[Salvation]

Sant' Anastasia

Day VII.   Tuesday, Week I.

"Forgive us the wrong we have done as we forgive those who wrong us" (Gospel for today - Mt 6:12).

Sant' Anastasia. Saint Anastasia was the daughter of a Roman noble. She cared for those in prison. As a result of her charity, she was accused of being a Christian during the Diocletian persecution (284-305). She was condemned to die by starvation by setting her adrift in a small boat in the sea. She miraculously survived. She was then condemned to be burnt alive in 304 (see photo of her sculpture under the main altar). A church was later built over her home. Once one of the 25 most beautiful churches in Rome, it has recently been restored.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Wednesday in the First Week of Lent

 

Today's Stational Church is at the Basilica of St. Mary Major (formerly called the Basilica of Our Lady of the Snows).

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

On the Esquiline Hill, not far from St. Peter in Chains, towers the Basilica of St. Mary Major.

If Grandiose, both in its exterior and in it interior, the Basilica was erected by Pope Sixtus III (432-440), one year after the proclamation by the Council of Ephesus of the dogma of Theotokos—Mary, Mother of God. Before being called "St. Mary Major," the ancient Romans had called it the Basilica Liberii (back to Pope Liberius (352-366). In August 352, Pope Liberius experience a vision of Our Lady and it was She, who traced out the dimensions of this church. Pope Liberius then saw with his own eyes the area of land covered in snow on which the church was to be built.
This Basilica also contains the revered image of the Madonna of St. Luke, called Salus Populi Romani.

How have I kept the first eight days of Lent? Surely, as "the glory of the Lord dwelt upon Sinai" and upon Moses, so the "right hand of His Majesty" was extended over us during the past week.

Let us pray: Graciously look down, O Lord, we beseech Thee, upon the devotion of Thy people, that they, who are mortified in body by abstinence, may be refreshed in mind through the fruit of good works. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.