[Salvation]

San Marco

 

Lord I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed" (Ordinary of the Most Holy Mass - Mt 8:8).

San Marco. Built by Pope Saint Mark and dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist in 336, some say that this church was built on the site of the home where the evangelist Mark lived while here in Rome. It was once the "national" church of the kingdom of Venice and is noted for its apse mosaic (833-844). Inside the nave is a portion of a marble column, which was hollowed out and used as a head of a well (9-11 C). The 11th century inscription invites the thirsty to drink of the well but curses the one who should charge for the water drawn from it. It is now used as the baptistry. Under the altar (see photo) are the remains of Saints Abdon and Sennen who where martyred a few blocks away in the Colosseum. Also in the church is Pope Saint Mark, and relics of Saint Mark the Evangelist, some of the Holy Innocents, and even a vial, which was once alleged to contain some of the Darkness that Covered Egypt (I guess it is like the canned Florida sunshine!). The photo is of the altar with the enthroned Word!

 

[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.