Lenten Station At The Basilica Of Santa Balbina. Tuesday Of The Second 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.

Indulgence of 10 years and 10 Quarantines.

Violet Vestments.

Italiano: Roma - Chiesa di S. Balbina.

English: Basilica of Saint Balbina,
Rome, Italy.

Photo: October 2008.

Source: Own work.

Author: MarkusMark

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Lenten Station is at the Sanctuary of Saint Balbina, a Roman Virgin who lived in the 2nd-Century and whose remains lie under the Altar with those of her father, the martyr Saint Quirinus. This Church, which stands on a slope of the Aventine, was, in the 5th-Century, one of the twenty-five Parish Churches of Rome. Formerly, it was the house of a Roman lady, named Balbina, who was martyred during the persecution of Emperor Trajan.

The reason for the choice of this Church is explained by the Epistle, which speaks of the widow of Sarephta. Thus, is celebrated, the faith of one who transformed her residence into a Church.

Italiano: Santa Balbina a Roma: Interno. 

English: Interior of the Basilica of Saint Balbina, Rome.

Photo: January 2007.

Source: Own work.

Author: Lalupa

(Wikimedia Commons)

Jesus declares in the Gospel that the Jews, who taught the Law of Moses, did not observe it. On the other hand, the Kingdom of God is open to the heathen, who, by Baptism, become disciples of Christ and do His works.

The Epistle tells of Elias going to a heathen widow woman of Sarephta to ask for nourishment, when a drought had fallen on impenitent Israel. The widow took two pieces of wood, typical of the cross of Jesus, and prepared a hearth cake for the Prophet and one for herself.. Her compassion was rewarded, for never after did she want for bread. Whereas the Jews suffer from the scarcity, the Gentiles, as a reward for their fidelity, receive daily the Eucharistic bread, which applies to them the merits gained for them by the Saviour on the Cross.

Let us pray that God may grant us the grace of perseverance in the observance of the Fast, of which He has set us an example (Collect).

His Eminence, Péter Erdő, Cardinal-Archbishop of Esztergom-Budapest, Hungary, 

and Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Balbinae, Rome.

Santa Balbina is a Basilica Church in Rome, devoted to Saint Balbina. It was built in the 4th-Century, over the house of consul Lucius Fabius Cilo, on the Aventine Hill, behind the Baths of Caracalla. Possibly the ancient Titulus Tigridae, the Basilica was consecrated by Pope Gregory I.

The adjoining Monastery has a commanding Mediaeval defence Tower. Inside the Basilica, there is a very fine Episcopal Chair, with a Cosmatesque decoration, from the 13th-Century. The Church was heavily restored in the 1930s, when frescoes were discovered on the side walls from the 9th-Century to the 14th-Century.

External Ornaments of a Cardinal who is a Bishop.

Date: 26 May 2011.

Source: Own work, elements by Heralder and Alekjds.

Author: Adelbrecht.

(Wikimedia Commons)

The Baroque frescoes in the Apse, and the triumphal Arch, were painted by Anastasio Fontebuoni in 1599. The Arch is decorated with the figures of Saint Peter and Saint Paul, while, in the Apse, we can see Saint Balbina between other martyrs. An ancient Sarcophagus was also discovered during the restoration. It is now used as a Font.

There is a strong connection between the Basilica of Santa Balbina, Rome, and Hungary. 

In 1270, the first known Hungarian Cardinal, István Váncsa, was buried in the Basilica. 

The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Balbinae is Péter Erdő, 

Archbishop of Esztergom, Hungary.

In 1270, the first known Hungarian Cardinal, István Váncsa, was buried in the Basilica. Another 13th-Century Hungarian Clergyman, Pál, Bishop of Paphos, erected an Altar in the Church for Saint Nicholas. Both the Altar and the Grave disappeared during later centuries, but a Plaque commemorates the offerings of Pál.

The Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Balbinae is Péter Erdő, Archbishop of Esztergom. According to Péter Erdő, the Hungarian connections of this Church played a part in Pope John Paul II's decision when he chose Santa Balbina for Archbishop Erdő's Titular Church. The Cardinal also recommended Hungarian pilgrims to visit the Basilica and said he feels a special responsibility for the building. Among the previous Titulars are Alfonso de la Cueva, marqués de Bedmar, and Francisco Jiménez de Cisneros.

Father Simpliciano of the Nativity founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Sisters of the Sacred Hearts here.