DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71133#0177
CHAPTER V.
To St. Paul’s and Tre Fontane.
An electric car runs to St. Paul’s from the Piazza di Venezia
every twenty minutes. If we prefer to go on foot, we can start
from the Piazza del Gesii and see one or two interesting places
on our way.
104;—TOR de’ SPECCHT.
Following the Via di Ara Cceli as far as the steps of the
Capitol, and turning down the narrow street on our right at the
foot of the steps, we reach the famous convent of Tor de’
Specchi, founded in 1433 by St. Frances of Rome for pious
ladies, who wish to live retired from the world in poverty,
obedience and self-sacrifice, but without binding themselves by
religious vows. They are called Oblates, because they make
an oblation of themselves instead of the usual vows p but in
other respects they are like nuns, and are affiliated to the
Olivetans, or white Benedictines.
On the death of her husband Lorenzo Ponziano, St. Frances,
in spite of the opposition of her son, came to join this com-
munity. For twenty-four years she had enjoyed the visible
presence of an angel ever at her side : he now took leave of
her with a benignant smile, and in his place another angel of a
higher choir, more refulgent still, was ordained to stand by her.
The interior of the convent is much as it was in the fifteenth
century, the old chapel and the cell of the Saint remaining
unchanged.
1 For the same reason this, their ancient home, was not appro-
priated by the Italian Government, as they form a community not of
nuns, but of pious ladies. They are nearly all of noble birth, and
though each one retains her private property, nearly all the income
(beyond what is needed for a very poor maintenance) is devoted to
works of charity.
J
To St. Paul’s and Tre Fontane.
An electric car runs to St. Paul’s from the Piazza di Venezia
every twenty minutes. If we prefer to go on foot, we can start
from the Piazza del Gesii and see one or two interesting places
on our way.
104;—TOR de’ SPECCHT.
Following the Via di Ara Cceli as far as the steps of the
Capitol, and turning down the narrow street on our right at the
foot of the steps, we reach the famous convent of Tor de’
Specchi, founded in 1433 by St. Frances of Rome for pious
ladies, who wish to live retired from the world in poverty,
obedience and self-sacrifice, but without binding themselves by
religious vows. They are called Oblates, because they make
an oblation of themselves instead of the usual vows p but in
other respects they are like nuns, and are affiliated to the
Olivetans, or white Benedictines.
On the death of her husband Lorenzo Ponziano, St. Frances,
in spite of the opposition of her son, came to join this com-
munity. For twenty-four years she had enjoyed the visible
presence of an angel ever at her side : he now took leave of
her with a benignant smile, and in his place another angel of a
higher choir, more refulgent still, was ordained to stand by her.
The interior of the convent is much as it was in the fifteenth
century, the old chapel and the cell of the Saint remaining
unchanged.
1 For the same reason this, their ancient home, was not appro-
priated by the Italian Government, as they form a community not of
nuns, but of pious ladies. They are nearly all of noble birth, and
though each one retains her private property, nearly all the income
(beyond what is needed for a very poor maintenance) is devoted to
works of charity.
J