Lenten Station At St. Peter's

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

Pictures taken from Wikipedia (the free encyclopaedia)

Station at St. Peter's

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines

Violet Vestments

Interior of St. Peter's Basilica by Giovanni Paolo Pannini

The Station for Saturday of Ember Week is always at the great Basilica erected by Constantine and rebuilt by the Popes in the Sixteenth- and Seventeenth-Centuries. It is on the hill of the Vatican on the spot where St. Peter died on the cross and where his body rests. Besides, the Gospel is about the Transfiguration, of which St. 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."

St. Peter's Basilica from the River Tiber. 

The iconic dome dominates the skyline of Rome

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.

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).