The church has always been entrusted to the Salesians, as it was built by Don Bosco himself at the behest of Pope Leo XIII. It was built in just 7 years (1880–1887), despite the fact that when the Piedmontese saint took on the task the Pope had made it clear to him that he had no funds. Don Bosco, counting on Providence, succeeded in the undertaking, also achieving the one condition he had put to the Pope in accepting the mission: that along with the church there would be room for "a large hospice, where many poor young people, who abound especially in that neighbourhood, can be taken in for classes in arts and trades” (G. B. Lemoyne, Vita del Venerabile Servo di Dio Giovanni Bosco, Vol. 2).
It is, however, a church where Don Bosco celebrated Mass just once – on 16 May 1887 – in a celebration that has remained part of history because it was interrupted fifteen times by the sobs of the elderly priest, shaken by the vision of his famous “dream at nine years of age” whose meaning was fully revealed to him at that moment.
In 1921, with Pope Benedict XV, it became a Minor Basilica. The Sacred Heart Church in Rome is still a breeding ground for apostolic and Salesian activities. It has been the wish of the Rector Major, Fr Ángel Fernández Artime, that the Salesian Headquarters community which has moved next door since 2018, is to be increasingly responsible for these activities.
Indeed, a variety of activities take place at the church, which is also a parish: in addition to offering daily numerous opportunities to approach the sacraments, particularly Mass and Reconciliation, catechetical activities for children and adults take place, a lively oratory is active there, and charitable activity carried out together with the youth toward the homeless and needy who crowd the surrounding area is highly developed.
Ahead of the Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, which is to be celebrated this year on Friday, 16 June, the entire parish has been on the move with a variety of initiatives.
From Wednesday, 7 June to Thursday 15 June, the parish community will gather after the 6 p.m. Mass for the traditional novena in preparation for the feast.
In addition, after the novena, an intensive formation course for those who wish to consecrate themselves to the Sacred Heart of Jesus will be conducted during the final triduum in this period (13-15 June) on three specific topics:
– The history of consecration to the Sacred Heart of Jesus;
– The theology of consecration;
– The act of consecration.
“We have been proposing this form of personal and special adherence to the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus for several years now” explained Fr. Javier Ortíz, one of the basilica's assistant priests. “Usually each year there are between 15 and 25 people who do so, and with this gesture they receive a special scapular and commit themselves to a special sacramental life, in our church or elsewhere, to be accomplished through frequent Confession, the Eucharist and in particular the practice of the first nine Fridays of the month, and Eucharistic adoration.”
At the musical and artistic level, over these days prior to the Feast two concerts are planned for the grand organ with five thousand pipes and 78 registers.
– Sunday 11 June, at 7 p.m. by Maestro Emanuele Lo Bianco.
– Thursday 15 June, also at 7 p.m. by Maestro Nicola Palombi;
The high point of the celebration will be reached on 16 June with the main Mass of the day celebrated by the titular cardinal of the Basilica, His Eminence Giuseppe Versaldi, Prefect Emeritus of the Congregation for Catholic Education.
“Our church is open from morning to evening, so that all those who pass through this area can have a chance to meet the Lord; and for us it is a beautiful mission to carry on and spread the devotion to the Sacred Heart, so dear to Don Bosco” says the parish priest, Fr Guido Novella. “After the years of the pandemic, not even this year, unfortunately, will we be able to have the procession because of the building work that is continuing. But we have already established an appointment for next year, when we will resume it with all the people of the neighbourhood and devotees, with even greater energy and vigour.”
