2012-03-05

Monday of Week II of Lent


The Basilica of St. Clement is an extremely historical yet very well preserved basilica. It was built in the 4th century over the site of martyrdom of the Roman consul Titus Flavens Clemens, but was dedicated to Pope Clement, the third successor of St. Peter.

In the 12th century, the basilica was rebuilt on top of the old basilica. Well preserved and extremely beautiful mosaics that date back to that time can still be found. Some of the 4th century mosaics are also preserved. This basilica is one of the most colourful ones you can find in Rome. St. Clement is my personal favourite basilica in Rome.

Relics of the Apostolic Father St. Ignatius of Antioch, disciple of St. John the Apostle, are interred in the basilica. He died around 108 AD, the third bishop of Antioch. His seven letters to various communities are of tremendous historical and theological values. The saint is also my personal favourite.


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Second Sunday of Lent



In the 3rd century, a noblewoman named Cyriaca owned a house at this site and provided it as a meeting place for Christians and a refuge for the poor. St. Lawrence spent time here to give alms to the poor. After the martyrdom of Lawrence, she was also killed for her faith. (See Thursday of Week I of Lent for the martyrdom of St. Lawrence.)

The Church of St. Mary in Domnica was built over the site during the pontificate of Paschal I around 820 AD. Presently, the American Cardinal William Levada, the successor of Joseph Ratzinger as the Prefect of Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, is the Cardinal-Deacon of the diaconate church. The future Popes Leo X and Clement VIII were also Cardinal Deacons of the church.

Opposite the church is the Basilica of San Stefano Rotondo, which we will visit on Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent.

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2012-03-03

Saturday of Week I of Lent



The Basilica of St. Peter in the Vatican is de facto the most important church in the whole world, as it is the site of the most solemn papal liturgies due to its size that can accommodate millions of faithful every year. It gives place to St. John Lateran as the most important church de iure in the world, which is the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome, the successor of Peter.

St. Peter was cruficied around 64 AD on the Vatican Hill. Pope Cletus built a chapel over the site of his burial, where Christians in the next two centuries came quietly to venerate the first bishop of Rome. Things changed when Constantine converted in 312 after his vision of the Cross. He ordered a basilica built here the year afterwards. The first consecration of the basilica took place in 326.

We will return to this basilica on the Fifth Sunday of Lent.

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2012-03-02

Friday of Week I of Lent



The Basilica of the Twelve Apostles was first built at this site in the 4th century, and was rebuilt two centuries later, dedicated to St. Philip and St. James Minor. In 866, Pope Stephen VI restored the church and walked barefoot across the city to bring the relics of the 2 apostles here. The basilica was rededicated to the twelve apostles in the 16th century.

Since 1474, the parish church has been administered by Conventual Franciscans, whose Generalate is adjacent to the church. Among its parishioners was Michelangelo (1475-1564), who was at first buried here but later transferred to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Florence. While still a priest, Pope Sixtus V served here as pastor. Pope Clement XIV is buried in a chapel on the left side of the church.

The present Cardinal-Priest of the Titular Church is Cardinal Angelo Scola, Archbishop of Milan (largest see in Italy) and former Patriarch of Venice. He has been a favourite candidate tipped to be the next pope.

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2012-03-01

Thursday of Week I of Lent



The Church of St. Lawrence in Panisperna was built over the site of the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. During the reign of the Roman Emperor Valerius (253-260), many Christians perished because of their faith. Knowing that the Church would be persecuted, Pope Sixtus II ordered St. Lawrence to distribute all the gifts to the poor. This angered the Roman prefect, who ordered to have them killed.

When asked where the treasures were, St. Lawrence answered that the poor were the treasures of the Church. He was sent to die by being burned alive on an iron grill. (Next time you see a statue of a saint holding an iron grill, you should know who that is.) St. Lawrence, the most famous deacon after St. Stephen, died 3 days after the death of the pope.

Cardinal Michael Michai Kitbunchu, Archbishop emeritus of Bangkok, the first and only Thai cardinal, is the 37th Cardinal-Priest of the Titular Church.

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