Notre Dame de Rouen. The façade of the Gothic Church in France. Photographer: Hippo1947. Licence: SHUTTERSTOCK.

Saturday 28 February 2015

12th-Century Rievaulx Abbey, Yorkshire.



Rievaulx Abbey
in High Summer.
Photo: 28 July 2006.
Source: Own work.
Author: Tilman2007.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Rievaulx Abbey
on a Spring-Day.
Photo: 13 April 2014.
Source: Own work.
Author: Juliet220.
(Wikimedia Commons)



Computer-Generated Image
of the Interior of Rievaulx Abbey
in the 12th-Century.
Image: CULTURE24

Lenten Station At The Basilica Of Saint Peter's, Rome. Saturday Of Ember Week In Lent.


Roman Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Italic Text, Illustrations and Captions, are taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Saturday of Ember Week in Lent.
Station at Saint Peter's.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.


File:Giovanni Paolo Panini - Interior of St. Peter's, Rome.jpg

Interior of Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Artist: Giovanni Paolo Panini (1692–1765).
Date: 1731.
Current location: Saint Louis Art Museum, Missouri, United States.
(Wikimedia Commons)

The Station for The Saturday of Ember Week is always at the great Basilica erected by Emperor Constantine and rebuilt by The Popes in the 16th- and 17th-Centuries. It is on the Hill of the Vatican on the spot where Saint Peter died on the Cross and where his body rests. Besides, the Gospel is about The Transfiguration, of which Saint Peter was the chief witness.

It was in this Basilica that Ordinations took place, preceded, during the night, by Twelve Lessons. We have a trace of these Lessons in those occurring in The Mass for today. The Introit Verse alludes to this Nocturnal Vigil: "I have cried in the day and in the night before Thee."


File:The Chair of Saint Peter adjusted.JPG

Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
The Apse, showing the Cathedra of Saint Peter, 
supported by four Doctors of The Church, and The Glory.
Designed by Bernini.
Photo: April 2010.
Source: Wiki Commons.
Author: Vitold Muratov.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Like The Apostles selected to be present on Mount Thabor at the Manifestation of the Divine Life of Jesus (Gospel), the new Priests will ascend the steps of the Altar to enter into communication with God. It is they, who, in His name, will exhort us to Prayer, to Patience and to Charity.


File:St Peters2.jpg

Interior of Saint Peter's Basilica, Rome.
Photo: April 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Nserrano.
(Wikimedia Commons)


If we abstain during Lent from even the appearance of evil, our Souls and our bodies will be preserved unstained for The Day of the Eternal Pasch, when Christ (Epistle) will allow us to participate in The Glory of His Transfiguration for all eternity.

Let us Pray to God to fortify us with His Blessing, so that, during this Lent, we may never depart from His Holy Will (Prayer Over The People).






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Friday 27 February 2015

Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam.



18th-Century French Chalice and Paten.
Illustration: S AND W ANTIQUITES



Ad Maiorem Dei Gloriam
(To The Greater Glory Of God).

Lenten Station At The Basilica Of The Twelve Apostles. Friday Of Ember Week In Lent.


Roman Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Italic Text, Illustrations and Captions, are taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Friday of Ember Week in Lent.
Station at The Twelve Apostles.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.


File:Santi XII Apostoli (Rome) apsis.JPG

The Apse in the Church of The Twelve Apostles, 
Rome, Italy.
Photo: August 2012.
Source: Own work.
Author: Luc.
(Wikimedia Commons)


On The Friday in Ember Week, The Station was always made in the Church of The Twelve Apostles, situated at the foot of The Quirinal, for the Examination of Candidates for Ordination. Thus, were the future Priests and Deacons put under the protection of the whole Apostolic College.

This Basilica, one of the oldest in Rome, was built shortly after the time of Emperor Constantine by Pope Julius I, on the occasion of The Translation of the Bodies of The Apostles Philip and James the Less, which rested there. Pope John III (561 A.D. to 574 A.D.) made of it a Votive Monument for the freeing of Rome from the Goths of Totila.


File:Santi Apostoli - soffitto - antmoose.jpg

The Baroque Ceiling 
of the Church of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.
Photo: August 2005.
(Wikimedia Commons)


Addressing herself to the public penitents in the first Centuries of Christianity, The Church told them, by the mouth of Ezechiel, that God was ready to forgive them because they repented (Epistle). Like the sick, who assembled in the Porches of the Pond situated on the North of the Temple in Jerusalem, they waited at the doors of the Church, and, on the great day of the Sabbath, which is The Feast of Easter, Jesus cured them, as He healed the paralytic, spoken of in the Gospel.


File:Trevi - santi apostoli 051112-27.JPG

Exterior of the Basilica of The Twelve Apostles, 
Rome, Italy.
Photo: January 2006.
Source: Own work.
Author: Lalupa
(Wikimedia Commons)


Our Souls, washed in the waters of Baptism, but since fallen back into sin, must atone for their faults, and Jesus, through the instrumentality of His Priests, will pardon them in the Holy Tribunal of Penance.


File:SSApostoli-Interno03-SteO153.jpg

Interior of Santi Apostoli, Rome.
Photo: July 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: SteO153
(Wikimedia Commons)


The excuse, “I have no man”, will not avail us, for if we remain stricken with the palsy of sin, it is because we do not have recourse to the Ministry of Priesthood, which is always at our disposal.

Let us Pray to Almighty God to “receive us with His kind assistance” (Collect), that our vices being “cleansed away” by Penance (Postcommunion), our Souls may once more be shown “the Light of His Grace” (Prayer Over The People).






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Thursday 26 February 2015

A Little Levity To Get You Through The Day.



"When I find out who's hidden our spectacles,
there's going to be Hell to pay !!! "

Lenten Station At Saint Laurence's-In-Panisperna. Thursday, The First Week In Lent.


Roman Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Italic Text, Illustrations and Captions, are taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Thursday of The First Week in Lent.
Station at Saint Laurence's-in-Panisperna.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.


File:Eglise San Lorenzo in Panisperna.JPG

Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna,
in rione Monti, Rome.
Photo: March 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: LPLT
This file is licensed under the 
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Station at Rome was established by Pope Gregory II, in the old Church of Saint Laurence-in-Panisperna, erected to the glory of the heroic Deacon, on the very spot where he suffered Martyrdom.

The Church reminds The Catechumens that, since the coming of Jesus, it is no longer the Race of Israel, alone, that has the promise, but that all can enter The Church by Baptism and partake of The Eucharistic Bread of The Children of God.

If the heathen will solemnly deny the evil deeds of his fathers and practise the Christian Law of Penance and Charity (Epistle), his Prayer will be granted, as was that of the woman who belonged to the accursed Race of Canaan, but whose Faith was great (Gospel).

Let us seek in The Eucharist the strength required to observe Lent. For it is our Fasting, in conjunction with The Sacrifice of Jesus, that will obtain for us Salvation (Secret, Communion, Postcommunion).


File:Martyre de Saint-Laurent par Pasquale Cati di Jesi.JPG

Saint Laurence's Martyrdom, 
by Pasquale Cati (1589), 
in the Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, Rome.
Photo: March 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: LPLT
This file is licensed under the 
(Wikimedia Commons)


San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, or San Lorenzo-in-Formoso, is a Church on Via Panisperna, Rome, Italy. It was built on the site of Saint Laurence's Martyrdom.

Panisperna most probably refers to the tradition of The Poor Clares (in the adjacent Convent) of distributing bread and ham (pane e perna) on 10 August, Lawrence's Feast Day, in remembrance of his distributing funds from The Church to the Poor. "Formoso" refers to Pope Formosus, who built the first attested Church here.


Tradition states that the first building was constructed during the Reign of Emperor Constantine I, only 100 years after the Martyrdom of Saint Laurence, though the first written evidence is from 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII rebuilt the Church and annexed an Abbey to it. That Abbey was given to The Benedictines in 1451, and then had The Poor Clares settled in it by Cardinal Jacopo Colonna in 1896, who also restored the Church and Monastery.


File:SanLorenzoinPanisperna.jpg

English: The Chapel of Saint Brigid 
in the Church of Saint Laurence-in-Panisperna, Rome.
Italian: Chiesa di San Lorenzo in Panisperna, 
Cappella di Santa Brigida.
Photo: 1996.
Source: Own work.
Author: Torvindus
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Franciscans now Serve the Church. In the 5th-Century, this Church was one of Rome's Stational Churches and was visited by The Pope on its Titular Day, the Thursday of The First Week in Lent. Recent Popes have revived this ancient custom.

The present Church is a result of a re-building by Carlo Rainaldi in 1575–1576, under Pope Gregory XIII. It was at this time that it became known as 'in-Panisperna' rather than 'in-Formoso', and that the present Facade was built. 

A new Outer Portico was added in the 17th-Century, then restored and decorated with images of Saint Laurence and Saint Francis of Assisi in 1893–1894 by Pope Leo XIII, who, in 1843, had been ordained Bishop in this Church. Pope Leo XIII also added a steep flight of steps, in front of the Church, leading to a tree-lined Courtyard. There is a modern bronze statue of Saint Bridget of Sweden, here.

A Mediaeval house is preserved, next to the Church, with an exterior staircase, one of the few such houses to have been preserved in Rome.


File:Porte San Lorenzo in Panisperna.JPG

Entrance door of the Church of San Lorenzo-in-Panisperna, Rome.
Photo: March 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: LPLT
This file is licensed under the 
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Church has a single Nave with three Chapels on each side.


South Side

Includes a painting of Saint Clare of Assisi (1756), by Antonio Nessi, and a Ceiling fresco of Glory of Saint Laurence, by Antonio Bicchierai.
Contains the Tomb of the brothers, Saint Crispin and Saint Crispinian, with a painting by Giovanni Francesco Romano.
Painting of The Immaculate Conception, by Giuseppe Ranucci.

North Side


Painting of stigmata of Saint Francis, by Niccolò Lapiccola.
Chapel of Saint Bridget, where she was buried before her body was moved to Sweden. She had used to beg for Alms for the Poor outside this Church, and Prayed before The Crucifix by The High Altar. Now, a Martyr, named Victoria, lies underneath the Altar in the Chapel. 
The painting of Saint Bridget, Praying before The Crucifix, is by Giuseppe Montesanti and was painted in 1757.
Includes an 18th-Century Crucifix of The Roman School.

Under its Porch, is a Chapel containing the oven, said to have been used for Saint Laurence's Martyrdom. A Late-16th-Century fresco of The Martyrdom of Saint Laurence stands behind The High Altar (by Pasquale Cati, a mediocre pupil of Michelangelo). The Crucifix, by The High Altar, is from the 14th-Century.





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Wednesday 25 February 2015

Restoring The Sacred DVD. The Story Of The Resurrection Of Chicago's Saint John Cantius Parish.



Restoring the Sacred DVD.
The Story of the Resurrection of Chicago's Saint John Cantius Parish.
$15.
Order from Saint John Cantius On-Line Store at

Lenten Station At Saint Mary Major. Wednesday Of Ember Week In Lent.


Roman Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Italic Text, Illustrations and Captions, are taken from Wikipedia - the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Wednesday of Ember Week in Lent.
Station at Saint Mary Major.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.


File:Basilique Ste-Marie-Majeure, back.JPG

English: Basilica of Saint Mary Major, Rome.
Français: Vue arriere de la Basilique Sainte-Marie Majeure de Rome (Santa Maria Maggiore).
Photo: November 2008.
Source: Own work.
Author: LPLT
Permission: You are free to use this picture for any purpose under the conditions specified in the license below as long as you credit its author, LPLT.
This file is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 Unported license.
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Spring Ember Week coincides with The First Week of Lent. It was instituted for the purpose of consecrating to God The New Season, and, by Fasting and Prayer, to draw down Heavenly Graces on those, who, on Saturday next, are to receive The Sacrament of Holy Orders.

The Station on The Wednesday in Ember Week was always held at Saint Mary Major, the greatest and most illustrious of The Roman Churches Consecrated to The Blessed Virgin.


File:Lazio Roma SMariaMaggiore2 tango7174.jpg

English: Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Vatican.
Français: Basilique Sainte-Marie-Majeure, Vatican, située à Rome, Latium, Italie.
Photo: September 2010.
Source: Own work.
Author: Tango7174
(Wikimedia Commons)


Is it not fitting that on this very day, when the Scrutinies for Ordination used to be made, the Liturgical gathering should be made in The Basilica Consecrated to her, whom Proclus of Constantinople hails as “The Temple in which God became Priest” ? The Gospel also alludes to Our Lady.


File:Santamariamaggiore2b.jpg

English: The Borghese Chapel, Saint Mary Major, Rome.
Português: Capela Borghese, Santa Maria MaggioreRoma.
Photo: 2005.
Source: Taken by Ricardo André Frantz
Author: Ricardo André Frantz (User:Tetraktys)
(Wikimedia Commons)


The two Lessons, the second of which is read as The Epistle, tell of Moses and Elias, who, before seeing the Glory of The Lord, Fasted Forty Days and Forty Nights. Called to take the place of the rebellious Jews, let us make ourselves worthy of the Fruits of Penance, as did the men of Ninive, who listened to the voice of Jonas, and the Queen of Saba, who came from her distant Country to learn the Wisdom of Solomon (Gospel). We shall participate, then, in the Resurrection of The Saviour, symbolised by The Prophet, who, after remaining three days in the whale’s belly, was vomited out alive.

Let us Pray to God that we may be strengthened in mind by the Fruit of Good Works, while we mortify our bodies by Abstinence (Collect).






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Tuesday 24 February 2015

The Holy Season Of Lent.






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Lenten Station At The Basilica Of Saint Anastasia. Tuesday Of The First Week In Lent.


Roman Text is taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal.

Italic Text, Illustrations and Captions, are taken from Wikipedia, the free encyclopaedia,
unless otherwise stated.


Tuesday Of The First Week In Lent.
Station at Saint Anastasia's.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.


File:Basilica di Sant-Anastasia Rome 2011 1.jpg

Photo: April 2011.
Source: Own work.
Author: Karelj
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Station is at the old Church, which, in the 4th-Century, was the only Parish in the Centre of Rome and in its wealthy Quarter. Built at the foot of the Palatine Hill, this Church, which owes its name to The Chapel of The Resurrection (Anastasis) at Jerusalem, was also Consecrated to Saint Anastasia.

Saint Anastasia was put to death, under the Emperor Diocletian, at Sirmium, in Illyria (now Mitrowitz). Tradition seems to say that this "Title", mentioned in a Synod in 499 A.D., recalls the house of this Holy Martyr in Rome (?). It is more than likely, however, that it concerns but a simple identity of name between the Roman Foundress of this Basilica and the Titular Saint.

Lent is the time when "God is near to us and eager to forgive us, if we put aside our evil thoughts and forsake the way of sin" (Epistle). To do so, we must cast sin out from our hearts, as Jesus cast out the sellers from the Temple (Gospel), and receive the teaching of Christ with the simplicity of Children of God. Then, He will be able to cure our Souls, as He healed the lame and the blind who came nigh unto Him.

Casting out the vainglorious wisdom of the world, let us profit by the Holy Season of Lent, so that, "chastening our bodies by mortification, our Souls may be filled with Holy Desires" (Collect).


File:Ripa - s Anastasia interno 1030303.JPG

Interior of The Basilica of Saint Anastasia, Rome.
Photo: June 2007.
Source: Own work.
Author: Lalupa
(Wikimedia Commons)


Santa Anastasia is a Basilica Church in Rome.

Santa Anastasia was built in the Late-3rd-Century A.D. - Early-4th-Century A.D., possibly by a Roman woman named Anastasia. The Church is Listed under the Titulus "Anastasiae" in The Acts of The 499 A.D. Synod. Later, the Church was En-Titled to the Martyr with the same name, Anastasia of Sirmium.

The Church was restored several times: Pope Damasus I (366 A.D. - 383 A.D.); Pope Hilarius (461 A.D. - 468 A.D.); Pope John VII (705 A.D. - 707 A.D.); Pope Leo III (795 A.D. - 816 A.D.); Pope Gregory IV (827 A.D. - 844 A.D.). The current Church dates back to the 17th-Century Restoration commissioned by Pope Urban VII.

Traditionally, the Church is connected to the cult of Saint Jerome, who possibly Celebrated Mass here. The Saint is depicted over the Altar, by Domenichino.


File:Sant'Anastasia, Rome - ceiling.jpg

Ceiling of The Basilica Sant'Anastasia, Rome.
Photo: July 2009.
Source: Own work.
Author: User:Mattes
(Wikimedia Commons)


The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Anastasiae is Godfried Danneels. Past holders have included John Morton, an Archbishop of Canterbury.

Art and Architecture

The last Restoration, after the Restoration during the Papacy of Pope Sixtus IV, occurred in 1636, when the facade, with, lower, Doric, and, upper, Ionic, order, was reconstructed in 1636, after the cyclone of 1634. The Nave recycles antique Columns. The Ceiling is frescoed with a Martyrdom of The Saints (1722) by Michelangelo Cerruti.


File:Basilica di Sant-Anastasia Rome 2011 4.jpg

English: Statue in Basilica di Sant'Anastasia al PalatinoRome, Italy.
Česky: Socha v Bazilice sv. Anastázie na PalatinuŘím, Itálie.
Photo: April 2011.
Source: Own work.
Author: Karelj
(Wikimedia Commons)


The Chapel, to the Right, has a painting of Saint John the Baptist by Pier Francesco Mola. While the last Chapel on the Right has a fresco of Scenes of the Life of Saints Carlo Borromeo and Filippo Neri by Lazzaro Baldi

The Right Transept has a painting of S. Toribio (1726) by Francesco Trevisani. The High Altar has a Nativity, by Lazzaro Baldi, and, below the Altar, is a statue of Saint Anastasia, by Ercole Ferrata. It clearly shows the influence of Bernini's Beata Ludovica Albertoni. The Left Transept has a Madonna of The Rosary, by Baldi. The last Chapel, to the Left, by Domenichino, depicts Saint Jerome. The other Chapel has Ss.Giorgio e Publio, by Etienne Parrocel.




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