[Salvation]

Stational Church: Tuesday in the Third Week of Lent

 

 

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

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

The church of St. Prudentiana, on the Viminal Hill, was one of the most venerated places for Roman Christians. St. Prudentiana lived here with her sister, St. Praxedes. Here, St. Peter received hospitality and the first Christians often assembled. Today, this church stands rather forgotten because it was closed for a very long time.

We turn to St. Prudentiana on this day. May she obtain for us by her powerful prayers:

1. The grace of mutual forgiveness, so that we may be able to say in truth: "Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those that trespass against us"—Not seven times, but seventy times seven.

2. The grace also of true love for our glorious Lord and for each other. Prudentiana shows us the way. Where charity and love reign, there is God. Christ will then be in our midst. And He shall be the Savior, Lord and King of our hearts and our home.

Let us pray: May the effect of our redemption be applied unto us, we beseech Thee, O Lord, by means of your grace, ever restraining us from human excesses and conducting us to the gift of salvation. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.

[Salvation]

Santa Pudenziana

(Photo is of the mosaic in the apse, which is one of the oldest Christian mosaics in Rome)

 

 

 

Day XXI. Tuesday, Week III.

"Lord, when my brother wrongs me, how often must I forgive him? Seventy times?" (Gospel for today - Mt 18:21).

Santa Pudenziana. This church was erected over the site of the house of the Senator Pudens (possibly of 2 Tim 4:21 fame), who hosted Saint Peter here in Rome. He converted along with his daughters, Pudenziana and Praxedes, and sons, Timothy and Novatus. During the persecutions of Nero, the sisters would bury the martyrs and collected their spilt blood, which they hid in a well in the house (one of the corporal works of mercy).

They were discovered and executed as well. Over the altar, bristling with reliquaries (see photo), is Saint Pudenziana being welcomed into heaven by her guest, Saint Peter. The other photo is of the mosaic in the apse, which is one of the oldest Christian mosaics in Rome. Dating from the close of the 4th C, it predates the Byzantine influence and depicts the heavenly Jerusalem with Christ as emperor surrounded by the apostles dressed as senators. (The two photos can be fitted, one on top of the other).