Santa Maria Riparatrice is a deconsecrated 19th century convent chapel at Via degli Artisti 39, in the rione Colonna.
The dedication was to the Blessed Virgin Mary, under her title of Reparatrix.
History[]
The French congregation of Sisters of Mary Reparatrix was founded in Paris, France in 1855, with a charism of active social work combined with adoration of the Blessed Sacrament in reparation for anti-Christian activity in secular society.
They opened their first convent in Rome in 1869, and because of their privilege of public 24-hour exposition of the Sacrament their little chapel very quickly became popular with pilgrims.
In 1897 the convent moved to more ample premises at Santa Croce e San Bonaventura dei Lucchesi, which is still the headquarters of the congregation. The former chapel was shut down.
Appearance[]
The main convent entrance was at number 38, but the chapel had a separate public entrance of its own at number 39. Here is an attractive neo-Baroque ensemble, with a majolica lunette plaque of The Annunciation above the door. The door-case is round-headed, so this plaque is in a tympanum. Above the arch is a little balcony, and in between are relief carvings of palm branches and a star.