Six Saints in the Morning

The Station Church for today, although it is called Saints John and Paul, is a basilica dedicated, not to the Apostles of that name, but to two fourth century centurions / knights described in the pre-Vatican II breviary as 'men of mercy, two olive trees, two shining lampstands before the Lord.'  These courageous soldiers surrendered their wealth to the poor of Rome 'in order to begin unencumbered their journey to eternity.'

So honoured were these two men that they have been included in the Roman Canon at the Communicantes: "...et beatorum Apostolorum ac Martyrum tuorum... Joannis et Pauli, Cosmoe et Damiani: et omnium Sanctorum tuorum;" "...and all your Apostles and Martyrs... John and Paul, Cosmas and Damian and all Thy saints."

And so, to honour these soldier-saints and martyrs for Christ we stepped off Juniculum Hill before 0600 and headed out into the dawn for the Station Church dedicated to their memory.

Pilgrims crossing the Tiber on route to Ss John and Paul Station Church

It is also not without significance that in the Roman Calendar today is the feast day of Sts. Perpetua and Felicity who are also mentioned in the list of Saints and Martyrs of Eucharistic Prayer 1 (Roman Canon).  We have the story of these courageous two martyrs written by Perpetua herself around 203AD. You can read about them here.  Perpetua was only 22 yrs old, and Felicity was pregnant.  The account of their martyrdom was so important that it was read during the liturgies of the Church at that time.

How appropriate, therefore, that the priest who was offering the Mass this morning used Eucharistic Prayer 1 in order to draw our hearts and prayers into union with these four martyrs... and in persona Christi the priest bent over, put his elbows down on the altar under the canopy above, and spoke the words of consecration.  Beautiful!

This Church is beautiful in so many ways.  The Apse fresco is Christ in Glory by Roncalli 1588.  I didn't get a picture of it... sorry.

The Basilica is served by the Passionist Order, founded by St Paul of the Cross, whose remains rest in a large side chapel.  I prayed there after Mass.

I spent most of my time here, though:

Chapel of St. Gemma Galgani

This is the side chapel of a recent Italian saint, Gemma Galgani.  You can read about this holy young woman here. She died at the age of 25 and bore the wounds of Christ, physically in the Stigmata.  This is depicted in the stained glass window in the photo above. 

She wanted to be a Passionist nun, but her ill health prevented it.  She is honoured by them here in the Basilica Church of Sts John and Paul in Rome, and in the monastery in her home town of Lucca. 

This morning was a time to be open to the lessons from the lives of the saints: John and Paul, Perpetua and Felicity, Paul of the Cross and Gemma Galgani.  All holy men and women - Pray for us.

Again... more later today in another blog.