Treasures of the Confraternity

Among the treasures in the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli in Gallipoli, Apulia, conserved and safeguarded with care by the Confraternity di Santa Maria degli Angeli, are a statue in Lecce-style papier mâché of Cristo Morto and an oil painting of the Madonna and Child in Glory at the main altar. Both works are in a critical state of conservation, requiring restoration work to prevento further detioration and bring them back to their original splendour for the enjoyment and attention of residents and visitors.

St. Mary of the Angels Church

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Treasures of the Confraternity

Both works are in a critical state of conservation, requiring restoration work to prevento further detioration and bring them back to their original splendour for the enjoyment and attention of residents and visitors.

THE CONFRATERNITY OF ST. MARY OF THE ANGELS

500 years of history

The origins of this oratory, and its confraternity, date to the discovery in 1568 of a Byzantine image of the Madonna and Child in a cave in Carpignano Salentino. A congregation of the Madonna of Carpignano was present in the Church of St. John the Baptist in the historical centre of Gallipoli from 1662.

When a new oratory was built in 1665 on the site of that church, overlooking the Ionian Sea and the islets of Campo and Sant’Andrea it was instead dedicated to St. Mary of the Angels. The worship of St. Mary of the Angels is linked to St. Francis of Assisi. One night, the Virgin Mary appeared with Jesus and Angels as he was praying. In this apparition, she gave the church known as the “Porziuncola” (which stands in the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels in Assisi to this day) to the saint and his followers as the seat for the new Franciscan order.

a long history of solidarity

The congregations and confraternities of Southern Italy in general and Gallipoli in particular, were associations organized to offer and provide support, nearly always, between people of the same social setting or who practised the same profession or vocation. The main goal was to look after their common interests together and to carry out charitable works and activities of solidarity.

The Confraternity’s social and cultural function is still of central importance today, along with the religious aspect. Great attention is paid to charity work, and a careful eye is kept on the community: the Confraternity is always ready to provide material and spiritual support.

The Confraternity organizes the processions of Our Lady of the Assumption (14 August) on invitation from the Associazione Cattolica “San Luigi”, it co-organizes that of St. Louis (20 June) and, with the Associazione Cattolica SS. Crocefisso, participates in the Good Friday procession that parades with the statue of the Virgin of Sorrows.

The Church of St. Mary of the Angels

The facade of the simple, single-nave building bears a beautiful majolica panel of Our Lady of the Assumption made in 1942 by Raffaele Vaccarella of Naples.

Inside, the side walls feature four large 18th century frescoes by Mandurian painter Diego Oronzo Bianchi: “The Miracle of the Loaves and Fish”; “Distribution of the Loaves”; “Jesus among the Doctors in the Temple”; “The Wedding Feast at Cana”.

On the other side is a choir stall with 18th century organ by Giuseppe Corrado of Taranto. The pews for the members of the confraternity are decorated with gold frames and delicate bouquets of flowers against green water-colored fields. The altar in Lecce stone plastered in painted polychrome marble by the master artist Luigi Schiavone of Monopoli was installed in the late 1800s.