The Basilica of St. Augustine in Campo Marzio: a sanctuary for mothers and women at prayer

The Basilica of Saint. Augustine, located in Rome’s Campo Marzio neighbourhood, is home to Jacopo Sansovino’s statue Madonna del Parto (Our Lady of Partuition), which visitors encounter upon entering the church. The Carrara marble statue, which was carved between 1516 and 1521, depicts the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus. The statue has been the object of intense popular devotion for centuries, especially among pregnant women. According to tradition, Sansovino repurposed a Roman statue, traditionally depicting Agrippina holding the infant Nero, and transformed it into a Christian representation of motherhood.

In 1822, Pope Pius VII announced that whoever kissed the foot of the statue of the Holy Virgin while reciting the Hail Mary would be granted an indulgence. This practice became so widespread that the marble foot eroded over time, necessitating its replacement with a silver one.

“This is a women’s basilica,” explains Father Pasquale di Lernia, Secretary General of the Order of St. Augustine. “The Madonna del Parto symbolises spiritual motherhood. Mothers entrust themselves to her with unwavering faith, bringing her their requests and offering prayers of thanksgiving.”

The heart of mothers: Saint Monica

The statue of Madonna del Parto stands a few steps away from the centre of the basilica, where the mortal remains of Saint Monica, mother of Saint Augustine, are housed. Throughout the centuries, this church has been a pilgrimage destination for mothers from all over the world who have requested her intercession. Father di Lernia highlights Saint Monica’s significant role in Saint Augustine’s conversion, emphasising her unwavering faith and tenacity as a catalyst for her son’s spiritual journey:

“Without Monica, there would probably be no Saint Augustine today. Her spiritual labour was instrumental to the emergence of the saint.”

Every year, Saint Monica’s feast day draws believers from the United States and many other countries. “The presence of Saint Monica’s body here – adds Father di Lernia – makes this church a pilgrimage site for mothers who come here to pray for their children and to ask for Monica’s intercession to guide their children along the path of faith.”

The miracle of Saint Rita and the link with Pope Leo XIV

Saint Rita of Cascia is a highly revered figure within the Order of Saint Augustine. Father di Lernia explained: “Saint Rita was an Augustinian saint who dedicated her life to following the Rule of Saint Augustine. She was a member of the monastic community of Cascia, specifically the Monastery of Saint Mary Magdalene.” The chapel dedicated to her features Giacinto Brandi’s Ecstasy of Saint Rita, a painting depicting the moment a ray of light from the crucifix struck the saint’s forehead. Father di Lernia recounts the miraculous event that occurred during a prayer. “The Lord heard her plea, and a ray of light emerged from the crucifix and hit her forehead, causing a wound. It was a real wound that caused much pain and discomfort, and it gave off a slight odour like all unhealed wounds.” The Augustinian Father also recalls a specific event linked to the canonisation of Nicholas of Tolentino in 1436.

“Rita was deeply devoted to this saint. She sought to emulate his virtues and was determined not to miss this event. However, the wound on her forehead prevented her from attending. But the Lord sees the depths of our hearts, and in that moment, the wound healed. Rita went to Rome, but the wound reappeared as soon as she returned to Cascia”.

According to certain accounts, during her journey to Rome for the canonisation of Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Rita stopped to pray at the Basilica of Saint Augustine, which was still being built at the time. This event is believed to foreshadow the strengthening of the spiritual bond between the two saints over the centuries.

The bond between Pope Leo XIV and Saint Rita

“She is one of the world’s most popular saints, and she is also dear to Pope Leo XIV,” says Father di Lernia. The figure of Saint Rita, venerated as a ‘woman of peace’, is highly relevant in the current pontificate, which is characterised by a strong commitment to reconciliation. “The promotion of peace is something the Pope has repeatedly drawn attention to,” adds Father di Lernia. “Rita is invoked precisely for this reason: she brought peace to a country divided by factions, to her family, and to the monastic community of Cascia.”

The spiritual legacy of Clare of Montefalco

Alongside Saint Monica and Saint Rita, the Basilica of Saint Augustine preserves the memory of another significant figure in the Augustinian Order: Saint Clare of Montefalco. A mystic and spiritual visionary, she lived her faith through prayer and contemplation. Father di Lernia highights the spiritual ssignificance of this figure: “Clare is renowned for her profound mystical experiences, which are a testament to her profound faith, embodied even in her redeeming suffering. According to tradition, she had a powerful vision during an ecstatic state in which Christ revealed to her the signs of his Passion imprinted on her heart.” For the General Secretary of the Augustinian Order, Clare is a symbol of complete devotion to the Passion of Christ — a path of suffering and redemption that she embraced with unwavering faith. Until recently, it was possible to visit a chapel dedicated to her in the basilica, which is now undergoing restoration. 

“Clare shows us that Augustinian spirituality is not only contemplative, it is also grounded in sacrifice and communion with the Passion of Christ,” remarks Father di Lernia.

A sanctuary of faith and prayer for women

St. Augustine’s Basilica is a religious site of female spirituality, where prayer and intercession are embodied by strong and determined women. “This church,” concludes Father di Lernia, “is a place where women find spiritual refuge and comfort, a sanctuary of prayer. Here, silent prayers, hopes and requests for intercession intertwine. In this place, Mary watches over mothers and their children every day.”