Built in pure Lombard Gothic style the Madonna del Buon Consiglio stands proudly. Its construction spanned from 1911 to 1917. Architects Spirito Maria Chiappetta and Luigi Brambilla shaped its stunning form. This wasn’t the Bovisa’s first church though. A Barnabite-built church dedicated to the Santissima Maria Aracoeli preceded it. That earlier church sadly met its end in 1960. The current Madonna del Buon Consiglio however is a testament to resilience.
Imagine the scene on December 2 1917. Cardinal Andrea Carlo Ferrari consecrated this very place. The air buzzed with excitement. The first mass followed on December 8th. Don Alessandro Santambrogio led the service. The choir of Santa Maria Incoronata added beauty to the occasion.
The Madonna del Buon Consiglio’s beauty is more than skin deep. Its polychrome marble high altar shines. Completed in 1935 the altar boasts an elegant pierced back and a stunning Gothic dome. Six columns support this architectural masterpiece. Other chapels enhance the church’s spiritual atmosphere. The Madonna di Caravaggio chapel finds its home here. The chapel of the Holy Crucifix and St Jude Thaddeus now serves as a chapel for the departed. The Saints Charles and Louis chapel also stands as a testament to faith.
The Madonna del Buon Consiglio has endured hardship. Three bombings during World War II left their scars. Yet this church was reborn. In 1950 a Lourdes grotto was added to its exterior. A new Tamburini organ was inaugurated in 1993. Its sounds fill the church to this day. The organ was later expanded in 2014 and again in 2021-2022.
This church is more than just stone and glass. It is a living testament to faith. It is a place of worship. It is a place where history and spirituality intertwine. The Madonna del Buon Consiglio stands tall. It is a symbol of hope perseverance and the enduring power of faith. Its walls whisper stories of devotion. They are a silent witness to the passage of time. Today the Madonna del Buon Consiglio continues to inspire awe and wonder. It remains a beacon of faith in the heart of Milan.