Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
December
December 3rd
Memorial of Francis Xavier, priest
St Francis Xavier (d. 1552, Shangchuan Island, China) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Goa, India; Antwerp, Belgium)
Il Gesu (The Jesus)
Via degli Astalli 16
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It honors a number of Jesuit saints.
*An arm of St Francis Xavier rests within a reliquary above the altar in the right transept. With this arm he is said to have baptized thousands of individuals in India and the Far East.
*St Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556), the founder of the Jesuits, is buried under the altar in the left transept. His rooms are located in the Generalate next to the church and may be visited.
*The remains of St Peter Faber (d. 1546), an early companion of St Ignatius, are also located here. They are said to rest below the main entrance to this church having been placed here when the church was built in the 16th century. During the placement of these relics it was impossible to separate the bones of St Peter Faber from the bones of other individuals; therefore, his bones are buried together with theirs.
San Francesco Saverio del Caravita
(Saint Francis Xavier of Caravita)
Via del Caravita 7
Rome, Italy
*This oratory is east of the Pantheon. It is dedicated to St Francis Xavier. It is not open often.
December 4th
Optional memorial of John Damascene, priest and doctor
St John Damascene (d. 750, Jerusalem) (Relics: Mar Saba Monastery)
December 6th
Optional memorial of Nicholas, bishop
St Nicholas (d. 350, Myra, Turkey) (Relics: Bari, Italy, Venice, Italy)
In 1993 a small grave was found on Gemiler Island east of Rhodes. Historians believe that the body of St Nicholas was originally buried in this grave and then subsequently transferred to Myra. From Myra the bones of St Nicholas were stolen by Italian merchants in 1087 and taken to the two Italian cities of Bari and Venice. The merchants from Bari raided the tomb first and in their haste they took only the large bone fragments. The Venetian merchants came later and took the remaining smaller bone fragments. A scientific study in 1992 confirmed that both collections are from the same skeleton.
San Nicola dei Prefetti
(Saint Nicholas of the Prefects)
Via dei Prefetti 34
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of the Pantheon. Both the church and an altar on the right side of the nave are dedicated to St Nicholas.
San Nicola in Carcere
(Saint Nicholas in Prison)
Via del Teatro di Marcello 46 / Via del Foro Olitorio
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Tiber Island. It is dedicated to St Nicholas.
La Maddalena
(The Magdalene)
Piazza della Maddalena 53
Rome, Italy
*This church is just north of the Pantheon.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Nicholas.
*In the third chapel on the right side of the nave are the remains of St Camillus de Lellis. He lived in the adjacent monastery and died here in 1614. His rooms can be visited by asking the sacristan. One of these rooms has been transformed into a chapel and contains the relic of his heart.
Santa Maria in Campitelli
(Our Lady in Campitelli)
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter.
*The third chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Nicholas.
*The body of St John Leonardi (d. 1609) is enshrined in the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
December 7th
Memorial of Ambrose, bishop and doctor
St Ambrose (d. 397, Milan, Italy) (Relics: Milan, Italy)
Sant'Ambrogio della Massima
(Saint Ambrose)
Via S Ambrogio 3
Rome, Italy
*This church is located west of Piazza Venezia near the Fontana delle Tartarughe. It is set behind some buildings and is not easy to notice from the street. It is not open often.
*Tradition holds that this church rests on land that was formerly the location of a house owned by St Ambrose’s father and occupied by his older sister.
*Relics of St Polycarp (d. 155) are set in a marble memorial stone under the main altar.
San Carlo al Corso
(Saint Charles on the Corso)
Via del Corso 437
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps. It was formerly called Santi Ambrogio e Carlo al Corso and is therefore dedicated to both St Ambrose and St Charles Borromeo.
*The heart of St Charles Borromeo (d. 1584) rests within a reliquary in an altar located behind the main sanctuary.
December 8th
Solemnity of The Immaculate Conception of The Blessed Virgin Mary
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception / Chapel of the Choir
*This is the third chapel on the left side of the nave. It is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. The mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary within this chapel was made in 1750. Blessed Pius IX (d. 1878) crowned this image on December 8, 1854 when he declared the Dogma of the Immaculate Conception. Fifty years later the twelve stars were added to the crown by St Pius X (d. 1914).
Santa Maria del Popolo
(Our Lady of the People)
Piazza del Popolo 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is at Piazza del Popolo.
*A painting of the Immaculate Conception completed by Carlo Maratta in 1686 is placed within the second chapel on the right side of the nave.
Santissima Trinità dei Monti
(Most Holy Trinity of the Mounts)
Piazza della Trinità dei Monti
Rome, Italy
*This church is at the top of the Spanish Steps.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception. Philipp Veit, a 19th century German painter, completed the Marian altarpiece. The frescoes upon the side walls depicting the Annunciation and the Visitation were completed by Joseph Ernst Tunner.
San Carlo al Corso
(Saint Charles on the Corso)
Via del Corso 437
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The chapel in the right transept is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
*The heart of St Charles Borromeo (d. 1584) rests within a reliquary in an altar located behind the main sanctuary.
Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles)
Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 51
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of Piazza Venezia.
*The second chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
*Relics of St Philip and St James the Less also rest within the confessio.
Sant'Antonio dei Portoghesi
(Saint Anthony of the Portuguese)
Via dei Portoghesi 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of Piazza Navona.
*The chapel in the left transept is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
December 9th
Optional memorial of Juan Diego*
St Juan Diego (d. 1548, Tlayacac, Cuauhtitlan, Mexico)
December 11th
Optional memorial of Damasus I, pope
St Damasus I (d. 384, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Lorenzo in Damaso
(Saint Lawrence in Damaso)
Piazza della Cancelleria 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is at the Palazzo della Cancelleria near Campo de' Fiori. It is believed to have been founded in the very home of St Damasus I whose remains now rest under the main altar.
December 12th
Feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe*
Nostra Signora di Guadalupe e San Filippo Martire
(Our Lady of Guadalupe and Saint Philip the Martyr)
Via Aurelia 675
Rome, Italy
*This church is outside of the Aurelian Walls and is west of the Vatican. It is the Mexican national church.
*An image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is in the main sanctuary.
San Nicola in Carcere
(Saint Nicholas in Prison)
Via del Teatro di Marcello 46 / Via del Foro Olitorio
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Tiber Island.
*About halfway down the left aisle is a chapel with an image of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
San Giovanni della Malva in Trastevere
(Saint John of Malva in Trastevere)
Piazza del San Giovanni della Malva
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere.
*A large image of Our Lady of Guadalupe is above the altar on the left side of the nave.
Chiesa Latino Americana
(Latin American Church)
Santa Maria della Luce 70
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
December 13th
Memorial of Lucy, virgin and martyr
St Lucy (d. 304, Syracuse, Sicily) (Relics: Syracuse, Sicily; Venice, Italy)
Santa Lucia del Gonfalone
(Saint Lucy of the Gonfalone)
Via dei Banchi Vecchi 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is located between Via Giulia and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It is dedicated to St Lucy.
*A large statue of St Lucy is within a chapel on the right side of the nave.
Santa Lucia in Selci
(Saint Lucy in Selci)
Via in Selci 82
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Cavour metro stop. It is dedicated to St Lucy. It is not open often.
December 14th
Memorial of John of the Cross, priest and doctor
St John of the Cross (d. 1591, Ubeda, Spain) (Relics: Segovia, Spain; Ubeda, Spain)
Santa Maria della Vittoria
(Our Lady of the Victory)
Via XX Settembre 17
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of Piazza della Repubblica.
*The second chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St John of the Cross.
*Also located in this church is Gian Lorenzo Bernini’s famous sculpture entitled The Ecstasy of St Teresa.
December 21st
Optional memorial of Peter Canisius, priest and doctor
St Peter Canisius (d. 1597, Fribourg, Switzerland) (Relics: Fribourg, Switzerland)
December 23rd
Optional memorial of John of Kanty, priest
St John of Kanty (d. 1473, Kraków, Poland) (Relics: Kraków, Poland)
December 25th
Solemnity of Christmas
During the Christmas season many churches will set up Nativity Scenes. Some of the best are located in the following churches.
St Peter’s Basilica
Piazza San Pietro
Rome, Italy
Santi Cosma e Damiano
(Saints Cosmas and Damian)
Via dei Fori Imperiali 1
Rome, Italy
*Located next to the Roman Forum.
Santa Maria in Via
(Our Lady of the Way)
Via del Mortaro 24
Rome, Italy
*Located near the Spanish Steps.
San Marcello al Corso
(Saint Marcellus on the Corso)
Piazza di San Marcello 5
Rome, Italy
*Located north of Piazza Venezia.
Sant’Eustachio
(Saint Eustace)
Piazza Sant’Eustachio 19
Rome, Italy
*Located just west of the Pantheon.
Santa Maria in Traspontina
(Our Lady in Traspontina)
Via della Conciliazione 14
Rome, Italy
*Located near the Vatican.
Sant’Ignazio (Saint Ignatius)
Via del Caravita 8/a
Rome, Italy
*Located east of the Pantheon.
San Giacomo in Augusta / San Giacomo degli Incurabili
(Saint James in Augusta / Saint James of the Incurables)
Via del Corso 499
Rome, Italy
*Located near Piazza del Popolo.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
(Our Lady in Aracoeli)
Piazza del Campidoglio 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is on top of the Capitoline Hill.
*During Midnight Mass a wooden statue of the baby Jesus is taken from a little chapel to the left of the main sanctuary and ceremonially placed within the Chapel of the Crib. The original statue that had been used in this ceremony was stolen in 1994. This original statue had been carved in the 15th century from olive wood taken from the Garden of Gethsemane. Today a replica is used.
Basilica of St Mary Major
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore 42
Rome, Italy
*A reliquary within the confessio below the Papal Altar holds five pieces of wood believed to be from the crib of Jesus Christ. These relics were brought to Rome in the 7th century.
*Preserved within the museum of this church is one of the oldest nativity sets in the world. The pieces were sculpted by Arnolfo di Cambio in the late 13th century. This museum is accessed on the right side of the nave through the baptistry chapel.
December 26th
Feast of Stephen, first martyr
St Stephen (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Tradition claims that the tomb of St Stephen was miraculously discovered in Jerusalem in 415 AD through a special revelation given to a priest named Lucian. Since this discovery the relics of St Stephen have been distributed to a variety of cities. Among these is Rome where a long-standing tradition holds that a large portion of his remains rest in San Lorenzo fuori le Mura.
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
(Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls)
Piazzale del Verano 3
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Aurelian Walls.
*The remains of St Lawrence (d. 258), St Stephen, and St Justin lie in the confessio below the main altar. (Note: The relics are labeled as St Justin the Presbyter. Therefore, it is likely that this is not St Justin the Martyr.)
*A marble stone slab beneath the choir floor is said to be the stone on which St Lawrence was placed after his execution. Also enshrined in this lower area is the body of Blessed Pius IX (d. 1878).
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
Via Ostiense 186
Rome, Italy
*This basilica is south of the Aurelian Walls.
*In the left transept is a small chapel dedicated to St Stephen.
*St Paul is buried in the confessio. Above his tomb are the chains that were used to imprison him prior to his martyrdom. These chains were placed in this prominent location in 2008.
*Also a crucifix that is said to have spoken to St Bridget in 1370 is in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
San Martino ai Monti
(Saint Martin at the Hills)
Viale Monte Oppio 28
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Basilica of St Mary Major.
*The fourth chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Stephen.
*The greater part of the remains of St Martin I (d. 655) were transferred from Crimea to this church in Rome. They now rest in the confessio below the main altar. This confessio also houses the relics of many other saints taken from the Catacombs of Priscilla.
Santo Stefano Protomartire
(Saint Stephen the First Martyr)
Via San Stefano del Cacco 26
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Pantheon and it is dedicated to St Stephen. It is not open often.
December 27th
Feast of John, apostle and evangelist
Tradition holds that St John was originally buried in Ephesus. Later in the 6th century a large basilica was built over his tomb. However, due to a number of earthquakes and the encroachment of the Turks the church was abandoned and his relics lost. Today the location of his relics is unknown. However, his original tomb, now empty, is marked and venerated in Ephesus, Turkey.
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*This basilica is dedicated to both St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist.
*Within the Colonna Chapel to the left of the main sanctuary is a painting completed by Giuseppe Cesari of St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist pointing to Christ. Another painting of these two saints is on the left wall of the Lancellotti Chapel. Also within the fourth chapel on the right side of the nave is a painting that depicts St John the Evangelist at Patmos. Finally, within the baptistry next to the basilica is a chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
San Giovanni in Oleo
(Saint John in Oil)
Via di San Giovanni a Porta Latina
Rome, Italy
*This is a small octagonal devotional shrine located south-east of the Colosseum. It is not open often.
*A legend holds that Emperor Domitian attempted to execute St John here by placing him into a pot of boiling oil. St John, however, survived this attempt upon his life and was exiled to the island of Patmos.
San Giovanni a Porta Latina
(Saint John at the Latin Gate)
Via di San Giovanni a Porta Latina 17
Rome, Italy
*This church is south-east of the Colosseum and it is dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
San Giovanni della Malva in Trastevere
(Saint John of Malva in Trastevere)
Piazza del San Giovanni della Malva
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere. It is dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
December 28th
Feast of Holy Innocents, martyrs
Santissima Trinità dei Monti
(Most Holy Trinity of the Mounts)
Piazza della Trinità dei Monti
Rome, Italy
*This church is at the top of the Spanish Steps.
*A painting within the third chapel on the right side of the nave depicts the massacre of the Holy Innocents. This work was completed by Michele Alberti in the 16th century.
December 29th
Optional memorial of Thomas Becket, bishop and martyr
St Thomas Becket (d. 1170, Canterbury, United Kingdom) (Relics: Canterbury, United Kingdom)
December 31st
Optional memorial of Sylvester I, pope
St Sylvester I (d. 335) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Silvestro in Capite
(Saint Sylvester in Capite)
Piazza San Silvestro
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The remains of St Sylvester I rest in the confessio below the main altar. They were transferred to this church in the 8th century from the Catacombs of Priscilla. On his feast day a relic of his skull is brought out for veneration.
*Depicted within the apse vault above the main altar is the popular legend of St Sylvester I baptizing Constantine.
*Within the chapel to the left of the main entrance is a relic of the skull of St John the Baptist. The authenticity is uncertain since this same relic is said to be located at a number of other places throughout the world including the Cathedral of Amiens in France, the Residenz Museum in Munich, Germany, and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.
San Silvestro al Quirinale
(Saint Sylvester at the Quirinale)
Via Ventiquattro (XXIV) Maggio 10
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of Piazza Venezia. It is not open often.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Sylvester I. Three paintings within this chapel depict alleged events from his life.
San Martino ai Monti
(Saint Martin at the Hills)
Viale Monte Oppio 28
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Basilica of St Mary Major.
*A tradition claims that the pope, St Sylvester I, and many other bishops met here to prepare for the Council of Nicaea. They then reconvened at this same church after the Council to announce the newly formulated Nicene Creed. Constantine was in attendance for this. The large painting on the left side of the nave created in 1640 recalls one of these meetings. This tradition, however, is often tied to the ‘Symmachian Forgeries’ thus throwing some doubt on its credibility. Nevertheless, it does seem probable that some agreement was achieved between Constantine and St Sylvester I that allowed for the success of the Council of Nicaea.
*The greater part of the remains of St Martin I (d. 655) were transferred from Crimea to this church in Rome. They now rest in the confessio below the main altar. This confessio also houses the relics of many other saints taken from the Catacombs of Priscilla.
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
(Holy Cross In Jerusalem)
Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Basilica of St John Lateran.
*A painting above the third altar on the left side of the nave depicts St Sylvester I revealing to Constantine an image of Saints Peter and Paul.
*Also a chapel accessible by the staircase on the left side of the sanctuary preserves a number of relics from Christ’s Passion.
*Note: The Memorials and Feasts listed above with an asterisk are specific to the National Calendar of the United States of America as requested by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and approved by the Holy See.
