Welcome to the church of Saint Augustine in Rimini

We are pleased to welcome you to the heart of Rimini, where our church of Saint Augustine opens its doors for moments of contemplation and spirituality.

The construction dates back to the last decades of the thirteenth century, the work of the Hermit friars of Saint Augustine who had been granted, in the center of the city, a small church dedicated to St. John the Apostle. The numerous reconstructions carried out in the eighteenth century changed its initial look, giving it a baroque style, especially in the inside.

The digital aid you are using offers a route for a short visit to the church, together with some pauses for prayer.

VISITATION AND PRAYER

We begin our visit by signing ourselves with holy water, joyfully remembering the Baptism: In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

The large wide church! This is the first impression, in fact it is said to be the largest in the city and Diocese of Rimini.

Looking forward, we see the illuminated tabernacle. It contains The Holy Eucharist, the Body of Christ.

I look at your tabernacle, Jesus. It's nice to know that You are there and I am here in front of You. Fill my heart with your joy for this visit.

As we advance into the central aisle, we see the altar of the Deposition of Christ on the right. Two weeks preceding Easter, the image of Christ is veiled by a cloth with the Glorious Cross and the symbols of the Passion.

The statue is made of wood, the work of an unknown author from the 13th century. Jesus' arms were built so that they could also be arranged horizontally. In fact, for centuries he was venerated as a Crucifix in the ancient Cathedral of Rimini. In the 2001 restoration, the original position of the arms was restored. The characters at the foot of the cross are probably missing.

Jesus, my Lord, strengthen me with your strength, console me with your peace, illuminate me with your light, enlighten me with beauty of your face.

Proceeding beyond the ancient pulpit (1512) and the old confessional, beyond the niches of the Guardian Angel and the "Ecce homo!", we find the altar dedicated to Saint Thomas of Villanova, a great witness to the charity of Christ.

In the painting, the work of M. Franceschini of Bologna (1648-1729), The Holy Bishop is depicted distributing alms to the poor, a gesture he usually did.

Inconspicuous as is his style, next to the altar of St. Thomas of Villanova, we observe the statue of St. Joseph with The Child Jesus in his arms who tenderly strokes his beard.

Immediately afterwards, we stop to contemplate the Crucifix (it is a painting on panel, from the 14th century Rimini school). In ancient times this wall was occupied by the organ and the gallery, destroyed in the fire of 1965.

We say a prayer:

Jesus crucified, I see you nailed to a cruel cross. Your innocent flesh is like that of many crucified today. I ask you for them, the grace of feeling close to you. We are fragile creatures afraid of evil. Jesus, Son of God, have mercy on them and on us all.

Before continuing, let us raise our eyes and admire the splendid 18th century ceiling with the stuccos by Ferdinando Bibiena and the paintings by Vittorio Bigari. The seven smaller oval frames dedicated to the virtues, alternate with three larger and round frames, with saints in glory. Starting from the main altar, we see the three theological virtues: faith, hope and charity.

St. John the Apostle in glory.

We observe the other virtues, the cardinal virtues, later.

After observing the first part of the ceiling, we return to the right wall where we find the altar dedicated to Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, in glory (unknown author of the 17th century)

Nicholas (1245-1305) belonged to the Augustinian order. In 1275 he retired, perhaps for health reasons, to the Augustinian hermitage of Tolentino. He dedicated a good part of his day to long prayers and fasting. He was a saint who spread smiles, an ascetic who brought joy. Many came from far away to confess all sorts of misdeeds to him, and went away enriched by his joyful trust.

Observing further, in the corners there are niches of saints connected to the Augustinians. They are 18th century statues by Carlo Sarti. In the left corner, we find St. Alipio, Bishop of Tagaste (Africa) and St. Antonino of Apamea. In the right corner, we find St. Prospero, Bishop of Reggio and St. Liberato, martyr.

Saint Prospero

Now, through the door on the right, we pass into the sacristy and from the sacristy, we enter the frescoed bell tower. A lectern with captions helps us understand the depictions.

Here we also find a beautiful image of young Saint Augustine.

After crossing the bell tower, we then enter the apse, behind the altar, to admire the fourteenth-century frescoes from Rimini. A lectern with captions helps us understand the depictions.

We then focus on Jesus Christ enthroned between two saints: saints John the Evangelist (on his right) and John the Baptist (on his left). He is the Lord with a powerful arm, but ready to listen to our invocations.

In the center of the apse we contemplate the Blessed Virgin Mary with Child. We can make an invocation to her....

Hail, Queen, mother of mercy.
Turn your merciful eyes on us.
Give us Jesus, the blessed fruit
of your womb, o sweet Virgin Mary!

We return through the sacristy to the church and, passing in front of the Tabernacle, we make a brief stop to adore Jesus present in the Holy Eucharist.

May the most Holy and Divine Sacrament be praised and thanked at all times.

Now retracing to the central lane we move towards the exit door. Looking to the right, we see the altar dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk.

The painting is the work of G. B. Costa of Rimini (1697-1767)

Below is the Baptismal Font in a modern style. Facing the baptismal font we can pray like this:

Bless, O Lord, all those who have been baptized here. Give us the strength to persevere in faith and grow in holiness.

John (Jan) of Nepomuk, (about 1345-1393), was a priest canon in Prague Cathedral, court preacher and confessor to the queen. The King Wenceslas had him killed by drowning for not wanting to reveal the contents of the queen's confessions.

Continuing the route, past the side entrance door, we find the statue of Mary Immaculate. Let us address a prayer to her who is the Mother of Jesus, Mother of the Church and of us all.

Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

Next comes the altar of the Nativity.

Work of 1868 by Sebastiano Fanelli of Rimini, copy of the original by Palma il Giovane from Venice (1544-1628). It is surrounded by a fake drape painted on canvas, the work of G. Marchesi (1725). In the foreground the Bishop St. Augustine (?)

In the next section of the church, we find (below), the tomb of Blessed Alberto Marvelli.

Young example of holiness of our times.

Above, a fresco art of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Child Jesus between St. John the Evangelist (on the left) and St. Augustine (on the right). This was brought back in 1990 from a room adjacent to the church.

St. Augustine

At this point, we again, raise our gaze to the ceiling and, after the central round dedicated to St. Augustine in glory, we observe the other four virtues, called "cardinal Virtues": prudence, justice, temperance, fortitude, interspersed with the round of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, in glory.

Leaving the ceiling, we look back to the right, the last altar is dedicated to St. John of St. Facondo.

The painting, the work of G. B. Costa of Rimini (1697-1767), recalls the miracle with which St. John of St. Facondo, using his belt, saved a child who had fallen into a well.

At the back, in the corners, other eighteenth-century statues of Augustinian saints. Looking at the background, on the left are St. John Bono of Mantua and St. Fulgentius, Bishop of Ruspe. On the right, Saint William, Duke of Aquitaine with the small dragon at his feet and Saint Possidius, Bishop of Calama (Africa), who was the first biographer of Augustine, with whom he lived "in sweet familiarity for about 40 years".

Saint Possidius, Bishop of Calama

And so we have come to the end of our visit. Before leaving, with the Sign of the Cross we greet the Holy Trinity, and we thank God for those who gave us this wonderful church.

Dear visitors, may the joy of the Lord always accompany you.

The Parish Priest.