{"id":922,"date":"2016-01-30T14:02:07","date_gmt":"2016-01-30T19:02:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=922"},"modified":"2016-05-09T23:08:48","modified_gmt":"2016-05-10T03:08:48","slug":"bones-and-burns","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/snappingtheglobe.com\/?p=922","title":{"rendered":"Bones and Burns"},"content":{"rendered":"

\u00a9 2016 \u00a0Snapping the Globe, L.L.C. All rights reserved.<\/em><\/p>\n

Over the past twenty-five years, I am not even sure how many times I have visited Rome. \u00a0I never get tired of it. It seems that this ancient city continually presents something new to experience each time I set foot on its cobblestone streets.<\/p>\n

Always arriving with a plan, I usually forego sleep in order to catch the many things to do here, especially in winter when museums and exhibits close earlier. \u00a0This time, my Google search for offbeat things to do, had offered up the Museum of the Sanitary Arts and the Museum of the Holy Souls of Purgatory. \u00a0The first museum was going to be closed on the day of my arrival, but the latter was open until 7 pm. \u00a0After two of my co-workers expressed interest in doing some sightseeing with me, I decided to take them for\u00a0a visit to one of my favorite destinations in addition to the Museum of the Holy Souls of Purgatory…The Capuchin Crypt.<\/p>\n

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The Capuchin Crypt is a small space comprising several tiny chapels located beneath the church of Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuccini (Our Lady of the Conception of the Capuchins), near the Piazza Barberini. \u00a0It contains the skeletal remains of 3,700 bodies believed to be Capuchin friars buried by their order. \u00a0The bones, later exhumed, were arranged in odd decorative designs and were displayed with the shriveled and decayed skeleton of their fellow friars. \u00a0The bones have been fashioned into crosses, coats of arms, crowns, rosettes, stars and are set into the ceilings and walls. \u00a0There are even chandeliers designed from the bones.<\/p>\n

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There are six total rooms of the crypt. The Crypt of the Resurrection features a picture of Jesus raising Lazarus from the dead, framed by various parts of the human skeleton. \u00a0The Mass Chapel does not contain bones and is used to celebrate Mass. \u00a0The chapel also contains the tomb of Papal Zouaves, who died defending the Papal States at the battle of Porta Pia. \u00a0The Crypt of Three Skeletons contains three skeletons, the center enclosed in an oval which represents life coming to birth. \u00a0The three remaining are the Crypt of the Skulls, Crypt of the Pelvises and the Crypt of the Leg Bones and Thigh Bones, the names describing the contents of each.<\/p>\n

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The Crypt was renovated recently along with the construction of the adjacent Capuchin museum which is now the entrance to the crypt. \u00a0The museum contains many relics and artifacts that tell the Capuchin story. \u00a0The exhibition also pays homage to the friars that have been canonized for sainthood.<\/p>\n

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Entrance to New Museum and Crypt<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Years ago, the hotel that we utilized for layovers\u00a0was located very near to this oddity. \u00a0Visiting many times, I also took my son there when we were in Rome\u00a0for his 13th birthday. It is always an intriguing place to visit. \u00a0Now, with the addition of the museum, it is even more so.<\/p>\n

After, our visit to the Crypt, we ventured into the church above the crypt, Santa Maria della Concezione dei Cappuchini. The church was commissioned in 1626, by Pope Urban VIII whose brother was a Capuchin friar. \u00a0The church was designed by Antonio Casoni and contains a small nave and several side chapels. \u00a0The chapels are notable as one contains the body of St. Felix of Cantalice and another is the tomb of the Blessed Crispin of Viterbo.<\/p>\n

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While walking thru the church, we encountered the custodian, Marius Girard. A\u00a0delightful and friendly man from Sri Lanka, he offered to take us into the rear of the\u00a0church.\u00a0 Behind the sanctuary, we discovered artworks created by the friars and the side window which is used by the pope to observe mass.<\/p>\n

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The Pope’s window<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

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Finally, we departed and headed through the Piazza Barberini down to Via Del Corso.\u00a0 Crossing the Tiber river, near Castel San Angelo, we found Chiesa del Sacro Cuore del Suffragio (Church of the Sacred Heart of the Suffrage).\u00a0 Appearing quite dark, we thought that the church may have been closed.\u00a0 Finding the door unlocked, however, we headed toward the front of the church, following the sound of a voice. Located within the sacristy, the entry is a door in the sixth pan of the nave on the right. There, we found a young Italian gentleman seated at a desk.\u00a0 Inquiring about the Purgatory Museum, he sat upright and placed a basket on his desk for\u00a0donations.\u00a0 After we each placed 2 euro in the basket, he grabbed his keys and headed to a doorway behind us.\u00a0 Ushering us into the room, he handed us a laminated guide\u00a0in English, describing the display.\u00a0 Once he disappeared, we glanced around the small room, and into the next, however, finding that the \u201cmuseum\u201d was this one small area.<\/p>\n

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Oh well, it wasn\u2019t the Vatican, but we decided to see what this tiny museum was all about.<\/p>\n

A miraculous occurrence happened in the Order of the Sacred Heart’s chapel dedicated to Our Lady of the Rosary on July 2, 1897.\u00a0 During a fire, a scorched image of a face was left behind on the wall.\u00a0 The face was believed to be a trapped soul.\u00a0 Victor Jouet, a collector and French missionary, was inspired to build the purgatorial museum due to this occurrence and began to search for testimonies about the souls of Purgatory.<\/p>\n

According to Catholic belief, a soul is stranded in purgatory until it atones for its sins, but can hasten its ascent to heaven through the prayers of loved ones still on earth.<\/p>\n

A glass case houses many relics, which contain scorched handprints and other burn marks.\u00a0 These imprints are believed to be the product of souls begging their earth-bound loved ones to pray harder.\u00a0 Among the items on display is the nightcap of a man who discovered his deceased wife\u2019s hand prints on it asking him to pray for her.\u00a0 Another amazing item is a book belonging to a woman whose mother-in-law reportedly appeared to her and asked for two masses in her honor.\u00a0 After the wish was fulfilled, a hand print was found on the book as a message of thanksgiving.<\/p>\n

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A quick walk around the interior of the lovely church was in order after our museum visit. \u00a0The museum, small, but thought provoking, was certainly worth a half hour of our time.\u00a0 One of those little known places in the Eternal City, which most visitors have never heard of, we can now say that we have been there.<\/p>\n

If you are a frequent traveler to Rome, have already seen the famous sights and are looking for something more offbeat, take the time to visit both of these unique institutions.\u00a0 You won\u2019t spend your time waiting in long lines and you will have something intriguing and just a bit wacky to tell your friends and family about after your return.<\/p>\n

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For more pictures, check out my Facebook page, Snapping the Globe and on Instagram, Snapping the Globe.<\/p>\n

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Capuchin Crypt and Museum<\/strong><\/p>\n