The Basilica dell'Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio in Naples

One of the most interesting churches imaginable is the Basilica dell'Incoronata Madre del Buon Consiglio (in English, Basilica of the Crowned Mother of Good Counsel), a mesmerizing Neo-Baroque gem positioned north of Naples in the Capodimonte zone. This unique church takes its structural design from St. Peter's Basilica, on a modified scale. For this reason it is called the "Little St. Peter's."

The church was originally envisioned by a local nun, Sr. Maria di Gesù Landi, who died in 1931 while the basilica was under construction. The architect was Vincenzo Veccia, and construction lasted for forty years between 1920-1960. Interestingly, it is similar in design to the Cathedral of Mary Queen of the World in Montreal, Canada, also modeled after St. Peter's Basilica. It was consecrated in 1960 by Alfonso Cardinal Castaldo and was raised to the dignity of a basilica in 1980. Like St. Peter's Basilica, the church even has its own Pieta', seen below.

The basilica is located on a picturesque hillside in the shadow of Mt. Vesuvius, leading up to the Royal Palace of Capodimonte, and next to the Catacombs of San Gennaro. Its dome, modeled after Michelangelo's famed design of St. Peter's Basilica (albeit with a more narrow drum), makes a striking skyline paired with the famous volcano looming in the distance. The ancient ruins of Pompei lay on the other side of Vesuvius and the Bay of Naples beyond.

The church exterior was recently cleaned and it shines like new. The parish has an active liturgical life with various groups that include an Archconfraternity, a typical staple in Italy. The basilica is also home to the local group of Knights and Dames of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem, who have their regional seat here and who participate in certain liturgical events such as the Easter Vigil.  

The basilica houses a miraculous icon of Our Lady of Buon Consiglio (Good Counsel), renowned locally for its prodigious signs. The story goes back to the nun who inspired the construction of the basilica, Sr. Maria who had always had a tender devotion to Our Lady of Good Counsel. She expressed this devotion by praying in front of the original image that was once located in her family home.

In 1884 she commissioned the Neapolitan painter Spanò to paint a new image that corresponded to her ideal of the icon, in a bright, new version. As soon as the painting was exhibited in her chapel, the cholera that had raged in Naples in 1884 began to finally end. This was taken as a sign from above. 

Also, in 1906 on Good Friday, when the city was in a state of panic due to the weight of the ash from a surprise eruption of Mt. Vesuvius (it started to cause roofs and attics to collapse), Sr. Maria took the icon and held it out from her balcony to ask for protection from Heaven.

A ray of sunlight is said to have penetrated the thick curtain of ash and illuminated the image. From that moment on, the rain of ash from the sky began to subside. A press bulletin from the Vesuvian Observatory announced good news: the strength of the eruption was gradually decreasing.

From that moment on, the oratory chapel of Sr. Maria became a center of intense prayer, exquisite Marian piety, pilgrimage, and fervent charitable activity. It was visited by high prelates and noble ladies, business professionals and common people, who came to ask for prayers from Our Lady. 

This fervor of spirituality did not go unnoticed by the Vatican. Pope St. Pius X, with his decree dated March 29, 1911, ordered the icon to be solemnly crowned. This solemn occasion was celebrated in 1912 by papal delegate representing the Pope, on the solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord, a day never to be forgotten. The Christian faithful to this day flock here to bring their prayer petitions and pray before this sacred image. 

The icon is today enshrined behind the main altar in the main apse, where pilgrims visit and gather to pray. Some travelers choose to visit here in conjunction with a stop at the nearby archeological ruins of ancient Pompei. Naples has a lot to offer. This totally unique church, a hidden gem in a land full of prominent churches, is a brilliant liturgical space and a tribute to the canon of twentieth century new church construction. A solid emblem of the enduring appeal of traditional church architecture. 

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