Museum of the Confraternity of St. Joseph, Monopoli

Research, study, and cataloging of past objects are fundamental elements for enhancing our historical and artistic heritage. This is the purpose of the project initiated by Don Michele Lorusso, then parish priest of the Church of Saint Teresa and Spiritual Director of the Confraternity of Saint Joseph.

The activity, started in 1992, led to the creation of a true museum along the galleries of the cloistered Benedictine nuns where one can admire reliquaries, missals, precious fabrics, liturgical objects, all in the very places where they were used. A wooden crucifix from the second half of the nineteenth century, with a statue of Christ in papier-mâché, was used in processions during funerals.

Also in inlaid and gilded wood, there is a crown that was once placed on the Eucharistic tabernacle, from which hung the canopy drape in different colors and fabrics depending on the liturgical season. A pink wooden sarcophagus with floral motifs and elements of the funeral liturgy dates back to the early twentieth century, as evidenced by the inscription on the small opening door: “Loprieno e Lanave intagliatori e indoratori. Bari-1908”.

This was used during funeral ceremonies to temporarily host the simple coffins of humble people. A wooden box reliquary decorated with floral motifs and glass, allowing observation and veneration of the contained relics, belongs to the second half of the eighteenth century.

The statue of Saint Philomena, lying on red cushions and golden lace, appears beautiful. The shrine with the Saint was transferred from the chapel of Saint Joseph to the confraternity museum by the will of Don Michele Lorusso, since the cult of the Saint was not recognized by the Catholic Church.

Finally, we recall two paintings depicting the Sorrowful Virgin and Saint Francis of Paola, both belonging to the first half of the twentieth century.”