Missionaries
in churches and museums

 “Art makes the invisible visible,” says Sister Rebecca Nazzaro, as she waits for the group to come together to visit the Apostolic Palace at the Lateran in Rome, the first residence of the popes. “This city has an immense artistic, historical and religious wealth. Nevertheless, it is often unknown. Here, we try to let people know the history of these masterpieces, which also coincides with the roots of our faith, and to restore this extraordinary function of art: to make the invisible visible, to let God, through the genius of artists, touch the heart.”  This determined and smiling woman, dressed in a green dress, is the superior of the Missionaries of Divine Revelation. A small community, 19 in all, known in Rome if for no other reason than the peculiarity of the color of the habit. You may happen to cross paths with them in St. Peter's Basilica or in the Vatican Museums, where they are official guides. Also in other sacred places in the capital. They were formed with the mission of “forming God's people to the Christian life” through all available means, from catechesis to prayer groups. However, for the past few years they have specialized in the role of guides. They organize tours for adults, children, priests, pilgrim groups, tourists. With a view that, however, it not be limited to a cultural or historical explanation. Sister Rebecca explains, “Artists are able to realize the unspeakable, as a gift from God. Art is that extraordinary medium that goes directly to the heart. In addition, God speaks to the heart of every man. That is why it is an extraordinary mission instrument. This is what we try to do. Maybe there are guides who are technically better than we are. However, when I explain the Last Judgment, in the Sistine Chapel, I explain something I believe in. That is the difference. Moreover, I care that people get the meaning of what they see. We want to allow God to touch the heart, through us. That’s why our visits never end”, she smiles, “because then people ask a thousand questions”. Then you stay to answer them. Until the last question. And the visit turns into something more.

The Missionaries of Divine Revelation history is recent. They were born of Mother Prisca, a consecrated laywoman, a devotee of the Virgin of Divine Revelation, so called from the miraculous apparition that took place on April 12, 1947, at the site where the Shrine of the Three Fountains now stands, in front of Bruno Cornacchiola, a streetcar driver who had rejected the Church. Mother Prisca met Cornacchiola, became his collaborator and together with him founded a catechetical association. But it was only in 2001, when Mother died, that the association became a religious order, recognized by the Church. The encounter with art is accidental. “Cardinal Ruini,” Sister Rebecca recounts, “asked us for a presence in the basilica of St. John Lateran. We accepted. Then we asked ourselves what we could do that would be useful. There is a museum in the church and a curiosity was born in us to delve into the history of what was preserved.” Only one of them, in fact, completed art history studies. “We started with a visit to a group of children who were enagaged in catechism, explaining the nave, with episodes from the Old and New Testaments, the so-called poor man’s Bible”- From there, others ask to arrange visits. Word spreads, requests increase, including other churches. Word reaches Cardinal Angelo Comastri, who in 2007 wants to meet them. In addition, he asked them to do the same for St Peter's Basilica. Today the Missionaries of Divine Revelation, in addition to being the official guides of St. Peter’s Basilica and the Vatican Museums, offer ten fixed itineraries (St. Peter’s and the Vatican Grottoes, St. John's, the Vatican Museums, St. Mary Major, St. Paul Outside the Walls, St. Cross in Jerusalem, St Lawrence Outside the Walls, St. Agnes, St. Cecilia, St. Praxedes and St. Pudenziana) but also visits for schools, catechesis with art, and thematic routes. For example, at the Basilica of the Immaculate Heart of Mary at the Parioli they organized a visit with the theme “Blessed are the pure in heart”, at St Lawrence Outside the Walls one on the “communion of saints,” at the Basilica of St. Ambrose another on the “virtues”, at the church of St Ignatius of Loyola a catechesis entitled “When the earth rises to heaven.” They do online meetings, taking tourists and pilgrims to discover sacred sculptures and paintings found in Rome. Greeting us, Sister Rebecca cites the episode of the disciples of Emmaus: “Do you remember when he says did not our hearts burn in our breasts when he spoke to us? Behold, in our sights, by the Grace of God, this miracle s taking place. We are instruments of God. But when the heart vibrates, there the grace of God enters”.

by Elisa Calessi

#sistersproject