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Day XXXIV. Monday, Week V.

"Has no one condemned you? The woman answered: No one, Lord. Neither do I condemn you: go and do not sin again" (Communion antiphon for today - Jn 8:12).

San Crisogono. Saint Chrysogonus was a Roman military officer from Northern Italy who was beheaded by the emperor Diocletian (284-305). His body was thrown into the sea but later recovered and buried by the priest Saint Zoilus. A great devotion to him arose among the Greeks and Romans. So much so, he is still remembered in the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I).

One of the 25 original parishes of Rome, the church may have been built in the 4th Century. It has been reconstructed several times. I was struck by this chapel to the Sacred Heart (see photo).

As you may know, the body of John XXIII was recently found to be uncorrupt. In fact, many of the saints earthly remains were preserved from decay (we already saw Pius IX on Day 19 at Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls).

Continued...next page >

Day XXXIV. Monday, Week V. Continued.... In this church is Blessed Anna Maria Taigi. She was born in Siena in 1769. She moved to Rome, married, and bore and raised seven children. She was known for her holiness, her care for the poor and sick, and was considered the perfect model of a Christian wife and mother. She was also a part of the third order of the Most Holy Trinity. She died in 1837 at the age of 68. As you can see from the photo, she too is uncorrupt. In fact, she looked better than many people I've seen alive! Her skin has a rosy glow and her lips are drawn to a beautiful, serene smile. The chapel is filled with a powerful yet delicate scent of roses. Beautiful. Blessed Anna Maria, pray for us!

from St. Cantius

MONDAY IN THE FIFTH (PASSION) WEEK OF LENT
Station—St. Chrysogonus

We are branches of Christ, the Vine. As such, we share in His life, share in His joys, and must share also in His sufferings, and thus—as the Apostle so boldly put it—make up in our own body what is yet wanting in the sufferings of Christ, the Head. This we shall do gladly in these holy Passion days. Our mortifications, our self-discipline, our temptations, our trials from within and from without, all our sufferings, we will unite with Christ's Blessed Passion. They will then be lifted out of their own smallness and will share in the greatness and efficacy of His sufferings. He will suffer in us and we in Him.
We humbly ask St. Chrysogonus, in whose Roman home we observe today's mysteries of redemption, that he would accompany us to "the Lord of Hosts, the King of Glory."
Let us pray: O God, hear my prayer. Give ear to the words of my mouth. Save me, O Lord, by Thy name and in Thy power deliver me. Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.