Lenten Station At St. Mary Major

Pictures taken from Wikipedia (the free encyclopaedia)

Text taken from The Saint Andrew Daily Missal for Wednesday of Ember Week in Lent

Station at St. Mary Major

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines

Violet Vestments

Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major

Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore (Italian) 

Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris (Latin)

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, are to receive the Sacrament of Holy Orders.

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

Façade of St. Mary Major

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 Contstantinople hails as “the temple in which God became Priest” ?

The Gospel also alludes to Our Lady.

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).