The first church known on this site dates to the mid-eighth century, on the ruins of a temple to Minerva that Pompey the Great built around 50 B.C., thus the “on Minerva” portion of the name.
In the mid-thirteenth century Pope Alexander IV gave the church to the Dominican friars and in 1280 they began the construction of the new church. Ninety years later, in 1370, it was complete and dedicated to the Virgin of the Annunciation. It was the first church in the Gothic style in Rome. Remodeled with both Renaissance and baroque additions, in the nineteenth century it was restored to its gothic style.
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In front of the church is one of thirteen obelisks in Rome. (It seemed like more than that!) The Romans had a penchant for carting them off from Egypt as souvenirs. When we step inside it feels a bit different than the churches we’ve seen so far.
Still lots of gleaming marble, but note the predominantly blue ceiling. The ceiling artwork dates from the restorations undertaken during the reign of Pope Pius IX. All the way down behind the altar you also see stained glass, which we did not see a lot of on our Rome pilgrimage.
Being a church that has been cared for by the Dominicans for over 700 years, much of the artwork and relics represent Dominicans. The figures on the ceiling are all various Dominican saints and blesseds.
Front and center (quite literally) is St. Catherine of Siena, who is interred under the main altar. She is an amazing woman who had a large impact in her short 33 years. She is one of the 4 female doctors of the Church. St. Mary on Minerva is her major shrine.
If we go toward the sacristy, we find an interesting place. Cardinal Barberini had the frescoes from the room where Catherine died moved here 250 years after her death.
It’s a kind of secondary altar to St Catherine.
Back out in the main part of the church, to the left of the altar is a statue by Michelangelo. Well, technically he started it, sent it to Rome unfinished, and had one of his students complete it.
What would a church run by Dominicans be without a chapel to their founder, St. Dominic (1170-1221)?
It was decorated by Pope Benedict XIII, himself a Dominican, using lots of black and white, the colors of the Dominican habit. He was subsequently laid to rest in the tomb to the right.
Pope Benedict XIII served as Pope from 1724 until 1730. He is currently regarded as a “Servant of God,” having had his cause for canonization opened on three separate occasions, the most recent of which was 2004. Maybe the third time will be the charm?
It is in this chapel that we held our daily Mass.
Of course, what would a Dominican Church be without a chapel dedicated to the Angelic Doctor, St. Thomas Aquinas?
St. Thomas (1225-1274) is the most renowned Catholic theologian of all time. Pope Paul IV is buried on the left side of this chapel.
Here’s a closer view. In the painting over the altar, we see St. Thomas presenting Cardinal Oliviero Carafa to the Virgin Mary.
The right wall has “St Thomas’s Teaching Triumphs over Error.” This is a theme we will see in other artwork as we continue our journey through Rome. I hope you’ve enjoyed this week’s church. It’s time for a coffee on the plaza.
Grace & peace,
Chris