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Abstract: Although the Roman plague of 1656-1657 was not of catastrophic dimensions, Abbot Ruggero Caetani's memoirs make understandable the terror the drastic measures adopted by the Congregazione di santità caused in the population without distinction of social rank, origin, sex or age. In the religious community there was a decided retreat into individual forms of worship in spite of the extraordinary Jubilee decreed by Alexander VII. Religious services were reduced and the Vicariate imposed cautionary measures to limit the risk of contagion. Collective worship to ask for the end of the plague took place only for the Madonna del Portico and other effigies dedicated to the Virgin Mary. The Divine Offices, prayers, processions and catechisms were once again begun only at the end of August 1657. The plague had ended.