In a city such as Rome where the classical, from ancient to Renaissance incarnations, rules supreme, the Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio (Church of the Sacred Heart of the Suffrage) on the banks of the Tiber immediately stands out.
This Gothic Revival church, built in the 20th century according to designs by the engineer, Giuseppe Gualandi, is often referred to as the “Little Milan Cathedral” due to its sumptuous gothic design and is well worth a visit in its own right.
However, hidden at the back of the building is a highly unique museum which is the show-stopper of the piece - the tiny century-old Piccolo Museo Del Purgatorio, or "Museum of the Holy Souls in Purgatory," which holds a collection gathered from all over the world of bibles, prayer books and clothing said to have been singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.
This Gothic Revival church, built in the 20th century according to designs by the engineer, Giuseppe Gualandi, is often referred to as the “Little Milan Cathedral” due to its sumptuous gothic design and is well worth a visit in its own right.
However, hidden at the back of the building is a highly unique museum which is the show-stopper of the piece - the tiny century-old Piccolo Museo Del Purgatorio, or "Museum of the Holy Souls in Purgatory," which holds a collection gathered from all over the world of bibles, prayer books and clothing said to have been singed by the hands of souls in purgatory.
If you feel like visiting this creepy and fascinating little museum for yourself, just find a holiday rental in Rome
and you can stop by and complete your explorations of Catholic culture in the city.
In Catholic doctrine, it is thought that before one can enter heaven, their soul must atone for their sins in purgatory which is not so horrific as hell but not particularly pleasant either. The notion is not mentioned in the Bible but has been part of Catholic belief since at least the 11th century when a monk brought the tale back to Europe from the Holy Land.
and you can stop by and complete your explorations of Catholic culture in the city.
In Catholic doctrine, it is thought that before one can enter heaven, their soul must atone for their sins in purgatory which is not so horrific as hell but not particularly pleasant either. The notion is not mentioned in the Bible but has been part of Catholic belief since at least the 11th century when a monk brought the tale back to Europe from the Holy Land.
Traditionally, however, it has been said that those you have left behind on earth can pray for your speedy progress through purgatory and help you along your way. The objects with scorched handprints on them in the museum are said to be produced when these souls reach out to their loved ones on earth for them to pray harder and help them move along even more quickly.
Victor Jouet, the collector for the museum and a French missionary, was supposedly inspired to build this purgatorial museum after a fire destroyed part of the original Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio, leaving behind the scorched image of a face which he believed was that of a trapped soul.
The collection is quite small, just one small room inside the church but the museum is fascinating none-the-less. Among the items on display are the nightcap of a man who discovered his deceased wife's hand prints on it asking him to pray for her and a book belonging to a woman whose mother-in-law reportedly appeared to her and asked for two masses in her honour.
Just 10 minutes from the Vatican, this museum will be a nice addition to any exploration of Rome and interesting to believers and non-believers alike.
Photo credits
picture 2: Alberto-g-rovi / CC BY-SA 3.0
picture 2: Alberto-g-rovi / CC BY-SA 3.0