Church of the Gesù facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Church of the Gesù
Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus
Italian: Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù
Giacomo della Porta's façade, precursor of Baroque
41°53′45″N 12°28′47″E / 41.89583°N 12.47972°E / 41.89583; 12.47972
Location	54 Piazza del Gesu, Rome
Country	Italy
Denomination	Roman Catholic
History
Status	Mother church of the Society of Jesus, titular church
Dedication	Holy Name of Jesus
Consecrated	1584
Architecture
Functional status	Active
Architect(s)	Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola Giacomo della Porta
Style	Mannerist Baroque (façade)
Groundbreaking	1568
Completed	1580
Specifications
Length	75 metres (246 ft)
Width	35 metres (115 ft)
Nave width	25 metres (82 ft)
Other dimensions	Façade direction: W
Number of domes	1
Administration
Diocese	Rome

The Church of the Gesù (which means "Church of Jesus" in Italian) is the main church of the Society of Jesus. The Jesuits are a Catholic religious order. Its official name is Chiesa del Santissimo Nome di Gesù, meaning "Church of the Most Holy Name of Jesus".

This church is famous because its front (façade) was the first true example of the Baroque style. It became a model for many other Jesuit churches around the world. These churches were built especially in central Europe and in Portuguese colonies. The beautiful paintings inside the Church of the Gesù also inspired many other churches in Italy and Europe. You can find this important church in the Piazza del Gesù in Rome, Italy.

Saint Ignatius of Loyola, who founded the Society of Jesus, first thought of building this church in 1551. It was an important place during the Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation. The church was also the home of the leader of the Jesuits until their order was stopped in 1773. Later, the Jesuits got the church back. The building next to it is now a home for Jesuit scholars. These scholars come from all over the world to study at the Gregorian University to become priests.

History of the Church
The Church's Front (Façade)
Inside the Church
Influence on Other Churches
Gallery
See also

History of the Church

Even though Michelangelo offered to design the church for free, Cardinal Alessandro Farnese paid for it. He was the grandson of Pope Paul III, who had approved the founding of the Jesuit order. The main architects who worked on the church were Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola and Giacomo della Porta.

The church was built on the same spot where an older church, Santa Maria della Strada, once stood. Saint Ignatius of Loyola used to pray there. An old image of the Holy Virgin from that church, now decorated with jewels, can still be seen inside. It is in the chapel of Ignatius, on the left side of the altar.

Construction of the church started on June 26, 1568. Vignola created the first design. He was helped by Giovanni Tristano, another Jesuit. After Vignola, Giovanni Tristano took over in 1571. When he died in 1575, Giovanni de Rosis became the architect. Giacomo della Porta helped build the dome and the back part of the church (the apse).

The design of the Church of the Gesù became a blueprint for Jesuit churches for centuries. The Council of Trent influenced church design at the time. It suggested simpler church buildings. This church shows ideas from Charles Borromeo, who wanted to improve church building practices.

The church does not have a large entrance area (a narthex). Visitors go straight into the main part of the church. It has a single long hall (a nave) without side aisles. This design helps everyone focus on the main altar. It also helps the congregation hear the sermon clearly. Instead of aisles, there are chapels connected by arched openings. The side parts of the church (transepts) are small. They highlight the altars at their ends.

Dome

The church's design combines the large dome and strong pillars of High Renaissance churches with the long nave of older preaching churches. These older churches were used by groups like the Franciscans and Dominicans. The Jesuits wanted people to hear sermons well. This is why the church has one main nave and a dome where the nave and transepts meet.

Inside, you can see colorful marble, gold decorations, and beautiful ceiling paintings. White stucco and marble sculptures stand out from the walls. The Gesù church influenced many other churches. Even though traditional churches with aisles still existed, new Baroque church designs often used oval or Greek cross shapes for smaller buildings.

Cardinal Giulio Antonio Santorio officially opened the church on November 25, 1584. He was representing Pope Gregory XIII.

The Church's Front (Façade)

Main nave and altar

Detail of ceiling showing the trompe l'oeil effect

The front of the church, or façade, was changed and completed by Giacomo Della Porta. It has two main sections. These sections are decorated with acanthus leaves on pillars and column tops.

The lower section has six pairs of pillars. Some columns are mixed with pillars around the main door. The main door is richly decorated with carvings. It shows the pope's symbol and a shield with the letters SPQR. These letters connect the church to the people of Rome. Above the main door is a curved arch (tympanum). Above that is a large round medal with the letters IHS. These letters are a symbol for Jesus. They are the first three letters of Jesus's name in Greek. This symbol represents both Jesus and the Jesuit order, which is called the Society of Jesus.

The two other doors have triangle-shaped tops. On the upper part of this first level, there are two statues. One statue of St. Francis Xavier stands on the right side of the façade. His left foot rests on a human body. On the other side is a statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola.

The upper section has four pairs of pillars and no statues. The upper and lower parts of the façade are joined by a large spiral shape (a volute) on each side.

Inside the Church

The current main altar was designed by Antonio Sarti in the mid-1800s. It has four columns under a classical-style triangle top. Sarti also covered the back part of the church (apse) with marble. He drew the plans for the tabernacle. The angels around the IHS symbol were sculpted by Rinaldo Rinaldi. The two kneeling angels were made by Francesco Benaglia and Filippo Gnaccarini. The large painting above the altar was done by Alessandro Capalti. The ceiling of the apse has a painting called Glory of the Mystical Lamb by Baciccia.

The most amazing part of the inside is the ceiling fresco called Triumph of the Name of Jesus. It was painted by Giovanni Battista Gaulli between 1678 and 1679. Gaulli also painted the dome, the main ceiling, window areas, and the transept ceilings.

The first chapel on the right side of the main hall is the Cappella di Sant'Andrea. It is named after the old church that was here before. All the paintings in this chapel were done by Agostino Ciampelli. The frescoes on the arches show male martyrs. The pillars show female martyrs. The ceiling painting shows the Glory of the Virgin surrounded by martyred saints. The side paintings show Saints Agnes & Lucy face the storm and St. Stephen and the Deacon St. Lawrence. The altarpiece shows the Martyrdom of St. Andrew.

The second chapel on the right is the Cappella della Passione. It has paintings showing scenes from Jesus's suffering, like Jesus in Gethsemane and the Kiss of Judas. There are also six paintings on the pillars. The altar has a bronze container with the remains of an 18th-century Jesuit, St. Giuseppe Pignatelli.

The third chapel on the right is the Cappella degli Angeli. It has a ceiling fresco of the Coronation of the Virgin. The main painting shows Angels worshiping the Trinity by Federico Zuccari. He also painted the scenes on the walls. These show the Defeat of the rebel angels and Angels liberate souls from Purgatory. Other frescoes show Heaven, Hell, and Purgatory.

Saint Francis Xavier Chapel altar

The larger Saint Francis Xavier Chapel is in the right transept. It was designed by Pietro da Cortona. This chapel has colorful marbles and a stucco relief showing Francis Xavier welcomed to heaven by angels. The main painting shows the Death of Francis Xavier by Carlo Maratta. The arches have scenes from the saint's life. A silver container here holds part of the saint's right arm. He used this arm to baptize many people.

The last chapel on the far right of the main hall, near the main altar, is the Chapel of the Sacro Cuore (Holy Heart of Jesus).

The first chapel on the left is now the Cappella di San Francesco Borgia. This chapel is named after Francis Borgia, a Spanish Duke who became a Jesuit leader. The main painting, Saint Francesco Borgia in Prayer, is by Pozzo. The ceiling frescoes show Pentecost. Other paintings show St. Peter in jail and the Conversion of St. Paul.

St. Ignatius Chapel altar

The second chapel on the left is the Cappella della Sacra Famiglia, dedicated to the Nativity. The main painting of the Nativity is by Circignani. The roof has a painting of the Celestial celebration on the nativity of Christ. Other frescoes show the Annunciation to the Shepherds and the Massacre of the Innocents.

The third chapel on the left is the Cappella della Santissima Trinità (Holy Trinity Chapel). The main painting is by Francesco Bassano the Younger. The frescoes were painted by several artists. The reliquary on the altar holds the right arm of the Polish Jesuit St. Andrew Bobola.

Chapel of Madonna della Strada

The impressive St. Ignatius Chapel is on the left side of the transept. It is a masterpiece designed by Andrea Pozzo between 1696 and 1700. The altar shows the Trinity on top of a globe. The blue stone (lapis lazuli) on the globe was once thought to be the largest piece in the world. Four columns covered in lapis lazuli surround a huge statue of the saint by Pierre Legros. The original silver statue was melted down to pay war costs to Napoleon.

The urn holding the body of St. Ignatius is made of bronze by Algardi. Below it are two groups of statues. One shows Religion defeating heresy by Legros. It has a small angel tearing pages from books by famous reformers like Luther and Calvin. The other shows Faith defeating idolatry by Jean-Baptiste Théodon.

The St. Ignatius Chapel also has a special "baroque machine" by Andrea Pozzo. During the day, the statue of St. Ignatius is hidden behind a large painting. But every day at 5:30 PM, triumphant music plays. The painting is lowered into the altar by the machine, revealing the statue. Spotlights highlight parts of the altar, and the history of the Jesuits is explained.

The last chapel on the far left of the main hall, near the main altar, is the Chapel of the Madonna della Strada. It is named after an old image of the Virgin Mary that Saint Ignatius loved. The inside was designed by Giuseppe Valeriani. He painted scenes from the life of the Virgin.

The church also has a large pipe organ. It has three keyboards and pipes in three different places. Two decorated parts of the organ are on the transept walls. A smaller part is above the main entrance.

Influence on Other Churches

The Church of the Gesù became a model for many other Jesuit churches around the world. Some examples include the Church of St. Michael in Munich (Germany), the Corpus Christi Church in Nyasvizh (Belarus), and the Saints Peter and Paul Church in Kraków (Poland). It also inspired churches like the Cathedral of Córdoba in Argentina and the Church of St. Ignatius of Loyola in Buenos Aires. Many parishes today are also named after the Church of the Gesù in Rome.