Peterborough Cathedral.
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Friday of Ember Week in Lent.
Station at The Twelve Apostles.
Indulgence of 10 Years and 10 Quarantines.
Violet Vestments.
Basilica of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.
Photo: August 2012.
Source: Own work.
Author: Luc
(Wikimedia Commons)
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.
Church of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.
Photo: August 2005.
Source: http://flickr.com/photos/
Author: Anthony Majanlahti
(Wikimedia Commons)
Basilica of The Twelve Apostles, Rome.
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.
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).
Mass: De necessitátibus.
Preface: Of Lent.
A most interesting Comment from a visitor to Rome. Many thanks for this contribution.
ReplyDeleteThe Church of Dodici Apostoli, this station for Friday of the First Week in Lent, is a magnificent baroque masterpiece. The core structure originally was built during the reign of P. Julius I (337-352), and as Zephyrinus’ detailed notes relate, it was originally dedicated to the two Apostles, SS. Philip & James Alphaeus (“the Less”). It is only about a 1.25 km walk from the last station, S. Lorenzo in Panisperna, and is very near the imposing “Wedding Cake,” the Monumento Vittorio Emanuele, the white marble landmark visible throughout much of Rome.
Like most of the ancient Roman churches, this one structurally struggled throughout the Middle Ages and to the Renaissance, but was virtually felled by the great Roman earthquake of 1348. It was even abandoned for some time, until P. Martin V, one of the powerful Colonna clan popes and leaders, in 1417 began extensive restoration of the church. P. Martin’s plan was executed by top architects in the High Baroque style: Bartolomeo (“Baccio”) Pontelli, the architect of the Sistine Chapel, who designed and erected the very imposing but grand façade of the church at that time; and Carlo Rainaldi, the architect of the two charming “twin” churches in the Piazza del Populo (Santa Maria dei Miracoli, and Santa Maria in Montesano): see the following:
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Santa_Maria_dei_Miracoli_and_Santa_Maria_in_Montesanto#/media/File%3ARoma-piazza_del_popolo.jpg
… also made exterior and interior additions, adding to its baroque charm.
In 1700, P. Clement XI had massive and sweeping renovations done to the interior under the direction of the brilliant artist and neo-classical style architect, Carlo Fontana, who is best known for two of his most famous works, the fountain on the left side of the Piazza San Pietro, and the design for the Via della Conciliazione, the magnificent grand boulevard leading from the Tiber up to S. Peter’s. Fontana also commissioned a number of frescoes, including in the centre of the church over the main nave, “Triumph of the Franciscan Order,” since this church was given to the conventual Franciscans (“OFM.Conv”), and who still operate it today. Fontana also arranged originally 12 chapels dedicated to the apostles, later reduced to 9, and these were dedicated to various Franciscan Saints.
Another round of outstanding artwork was added to the church in the 1800s including statuary by the renowned sculptor, Antonio Canova. The church as a result benefited from all the brilliant architectural minds that worked on it because the interior has beautiful natural lighting that enhance the art and architecture.
According to its website, santapostoli.it, the Conventual Franciscans offer at least 2 Masses daily, at 7:30 AM and at 6:30 PM, and they also hear confessions from 7:00 AM - noon, daily, and from 4:40 PM - 6:30 PM Mon - Sat, making it “a pilgrim’s church.”
Gregory DePippo, writer and editor at New Liturgical Review, believes the Gospel for Friday of the First week of Lent, John 5:1-15, the healing of the paralytic at the pool, where all of the 12 apostles being present with Jesus, is the reason that this stational church dedicated to the 12 Apostles was selected. The miracle of the healing of the paralytic in John 5 is very similar to Acts of the Apostles 3:1-ff, where the Apostles are given the power of Christ to forgive sins, and heal the sick. Our Lord’s ministry is delayed by the Cross but not defeated.
So, this beautiful church may help elevate our minds during this time of Lent to what S. Paul calls the “higher things” just as the frescoes and architecture in Sant’Apostoli consistently draw the eyes upward in wonder and awe.