[Salvation]

Santi Giovanni e Paulo

			Day III.  Friday after Ash Wednesday Lord, through this Lenten Eucharist may we grow in your love and service and become an acceptable sacrifice to you. We ask this through Christ our Lord" (Prayer Over Gifts for today). Santi Giovanni e Paulo. Saints John and Paul were officers of the Imperial Court in Constantinople but returned home to serve Julian "The Apostate" (emperor 331-363). They were asked to prove their fidelity to the empire by renouncing their God in favor of the deities of the State. They refused and were beheaded in their home on 26 June 362. A church was built over the site of their home in 398. It was rebuilt several times and is now one of the finest baroque churches in Rome and home to the Passionists. In fact, St. Paul of the Cross (1694-1755) is buried here. It was the titular church of Pius XII and New York Cardinals Spellman, Cooke, O'Connor, and now has Cardinal Egan as protector.

[Salvation]

St. Augustine

Stational Church: Saturday after Ash Wednesday

 

Today's Stational Church is at St. Augustine.

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

Pope Pasquale II (1099-1118) laid the relics of St. Tryphon to rest under the present church of St. Augustine.

Health of body and, above all, health of soul are precious gifts from God—gifts for which we must be grateful. The Church is particularly concerned about the health of our soul, the well being in us of the life of Christ. She knows our spiritual shortsightedness, she knows, the unsteadiness of our will, she knows the power of our passions, all of them—infirmities caused by Original Sin, as well as by our personal sins. She sees her children make resolutions and break them. She knows how often the fuller unfolding of the sacramental life is impeded because her sons and daughters are lacking in purity of intention and proper appreciation of God's gifts.

For that very reason she instituted this holy season as a time of great healing. Lent is God's hospital. Serious operations are to be performed during this time. And blessed are they who gladly submit to them. Vitia comprimis, mentem elevas—vices are to be curbed, spiritual cancers to be removed, the mind is to be renewed, elevated, so that, after our stay in His hospital, the same mind may be in us, which is also in Christ Jesus. We humbly implore our dual Saints to guide us to the Divine Physician, the Healer of our soul and body.

Let us pray: Be mindful, O Lord, of our supplications, and grant that we may keep with devout service this solemn fast, which thou has wholesomely ordained for the healing of our souls and bodies. Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.

[Salvation]

Sant' Agostino

Day IV.   Saturday after Ash Wednesday "Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may be faithful in your sight" (Responsorial Psalm for today - Ps. 86) Sant' Agostino. The Church of Saint Augustine is one of my favorites. It is located a stone's throw from Piazza Navona. It was the first church built in the Renaissance style in Rome although as soon as you walk in, you are struck by its present extraordinary Baroque ornamentation. Above the altar is an icon of our Lady, which was once in the Hagia Sophia in Constantinople (now Istanbul). It was brought here after the city fell to the Moslems. In this church is one of my favorite statues, our Lord with his mother and grandmother by Sansovino (1512). The look shared between Saint Anne and our Lord is extremely touching (see photo). Above this is a beautiful fresco of Isaiah by Raphael (1512). In a side chapel near the back of the Church there is the famous picture of Our Lady of Loreto or Our Lady of the Pilgrims by Caravaggio (1604). Day 4 continued....next page

Day IV.   Saturday after Ash Wednesday

continued......

 

There is also a statue by Sansovino of the Madonna of Birth where all of the Roman women come and pray for safe deliveries (1516). But the highlight is the tomb of Saint Monica - a model of faithful perseverance in prayer (332-387). Through her intercession, her wayward son, Augustine, converted and became a Doctor of the Church. There I offered a prayer for my mother, in thanksgiving for her prayers, and for all mothers.  

Day 4 continued...more photos ...

(Photo:  Our Lord with his mother and
grandmother

Day 4 Photo:  The tomb of Saint Monica - a model of
 faithful perseverance  in prayer (332-387)