altars, and the one with a painting of the Holy Family is the one at which Ignatius offered Mass on the day he died.

Access

Church

The church is open, according to its website:

7:00 to 12:30, 16:00 to 19:45.

Helpfully, those in charge suggest that visits to view the interior and artworks (as distinct from those with spiritual and devotional motivations) should be made in the period

16:30 to 19:00.

This is because the church is well-used for Mass and other sacred activities at other times.

At 17:30, the statue of St Ignatius on his altar is unveiled in a son et lumière show.

Rooms of St Ignatius

The Rooms of St Ignatius are viewable 

Weekdays 16:00 to 18:00

Sundays and solemnities 10:00 to 12:00.

There is no entry charge, but donations are welcome.

Liturgy

The church is one of the major Mass centres in the Centro Storico, and is appreciated by many for its straightforward celebration of the Sacrament on ordinary days. 

Mass is celebrated:

Weekdays 7:00, 8:00, 10:00, 11:00. 12:00, 19:00.

Sundays 8:00, 10:00, 11:00, 12:00, 19:00.

The feast of St Ignatius is celebrated on 31 July, and is kept with great solemnity.

The Christmas Crib is considered to be one of the finest in Rome.

On 31 December, the Te Deum is sung with great splendour; this is a long-running tradition.

External links

Official diocesan web-page

Italian Wikipedia page

Nolli map (look for 902)

Youtube video on the Altar of St Ignatius