Stational Churches (Virtually visit one each day and pray)

ACatholicLife.blogspot.com ^ | 2010 | Matthew

[Condor51]

Beautiful, simply beautiful.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent

 

 

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Sixtus II.

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

The St. Sixtus Stational Church is located on the Appian Way and is a parish church dating to the fifth century. It was in this church that the catechumens were presented to the Church by their sponsors. Their names were written on tablets of ivory covered in leather, which were read at the Commemoration of the Living. After the Collect of the Mass, the catechumens received the initial parts of the Baptismal ceremony, viz. the rites of exsufflation, of the sign of the cross, of the imposition of hands and that of the salt.

In an age, which makes light of God's commandments, it is of special importance that the faithful be uncompromising in the observance of the "ways of life." Let us be "the salt of the earth and the light of the world," as our holy leader Sixtus was in the third century. We invite this holy pontiff to precede us to the altar and to ask for us "that we, who seek the grace of God's protection, may serve Him with a quiet mind.

Let us pray: Grant us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that disciplined by wholesome fasting, and abstaining from all vices, we may more easily gain forgiveness. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

San Sisto

 

Day XXII. Wednesday, Week III
"Lord, you will show me the path of life and fill me with joy in your presence" (Communion antiphon for today - Ps 15:11).

San Sisto. Visitors to this church will remember it not for its beautiful frescos but for the kind hospitality of the Dominican sisters who have lived in the adjacent monastery since 1219. Saint Dominic (1170-1221) lived here for a while before entrusting it to the sisters. One day, the sisters had nothing to eat. Nevertheless, Dominic entreated them to go to the refectory so that at least they could be nourished by the Word of God (which was  normally read during meals). In the midst of the reading, two young men (angels) appeared, distributed bread to all the sisters, starting first with the youngest and ending with the eldest, and then disappeared. My favorite fresco is in a small chapel off the monastery's cloister of Saint Dominic and Saint Francis, both on their knees in a holy embrace. The Latin inscription reads: "This is true fraternity." Beautiful, especially given the traditional rivalry between the two orders.

[Salvation]

I helped to cook soup and bread for 115 adults and 9 children for our Faith Formation 101 for Adults last night. Our priest’s topic was “The Changes in the Mass.:

In addition to going over all the changes in the Mass and explaining them he did an excellent history of the different rites and the different missals that have been used in the Latin Mass/Novus Ordo Mass.

So sorry this is late today, but I was so tied last night.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Thursday in the Third Week of Lent

 

 

 

Today's Stational Church is the Church of Sts. Cosmas and Damian.

 

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

This church, made from two pagan temples, holds the bodies of the holy martyrs, Cosmas and Damian, who were put to death during the Diocletian persecution. The sick came in crowds to visit the tomb of these two brothers, doctors by profession, imploring them to restore their health.

The "unsalaried" physicians, Cosmas and Damian, devoted time and talents to the service of the poor and the sick, so that, by curing the infirmities of the body without renumeration, they might more easily win immortal souls for Christ.

Today, the Divine Physician will again come and refresh you. He carries with him the divine antidote, the Eucharistic medicine for the healing of our infirmities.

Let us pray: May the blessed solemnity of Thy saints, Cosmas and Damian, magnify Thee, O Lord, by which Thou hast both granted eternal glory to them and assistance to us by Thy ineffable providence. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

Day XXIII. Thursday, Week III.

"I am the Savior of all people, says the Lord. Whatever their trouble, I will answer their cry, and I will always be their Lord" (Entrance Antiphon for today).

Santi Cosma e Damiano. Saints Cosmas and Damian were twins and doctors in Syria. They were known for their charity to the point they were nicknamed "the moneyless ones". Because of their charity, they were accused of being Christian. They were tortured before being beheaded (c. 303).

Today's church was once a temple built by Vespasian (69-79) in the Roman Forum. The apse mosaic (526-530) of Christ coming on clouds of glory from the East is one of the finest in Rome and has formed the model of most of the subsequent mosaics throughout the world. The other image is of Christ, the Lamb of God, standing on the hill from which the four rivers of Paradise flow, drawing sheep (the 12 apostles) from Bethlehem and Jerusalem.

 

Photo:  The apse mosaic (526-530) of Christ coming on clouds of glory from the East is one of the finest in Rome and has formed the model of most of the subsequent mosaics  throughout the world.
 

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Santi Cosma e Damiano

[Salvation]

oops

tired last night.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Friday in the Third Week of Lent

 

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Lawrence the Deacon.

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

For the second time this week, the chaste Deacon Lawrence is our processional leader to the Savior of the world. Last Sunday, we knelt at his tomb and heard his encouraging words: "walk as children of the light …"

Today, we are making our pilgrimage to the church containing a large portion of the gridiron on which this holy Deacon made his last and most perfect oblation to God.

It was during the forty years passed in the desert that Moses and Aaron asked God to bring from the rock - a figure of Christ - "a spring of living water," so that all the people could quench their thirst. During these forty days of Lent, the Church asks Christ to give us the living water about which he spoke to the woman of Samaria near Jacob's well-the water, which quenches our thirst forever. This water is our faith in Jesus. It is grace. It is the blood, which flows from the wounds of the Savior, and which through baptism, penance and the other sacraments, purifies our souls, and gushes forth into eternal life, of which it assures us a share.

Let us pray: Show me, O Lord, a toke for good; that they, who hate me may see and be confounded because Thou, O Lord, hast helped me and hast comforted me. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

San Lorenzo in Lucina

 

Day XXIV. Friday, Week III.

"Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! Therefore you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength" ... "You shall love your neighbor as yourself" (Gospel for today - Mk 12:29-31).

San Lorenzo in Lucina. Lady Lucina built an oratory to Saint Lawrence on this spot in the 4th century. Housed in this church are many relics including the grill upon which Saint Lawrence was roasted alive (see photo), chains, which bound him to the grill, and other assorted relics. The parish priest told me that this crucifix was hewn by Michelangelo.

Photo:  Housed in this church are many relics
 including the grill upon which Saint Lawrence was roasted
alive (see photo), chains, which bound him to the grill,
and other assorted relics.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Saturday in the Third Week of Lent

 

 

Today's Stational Church is the Church of St. Susanna.

 

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

Today's liturgy places before us three women—one in the white garment of virginity, the other in the blue mantle of chastity and the third in the purple robe of penitence. The first shows the triumph of Christ's redemption, the second, the power of faith in the coming Messiah, the third, the compassion of the Good Shepherd, who came to seek what was lost.

The first is today's stational guide—St. Susanna, to whom the vow of virginity and consecration to Christ, the royal Bridegroom, meant more than the princely hand of the unprincely Galerius Maximianus. She refused his hand in marriage and was put to death.

The other Susanna is the chaste wife of Joachim living in Babylon in the days of Daniel, the prophet. Two adulterous men, ever to be remembered as a disgrace to manhood, two judges, who perverted justice and drowned their manly honor in the pool of perjury, were this pure women's adversaries. But Susanna prefers to be a victim of the hellish vengeance of her accusers than sin against her God.

And now the third one—the woman caught in adultery. She lost her virginity, her chastity, and has broken fidelity to her marriage vows. "she must be stoned," was the cry. She was an outcast in the eyes of her merciless accusers, who themselves were whitened sepulchers inwardly full of worms. Jesus, the new Daniel, came to her rescue. He condemned her sin, but raised her from an erring sheep to a penitential follower. "Has no one condemned you, woman? No one, Sir. Neither will I condemn you. Now sin no more."

Let us pray: Extend to Thy faithful the right hand of heavenly help, that they may seek Thee with their whole hearts and deserve to obtain what they ask for worthily. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

Santa Susanna

 

Day XXV. Saturday, Week III.

"It is steadfast love, not sacrifice, that God desires" (Responsorial Psalm for today - Hos 6:6).

Santa Susanna. Susanna was a very intelligent and beautiful young woman, so much so, that the emperor Diocletian (284-303) sought her for his bride. She refused since she had already consecrated her life to the Lord. She was then ordered to render sacrifice to the pagan gods. She refused. She was beheaded along with her father, Saint Gabinus. Her uncles, whom she converted, where burned alive.

Soon after, Pope Caius (283-296) dedicated her home as a oratory. It became one of the 25 original parishes of Rome. It is the National Church for the United States of America and has recently been restored. It's frescos are among the most beautiful in Rome. Santa Susanna is served by the American Paulist fathers and is also the abbatial church of a community of Cistercian nuns who pray the Divine Office for our intentions.  (The photo is of fresco of the martyrdom of Saint Gabinius, patron of actors).

[Condor51]

*** Santa Susanna. Susanna was a very intelligent and beautiful young woman, so much so, that the emperor Diocletian (284-303) sought her for his bride. She refused since she had already consecrated her life to the Lord. ***

That emperor Diocletian is getting on my nerves. (no joking)

I wss looking up info on my old parish in Chicago, St Agnes, and who she was.
It turns out Saint Agnes was another young woman (teenager, 13 yo iirc) martyred by emperor Diocletian when she refused to be 'his bride'.

[Salvation]

A lot of Catholics died at his hand.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Fourth Sunday of Lent

 

Today's Stational Church is the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem.

 

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

In the year 320, Constantine placed here the relics of the Holy Cross, which his mother, St. Helen, had brought to Rome from the Holy Land. Also, there is soil brought from Calvary, placed under the floor of the Chapel of the Holy Cross. Today, in the Church of Calvary at Rome—that is of the Cross—our hope, the Church, sends a ray of light upon our souls to stir us up to persevere in the struggle against the world, the flesh and the devil, until the great feast of Easter is reached.

"Rejoice, rejoice with joy," we are told in the Introit, for having died to sin with our Lord during Lent, we are shortly to rise with him by the Paschal Confession and Communion.

Our whole life is a texture of sorrows and joys. Good Fridays and Easters accompany us on our journey to the land of perennial Easter. But as there is no Good Friday without the assurance that "by the wood of the Cross joy has come into the whole world," so in the soul of a true Christian there is no sorrow without the joy that will come from living faith, strong hope and sincere love. It is a joy ever sustained and increased by that wonderful Bread, which Christ's loving hand multiplies for us in this desert of life.

By the wood of this Cross joy has come into the world and into your heart, also. Laetare, Jerusalem! Endure the thorns of life courageously. Supernaturalize them.

(Note: On this day, it was the custom to solemnly bless the "golden rose," which was then presented by the Holy Father to a Catholic, who was zealous and outstanding in the Faith.)

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Santa Croce in Gerusalemme

 

Day XXVI. Sunday, Week IV

"Rejoice, Jerusalem! Be glad for her, you who love her; rejoice with her, you who mourned for her, and you will find contentment at her consoling breasts" (Entrance antiphon for today - Is 66:10-11).

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme. The Basilica of the Holy Cross of Jerusalem is one of Rome's seven pilgrim churches. When Saint Helena (d. 328-330), mother of Constantine, returned from the Holy Land in 326 with relics including the Holy Cross, she converted a hall in her residence into a church in order to have a place worthy to house the holy relics. She built it upon dirt from Calvary, hence the name of the church. For me, this is one of the most sacred places in Rome, a must for every pilgrim.

 

(The photo is of the reliquaries containing portions of the True Cross, the title which hung over our Lord, and the Bethlehem crib. There are also a nail, two thorns, a piece from the Holy Sepulcher and column of flagellation, and lastly, poor Saint Thomas's finger.) It is served by an international community of Cistercian monks who continually pray for us!

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Monday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Posted by Matthew

Today's Stational Church is the Church of the Four Crowned Martyrs.

 

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

The Station is on Mount Caelius, in a church erected in the seventh century in honor of four officers of the Roman army, who having refused to adore a statue of Aesculapius, received the crown of martyrdom. These were the "Four Crowned Ones," whose relics are venerated in this sanctuary together with the head of St. Sebastian, an officer of the army of Diocletian.

Under the leadership of the Four Crowned Martyrs let us celebrate the divine Sacrifice. May the Eucharistic Action "refresh us and defend us," as it refreshed these great athletes and filled them with heavenly fortitude to go forth to make the supreme sacrifice for a true ideal, for their faith, for Christ, the King of Martyrs.

Let us pray: Grant, we beseech Thee, Almighty God, that as we keep with devotion year by year this holy fast, we may please Thee both in body and soul. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

Santi Quattro Coronati

 

 

Day XXVII. Monday, Week IV.

"Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed" (Ordinary of the Holy Mass).

Santi Quattro Coronati. The basilica of the Four Crowned Saints is dedicated to the four brothers Seveus, Severinus, Carpophorus, and Victorius. All four were Roman officials who were scourged to death by emperor Diocletian (284-305) rather than renounce their faith. Their tombs are in the crypt under the main altar. The church is now located within a cloistered Augustinian monastery. The photo is of one of the courtyards.

It is the titular church of Cardinal Mahoney of Los Angeles. Remember that from the beginning of the church, the people and clergy chose their bishop. Later, to exclude politics, the chief priests (Cathedral canons) who often advised and assisted the bishop, and upon a vacancy, elected the new bishop. In Rome, these became known as the cardinals, or hinges, who also were his chief advisors and helped him run the universal Church. As time went on, they were chosen by the Pope from the bishops of neighboring dioceses and made "priests of Rome". Upon their elevation, they were assigned a titular church of which they were both honorary pastor and benefactor. While very few dioceses still retain Cathedral canons with the privilege of nominating or electing a bishop, the fullness of the tradition of Cardinals is very much alive in Rome.

[Salvation]

 

Stational Church: Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent

Today's Stational Church is the Basilica of St. Lawrence the Deacon.

 

Information is from the Canon Regulars of St. John Cantius:

We celebrate the holy mysteries in spirit in the church of St. Lawrence in Damaso, built by the "poet-Pope" and "lover of the catacombs," St. Damasus, whose remains rest in this venerable edifice.

Mother Church points today to two leaders: Moses and Christ — figure and fulfillment. Both of them were unappreciated by their flock. Both of them were unmoved in their consecration to God and their holy calling. Their people were superficial, proud and selfish, while they, the leaders, were filled with the spirit of prayer, humility and the love of God.

In the spirit of our prayerful, humble and God-loving leader, St. Lawrence, let us make a sincere oblation of ourselves. Then the Divine Victim, through the prayers of this holy deacon, will increase in our souls what is so strikingly expressed in today's Mass:

1. Humility— "With expectation I have waited for the Lord and he was attentive to me."

2. Prayerfulness— "And He heard my prayer."

3. Love— "And He put a new canticle in my mouth, a song to our God."

Let us pray: Hear, O God, my prayer and despise not my supplication. Be attentive to me and hear me. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

San Lorenzo in Damaso

 

Day XXVIII. Tuesday, Week IV.

"The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want. In green pastures he gives me rest, he leads me beside restful waters of
peace" (Communion antiphon for today - Ps 23:1-2).

San Lorenzo in Damaso. This is another ancient church dedicated to Saint Lawrence by Pope Saint Damasus I (366-384) over his house. Today it is part of the Cancelleria, or the chancery, and houses the Holy Father's Tribunals: the Roman Rota, Apostolic Signatura, and Apostolic Penitentiary. The Roman Rota judges all judicial cases (especially marriage and rights). The Apostolic Signatura hears all cases of administrative recourse and watches over the lower tribunals. The Sacred Penitentiary hears all cases involving the internal forum. For example, there are certain sins, which only the Holy Father can absolve (i.e., a priest who reveals a confession). This tribunal will here these petitions for forgiveness in the name of the Pope.