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Day XLI. Monday, Holy Week

"Defend me, Lord, from all my foes: take up your arms and come swiftly to my aid for you have the power to save me" (Entrance antiphon for today - Ps 34:1-2; 139:8).

Santa Prassede. Saint Praxedes is the sister of Saint Pudenziana (Day 21, Tuesday, Week III) and the daughter of Senator Pudens. Saint Praxedes sheltered persecuted Christians in her home. Twenty-three were discovered and slaughtered before her eyes. She then mopped up their blood and hid the sponge in a well. This was discovered and she was also martyred.

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Day XLI. Monday, Holy Week

Built over Saint Praxedes' house, this church was one of the 25 original parishes in Rome and is easily one of the most beautiful churches in the Eternal City. A stone's throw from Saint Mary Major, it is bedecked with incredibly beautiful mosaics. In one chapel, aptly called "The Garden of Paradise", one is surrounded by golden mosaics. The first thing one sees is the Virgin and Child surrounded by Saint Zeno and his brother Saint Valentine (see photo).

Day 41, continued...more photos >

Day XLI. Monday, Holy Week Day 41 Photos
Day XLI. Monday, Holy Week Day 41 Photos

from St. Cantius

MONDAY IN HOLY WEEK
Station—St. Praxedes

The spirit of this second day of the holiest of all weeks may be summed up in four words: Jesus, a supper, a penitent and an impenitent.
Jesus—Holy Savior, You are the center of our thoughts and love. Accept our thanks for all that You have done for our salvation.
The Last Supper—A supper for Jesus! In a few days, Jesus will make a supper for us, a "sacred banquet in which Christ is eaten," "symbol of that One Body of which He is the Head and to which He willed that we should be united as members by the closest bonds of faith, hope and charity, so that we should all speak the same thing and that there should be no divisions among us," as the Council of Trent so beautifully said.
A Penitent—Mary, "took a pound of ointment of costly nard, and anointed the feet of Jesus, and wiped His feet with her hair."
An impenitent-traitor—An apostle of Christ is changed into a traitor because he loved not Christ, but thirty pieces of silver. "It were better, if this man had not been born."
We entrust ourselves today to St. Praxedes, the virgin who loved Jesus with her beautiful soul, who so often in her home prepared the table for the celebration of the Eucharistic Supper, and who anointed the "feet of Christ," that is, the "lowest members" of the Mystical Body, the poor, by gladly giving to them all she possessed.
Let us pray: Help us, holy virgin, to spend this second day of Holy Week in thy spirit. Through Christ, Our Lord.
Amen.