[Salvation]

Santo Stefano Rotondo

 

Day XXXVIII. Friday, Week V.

“Jesus carried our sins in his own body on the cross so that we could die to sin and live in holiness; by his wounds we have been healed” (Communion antiphon for today - 1 Pt 2:24).

Santo Stefano Rotondo. Today’s church was built between 400 and 450 and consecrated by Pope Simplicius. It is one of the oldest of the churches in the round, with the altar in the center. It must have been magnificent but through subsequent “restorations”, it has lost most of its size and splendor. Due to the present “restoration”, Mass was celebrated at the altar of Saints Primus and Felicianus (see photo). They were beaten, thrown to the wolves and lions, and tortured by burning them with fire and by pouring boiling fluids down their throats, before they were ultimately beheaded. One wonders how a human person can be so cruel to another.

[Salvation]

Stational Church: Saturday in the Fifth Week of Lent

 

 

Today's Stational Church is at St. John before the Latin Gate.

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

The Station on this eve of Palm Sunday is of a comparatively late origin—formerly, the Pope spent a part of the day distributing alms to the poor, and rested in preparation for Holy Week.

St. John's before the Latin Gate was chosen as a stational church. Near the place where the Appian Way branches off, forming the Latin Way to the left, it was built on the spot where St. John was, by order of Domitian, plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil. St. John, who with Mary shared the privilege of standing near the Cross, also joined his sacrifice to that of Christ when he gladly accepted martyrdom in the boiling oil.

May St. John teach us the spirit of active, soulful participation in the very mysteries in which he did partake in with great faith, reverence and love. The mystery of the Lord's Table, the mystery of the Lord's Cross and the mystery of the Lord's Triumph.

Let us pray: May the people prosper, who are devoted to Thee by the affection of pious devotion, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that instructed by the holy rites, they may be made more pleasing to Thy majesty, and more, may they abound in excellent gifts. Through Christ, Our Lord. Amen.