The Walk Ends ....

For the past six weeks, those of us here on sabbatical have had the opportunity of participating in the station church pilgrimage of Lent, a Roman tradition that dates back to Christian antiquity. From at least the early fourth century, the Pope celebrated Mass during Lent with his clergy and the Roman Christian community at a designated “station” church. As Christianity became a more public faith, these “stations” were often basilicas built to honor Roman martyrs, constructed atop or around a former house church. Pope St. Gregory the Great fixed the order of the Roman station church pilgrimage in the sixth century, although further stations were added later as the Roman Church began to celebrate Mass on every one of the Forty Days.

The classic station church pilgrimage died when the popes moved to Avignon in the 14th century. But strong echoes of the ancient pilgrimage remained in the liturgy, for the Mass texts and prayers of Lent frequently reflected the Roman station church of the day and the saint honored there. Those echoes continue, if in more muted form, in the post-conciliar Lenten liturgy. What has been revived, however, and in a very dramatic way, is the station church pilgrimage itself. And the revival has been largely an American affair.

In the mid-1980s, students here at the NAC, began to follow the ancient custom of walking to the station church traditionally appointed for that day, each day of Lent. The practice caught on among other English-speakers in the city, so that each morning, as many as 500 Anglophones have come to the traditional station church of the day at 7 a.m. for Mass. Many walk. Others take buses, or the Metro, or drive. But on any given day of Lent, Monday through Saturday, you’ll find hundreds of English-speakers at the station church of the day, keeping faith with the traditions of the first millennium.
I have posted on some of the churches visited, and will try to add more as I review some of my notes.  But, the opportunity to have done this is a memory I will cherish. 

2/22/2012   Ash Wednesday     S. Sabina all'Aventino 

2/23/2012   Thursday    S. Giorgio al Velabro  
2/24/2012   Friday      Ss. Giovanni e Paolo 
2/25/2012   Saturday    S. Agostino
2/26/2012   Sunday–WEEK I     S. Giovanni in Laterano
2/27/2012   Monday      S. Pietro in Vincoli   
2/28/2012   Tuesday     S. Anastasia al Palatino     
2/29/2012   Wednesday   S. Maria Maggiore
3/1/2012    Thursday    S. Lorenzo in
3/2/2012    Friday      Ss. Dodici Apostoli  
3/3/2012    Saturday    S. Pietro in Vaticano  
3/4/2012    Sunday–WEEK II    S. Maria in Domnica    
3/5/2012    Monday      S. Clemente
3/6/2012    Tuesday     S. Balbina all’Aventino
3/7/2012    Wednesday   S. Cecilia in Trastevere     
3/8/2012    Thursday    S. Maria in Trastevere 
3/9/2012    Friday      S. Vitale
3/10/2012   Saturday    Ss. Pietro e Marcellino
3/11/2012   Sunday–WEEK III  San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura
3/12/2012   Monday      S. Marco al Campidoglio
3/13/2012   Tuesday     S. Pudenziana al Viminale    
3/14/2012   Wednesday   S. Sisto   
3/15/2012   Thursday    Ss. Cosma e Damiano    
3/16/2012   Friday      S. Lorenzo in Lucina 
3/17/2012   Saturday    S. Susanna 
3/18/2012   Sunday–WEEK IV    S. Croce in Gerusalemme
3/19/2012   Monday      Ss. Quattro
3/20/2012   Tuesday     S. Lorenzo in Damaso   
3/21/2012   Wednesday   S. Paolo fuori le Mura 
3/22/2012   Thursday    Ss. Silvestro e Martino
3/23/2012   Friday      S. Eusebio all’Esquilino   
3/24/2012   Saturday    S. Nicola in Carcere   
3/25/2012   Sunday–WEEK V     S. Pietro in Vaticano
3/26/2012   Monday      S. Crisogono in Trastevere   
3/27/2012   Tuesday     S. Maria in via Lata
3/28/2012   Wednesday   S. Marcello al Corso
3/29/2012   Thursday    S. Apollinare    
3/30/2012   Friday      S. Stefano Rotondo     
3/31/2012   Saturday    S. Giovanni a Porta Latina   
4/1/2012    Palm Sunday S. Giovanni in Laterano
4/2/2012    Monday      S. Prassede all’Esquilino    
4/3/2012    Tuesday     S. Prisca all’Aventino 
4/4/2012    Wednesday   S. Maria Maggiore

St Mary Major - Christmas in March

Friday we had a tour of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, led by Monsignor McInerny, one of the canonist of the church.  He explained the history of the church and took us places within the church that few visitors see, including the Borghese crypt where two Popes are buried.  Yet, the highlight of the visit was praying before the wood of the manager where Christ was born.  I do not care who believes in these relics or not; it does not even matter if it is the holy relic, but what I do believe it is, either way, the focus of prayer before the manager humbles one to love God more. Just think the One who is all powerful, who died for our sins, who rose from the dead, who sends His Spirit upon us was born in a humble place, in the wood for feeding animals of poor parents who were far from home.  As we stood and sang Silent Night, I was again reminded of the depth of God's love for us.  This completes our tours of the four major Basilicas.

The Law of the Gospel in Itself ---

Today we were taught by Fr. Giertych, OP, who just happens to be the theologian of the  Papal Household.  His responsibilities are to read all the speeches of Pope Benedict XVI to assure that they are theologically without error.  He taught us on moral theology and it was a wonderful review of Thomas Aquinas.  The one thing I found most helpful was how much St. Thomas believed in the grace of the Holy Spirit.  Also, the reminder that spirit of Christ saves any one who responds to this grace, even if they do not know it.  Thus, a good Hindu or other person who does not recognize Christ but follows the grace of God is saved by Jesus Christ.  There is room in heaven for many, if not all.

Thursday, March 22 - Santi Martino e Silvestro ai Monti

This church was built by Pope Saint Sylvester (314-335) who was at the helm of the bark of Peter through the last of the persecutions and the conversion of emperor Constantine. Two hundred years later, it was later restored and rededicated to Saints Martin of Tours (317-397) and Pope Saint Sylvester. This church was the site of preparatory meetings for the Council of Nicaea (325), which was called to fight the heresies, which denied that Christ is true God and true man. This was the first church in Rome where the Nicene Creed was proclaimed.
Since this is Thursday, we also know that from ancient times,  it was a place where the poor have always been able to get food.

Tuesday - March 20 San Lorenzo in Damaso

This is another ancient church dedicated to Saint Lawrence by Pope Saint Damasus I (366-384) over his house. Today it is part of the Cancelleria, or the chancery, and houses the Holy Father's Tribunals: the Roman Rota, Apostolic Signatura, and Apostolic Penitentiary. The Roman Rota judges all judicial cases (especially marriage and rights). The Apostolic Signatura hears all cases of administrative recourse and watches over the lower tribunals. The Sacred Penitentiary hears all cases involving the internal forum. For example, there are certain sins, which only the Holy Father can absolve (i.e., a priest who reveals a confession). This tribunal will here these petitions for forgiveness in the name of the Pope.

Women Doctors in the Church & Three 20th Century Women

Today's program was presented by Dr. Donna Orsuto, S.T.D., professor at the Gregorian University, Angelicum, and other Rome schools of Theology. She offered two lectures entitled, "Three Women Doctors of the Church and their message to Priests", and in the afternoon, "Three Influential 20th Century Women of the Church."

The three doctors of the church are St. Catherine of Siena, St. Theresa of Avila, and St. Therese of Lisieux. In the afternoon, Dr. Orsuto presented the works of Dorothy Day, Edith Stein, and Blessed Mother Theresa. The power of the lessons taught by these women is in both the depth and the simplicity of the messages - which is generally true of all great spiritual teaching.

Each one cultivated a particular intimacy with Jesus and strived to give their all to the Lord who had given his all to the world.

Catherine of Siena lived in the 14th century, a time of immense turmoil in the church - plague, western schisms, and the Papacy abandoning Rome for Avignon in France. Her writings, much of which is letters, offer three themes;

• Knowing the truth about love, (she uses the phrase that God is "patso d'amore" or God is madly in love, crazy in love, with all of creation, and especially with human creation.
• Knowledge of self, and knowing God; this overlapping of knowledge creates a "cell" where we live and meet Christ.
• NOT individualism. This is way ahead of her time. She writes that we need each other. Her spirituality is a radically ecclesial spirituality.

Pope Paul VI called her, "the saint who loved the church the most."

Catherine of Siena was influential in convincing the pope to return to Rome, stop relying on the cardinals who were controling him. She called them, "the devil incarnate".

Theresa of Avila offers the church a spirituality of prayers when she says, Prayer is 5 steps.

• taking time
• frequently
• to be alone
• with Him
• who we know loves us

HOwever in the mind and heart of Theresa, all this is God's initiative, not ours.
She calls us "to do what stirs us to love"

St. Therese of Lisieux (1873-1897) She is also known as the Little Flower.
Therese is declared a doctor of the Church, even with the writing of one small book called "The Story of a Soul". Therese contracted Tuberculosis, as a time when there was no cure. This was the great darkness in her life - knowing that she would not survive this disease. Her spirituality can be summed up by saying she lived and proposes to us a spirituality focused on a total confidence and abandonment of oneself to the merciful love of God. It is apiritual path for those who feel that they are imperfect, weak, or little. It is a spiritual path that relies on the purifying love of God that evokes in one the desire to return love for love.

Dorothy Day is a 20th century spiritual giant who began her adult life anything but holy. A common law relationship, an abortion, and weak faith. She brought her daughter to be baptised even though she was not Catholic, and through the instruction of the priest, she herself becomes a convert. She founded the Catholic Worker movement and spent her life working on the lower East side of New York City with the poor. She is know for her activism for justice, a fierce pacifism, and her work for peace. There is a great deal of information on line about her. She was an avid letter writer, and has a huge correspondence with Thomas Merton.


Edith Stein was part of a devout Jewish family in Belgium. She was a brilliant young woman who taught philosophy. After reading St. Catherine of Siena, she declared, this is the truth. She converted to Catholicsm and entered the Carmelites. After the northern European Catholic Bishops strongly denounced Hitler and the Nazis, attacks against the Jews were stepped up. Many convents were attacked and sisters who were belived to have Jewish roots were rounded up and taken to the concentration camps. Edith Stein died in Auschwitz even as she ministered to the victims of the Nazi horror.

Mother Theresa of Calcutta. Well, what can we say. She lived with us in our homes via television and media. She was the first saint to part of our daily lives all around the world. Her lessons for us can be summed up in one of her most famous statements, "Do small things with great love"

And one final mark of celebration ... even at the Vatican