Churches In India

St Aloysius Chapel

Located in Mangalore city of Southwestern Indian state of Karnataka, famous St. Aloysius Chapel is also denoted with Chapel of St. Aloysius College. The strategic location in the middle of the city keeps this Chapel into limelight on the Lighthouse Hill which is a famous location there.  

It is notable that St. Aloysius Chapel remains most sought after place in Mangalore where visitors throng. Famous as Lighthouse Hill the area is already recognized in the central part of the city where the Chapel is centre of attraction. Easily linked to all parts of the city its location is merely one kilometer from Nehru Maidan Bus Stand so there is hardly any connectivity issue. Most visitors arriving Mangalore city make it a point to reach here to see St. Aloysius Chapel of Mangalore. They get impressed from excellent architectural beauty of this wonderful building.

History

Jesuit Missionaies built St. Aloysius Chapel in Mangalore in 1880. Italian painter Jesuit Antonio Moscheni painted its interiors in 1899. It was the period of Mangalore Mission in 1878 that Chapel observed such revolutions. Mangalorean Catholic community was benefitted to the maximum extent due to the best efforts of Italian Jesuits which helped them through support in education, health and other sectors especially social welfare. Their contribution to build St. Aloysius College and St Aloysius Chapel in 1880 and 1884 is of greater value, so are they known for the untiring contribution to build many churches and institutions in that period.

Architecture

Often compared with unique Roman Chapels, St. Aloysius College Chapel in the Mangalore city is portrayal of architectural wonder in India. Uniqueness of this Chapel is collection of amazing paintings that decorate its all potions. Such typical beautification differentiates this Chapel from the rest Indian Chapels. It is literally a masterpiece which had been especially designed by Italy’s Bro Moscheni. The life of Aloysius Gonzaga is best described through one portion of Chapel’s paintings. This Chapel and Aloysius College was dedicated to him. Contributions of Saint Aloysius for public are remembered even to this day.  

India’s recognized board exclusive for maintaining and restoring all types of historic artifacts look after these Chapel paintings and preserve them.  

Paintings

This Chapel and College is dedicated to the life of Aloysius Gonzaga on whom the painting in central row on the ceiling dedicates. College students are instructed to understand the life of Gonzaga as a role model because he served humanity through helping others unconditionally. Observe life of Gonzaga who was bestowed with everything one would expect at young age to lead comfortable lifestyle from wealth to name, fame and power but he kept everything aside and liked serving humanity through helping the needy. All students enrolled in the college are guided to absorb such public service spirit which Gonzaga portrayed centuries ago.

First three panels from rear painting showcase the early life of Gonzaga. In fact these paintings explain the following:-

While dedicating his life to God the painting portrays childhood phase of Aloysius at the Altar of Mary in Florence.

Painting shows Aloysius offering sermon to his townsfolk to know God.

First communion of Aloysius.

In quest of admission to Jesuit Order by Aloysius.

Paintings in wall above the altar explain rest part of his life in detail. Similarly the paintings in central portion show him serving humanity with incessant service to the Rome’s plague stricken people. Aloysius would come forward to volunteer in a task to help the sufferers. The height of his dedication is that he died at the age of mere 23 due to being contracted plague while serving others. Other paintings from the sloping ceiling panels define Apostles while rest panels depict garlands weaved in them systematically. It is interesting to note that hardly any two garland has same flowers hence they remain attractive. Life sized angels hold such garlands there. Saints of the Church have been showcased from upper arches while Jesuit saints are depicted through lower arches.

Such notable paintings are as follows:-

St. Thomas, showcase apostle of India whose spear in hand is noticeable

St. Francis of Assisi defines environmentalists’ patron.

St. Peter Claver the Apostle of Negroes describes his contribution to serve slaves upon their arrival to Cartagena. His care and love to slaves developed self-confidence in them. Such things are describe by paintings on the fourth left arch there.

Bl. Rudolf Aquaviva - Explains respect he received from the Court of King Akbar.

St John de Britto defines the sign of inculturation as first and foremost missionary wearing sanyasi dress. As a scholar he studied Indian culture & customs besides Sanskrit and Tamil languages.

Rear wall paintings define Jesus and his closeness to children fraternity. It is also assumed one of the Moscheni’s masterpieces. The painting has been covered with fungus and calcium carbonate crystals because of rain water seepage. Although it is restored but a portion that hadn’t been restored still shows woman seating there.

Many other paintings define crucial moments from the life of Jesus that include:- 

The birth of Our Lord showcasing the Christmas night.

St John the Baptist baptizing Jesus

The wedding feast at Cana, a miraculous thing through which water got changed into wine by Jesus and was kept into the six pitchers.

The Crucifixion of Jesus explaining Calvary’s two thieves. It showcases the Cross foot where the Mother of Jesus Mary and Magdalen are seen. The side of Jesus being pierced by a lance through soldier Longinus is explained. It also defines the light show of artist from darkness and lightning shown by the medium of art and painting.

Types of Paintings in the Church:

This Chapel owns two types of paintings which include fresco and canvas painting. Those painted on fresh wet lime plaster walls are fresco paintings in which all colors are done on lime plaster and dried accordingly. Chapel’s fresco paintings envelop approximately 600 square meters of its wall while rest are by oil painting. Pigments have been mixed with linseed oil for oil paintings to develop the color scheme. Pure linen from strong close weave has been used to make the canvas. Approximately 400 squire meters of ceiling area has been covered through oil paintings in canvas to decorate this Chapel and to turn it unique.

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