Archives and Museum

Villa Lante Center also houses the General Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart and the museum dedicated to the foundress Sainte Madeleine Sophie Barat.

The mission of the General Archives is to preserve and make accessible the memory of the Congregation. The archives allow us to explore first-hand the material the testimony of the Society: the challenges, the decisions, the apostolate, the daily life of a community, the history of the Church and the local history in which the Society of the Sacred Heart has served.

The new Villa Lante Museum, which displays numerous objects and paintings from the General Archives, is a permanent exhibition of artifacts and artistic objects that show the fundamental stages of the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, focusing on the figures of the two Saints of the Congregation - the foundress Sainte Madeleine Sophie Barat (1779-1865) and the woman who initiated the missionary drive, Sainte Rose Philippine Duchesne (1769-1852).

The museum and the mission display are an integral part of the life of the Villa Lante Center.

Groups visiting Rome will be able to participate in activities and seminars and attend the presentation of the General Archives of the Society of the Sacred Heart to understand and experience first-hand.

With the collaboration of the archive staff we will be able to organize lessons, for example, on the history of schools spread across 41 countries in the world and on the pedagogy of the Sacred Heart. It will also be possible to schedule a guided tour of the Museum to learn more about the inspirational story of the Society of the Sacred Heart from its foundation to today.

If you are interested in learning more about these topics, do not hesitate to write to us and ask to design an educational proposal for your group!

Timeline

1837
Purchase of the Villa Lante property. the Villa consisted of two parts. The so-called Villino and The so-called Palazzo Vecchio located below the hill, larger and in a state of disrepair, had been used as a tobacco warehouse.
1837
1842
Painter Pietro Gagliardi copied on canvas the Fresco of Our Lady of Sorrows that was painted on the walls of the garden.
- The Novitiate opens and Community start living.
1842
1850
The Neo-Gothic Church is consecrated. the restoration of the building was directed by the architect Vantaggi, who contributed his own money to the construction of the church, the first neo-Gothic Church and the first to be dedicated to the Sacred Heart in Rome.
1850
1887
Villino rented to German archaeologist Wolfgang Helbig, until 1909 when he bought it from the Society
1887
1915
Villa Lante is seat of the Motherhouse of the Society, until 1920
1915
1950 (circa)
Bethania building erected, to host probanists (young religious preparing to make final vows)
1950 (circa)
1955
Kindergarten operates, for the children in Trastevere. It shuts down in 1985
1955
1968
Is elected as headquarters of the Italian Province of the Society of the Sacred Heart
1968
1988
Year of the canonization of Saint Philippine Duchesne and of the due General Chapter, this latter is held at the Villa Lante.
1988
1990 (circa)
“Casa per Ferie - Guest House” in Villa Lante managed by italian province
1990 (circa)
2020 - 2023
“Casa per ferie” shut down and renovation of the entire property started
The Villa has become the Villa Lante Center for Religious and Lay Formation
2020 - 2023