Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
February
February 2nd
Feast of The Presentation of the Lord
San Pietro in Montorio
(Saint Peter in Montorio)
Piazza San Pietro in Montorio 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on the Janiculum hill.
*Within the third chapel on the right side of the nave is a painting of the Presentation of Jesus. To the sides of this painting are two works completed by Michelangelo Cerruti depicting the Annunciation and the Immaculate Conception.
February 3rd
Optional memorial of Blaise, bishop and martyr
St Blaise (d. 316, Armenia) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Maratea, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia)
San Carlo ai Catinari
(Saint Charles at the Catinari)
Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Largo di Torre Argentina. It is dedicated to St Blaise as its full name Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari indicates.
*On February 3rd several relics of St Blaise are presented within this church for veneration. Of special note is a reliquary which contains a bone from the throat of St Blaise. This relic is used to bless the throats of the faithful.
*The second chapel on the right side of the nave is also dedicated to St Blaise.
San Biagio degli Armeni
(Saint Blaise of the Armenians)
Via Giulia 63
Rome, Italy
*This church is on the north end of Via Giulia. It is dedicated to St Blaise.
February 3rd
Optional memorial of Ansgar, bishop
St Ansgar (d. 865, Bremen, Germany)
February 5th
Memorial of Agatha, virgin and martyr
St Agatha (d. 251, Catania, Sicily) (Relics: Catania, Sicily)
Sant'Agata dei Goti
(Saint Agatha of the Goths)
Via Mazzarino 16 / Via Panisperna
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of the Basilica of St Mary Major. It was originally an Arian church. However, in 593 after the Imperial forces defeated the Arian Goths the church was reconsecrated to St Agatha.
Sant'Agata in Trastevere
(Saint Agatha in Trastevere)
Largo San Giovanni de Matha 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere. It is not open often.
*A painting in the sanctuary depicts the martyrdom of St Agatha.
February 6th
Memorial of Paul Miki and Companions, martyrs
Honored on this day are 26 martyrs who died in Japan in 1597 by crucifixion. (Relics: Nagasaki, Japan)
February 8th
Optional memorial of Jerome Emiliani, priest
St Jerome Emiliani (d. 1537, Somasca, Italy) (Relics: Somasca, Italy)
Santa Maria in Aquiro
(Our Lady in Aquiro)
Via della Guglia 69/B
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*The fourth chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Jerome Emiliani. The community that he founded, the Somascan Fathers, administer the parish.
February 8th
Optional memorial of Josephine Bakhita, virgin
St Josephine Bakhita (d. 1947, Schio, Italy) (Relics: Schio, Italy)
February 10th
Memorial of Scholastica, virgin
St Scholastica (b. 480, Norcia, Italy) (d. 547, Monte Cassino, Italy) ((Relics: Monte Cassino, Italy; Juvigny-sur-Loison, France)
It is uncertain if the relics of Saint Benedict and Saint Scholastica are still at Monte Cassino or if they were moved in the seventh century to Saint-Benoît-sur-Loire, France.
Santi Benedetto e Scolastica
(Saints Benedict and Scholastica)
Vicolo Sinibaldi 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is just south of the Pantheon. Its postal address is on Vicolo Sinibaldi; however, its front door is just around the corner on Via Torre Argentina.
*The church is very small and is set into the surrounding buildings. It is dedicated to both St Benedict and St Scholastica. It is not open often.
February 11th
Optional memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes
Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergine
(Saint Rita of Cascia at the Vergine)
Via del Umilta 83B
Rome, Italy
*This church is just south of the Trevi Fountain.
*A grotto honoring Our Lady of Lourdes is found within a small room immediately on the left after entering.
Santi Marcellino e Pietro
(Saints Marcellinus and Peter)
Via Merulana 162
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St John Lateran.
*The side chapel to the right of the main sanctuary contains a grotto that is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
*Also remnants from a statue of the Blessed Virgin Mary, which was smashed by protesters who broke into the church in 2011, are preserved in a shrine located near the sacristy.
*Some relics of Saints Marcellinus and Peter rest within the altar in the main sanctuary.
Santa Maria in Aquiro
(Our Lady in Aquiro)
Via della Guglia 69/B
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
San Rocco (Saint Roch)
Largo San Rocco 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of the Spanish Steps and near the Tiber River.
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave contains a grotto that is dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
February 14th
Memorial of Cyril, monk; and Methodius, bishop
St Cyril (d. 869, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Methodius (d. 885)
St Cyril is believed to have discovered both the anchor and the relics of St Clement I in Crimea in 861 AD. St Cyril then brought these relics to Rome during his visit in 868 AD. He died in Rome a year later. His brother, St Methodius, wished to return the body of St Cyril to his homeland in Thessalonica; however, Pope Adrian II would not allow this. As a result the body of St Cyril was kept in Rome and buried in the Basilica of San Clemente, the same church where he had deposited the relics of St Clement I a year prior. The remains of St Cyril remained in this church until their removal and disappearance during the French establishment of the Roman Republic in the late 18th century. In the 1960’s, a fortunate discovery by an Irish Dominican led to the retrieval of a small relic of St Cyril. This relic is now within this church as noted below.
Basilica di San Clemente
(Basilica of Saint Clement)
Via di San Giovanni in Laterano / Piazza San Clemente
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Colosseum.
*A chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius. The relic of St Cyril found in the 1960’s rests within the altar of this chapel.
*Also the remains of St Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107) and of St Clement I (d. 97) rest below the main altar.
San Girolamo dei Croati
(Saint Jerome of the Croatians)
Via Tomacelli 132
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of the Spanish Steps and near the Tiber River. It is not open often.
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave contains a painting that depicts Saints Cyril and Methodius giving the relics of St Clement I to Pope Adrian II.
February 17th
Optional memorial of The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order
Santa Maria in Via
(Our Lady of the Way)
Via del Mortaro 24
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps. It is run by the Servite friars.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order.
*On September 26, 1256 a miraculous icon of the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared at this location. It was found painted on a stone and floating upon the water of an overflowing well. The first chapel on the right side of the nave preserves this miraculous well and icon. Cups are normally provided so that pilgrims can drink some of the water from this well.
San Marcello al Corso
(Saint Marcellus on the Corso)
Piazza di San Marcello 5
Rome, Italy
*This church is located north of Piazza Venezia.
*A chapel on the left side of the nave near the entrance is dedicated to the Seven Holy Founders of the Servites.
*This church is served by the Servite friars and the Order’s Generalate is adjacent to the church.
*A fire on the night of May 22, 1519 destroyed most of this church. Only the outer walls and a 15th century wooden crucifix survived. This miraculous crucifix can now be found in the fourth chapel on the right side of the nave. A relic of the true cross is also preserved within this chapel in a reliquary.
February 21st
Optional memorial of Peter Damian, bishop and doctor
St Peter Damian (d. 1072, Faenza, Italy) (Relics: Faenza, Italy)
February 22nd
Feast of the Chair of St Peter, apostle
(Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*Tradition holds that St Peter was crucified upside down in the middle of Nero’s Circus. The Altar of The Crucifixion located in the left transept of St Peter’s Basilica is very close to the actual site where this crucifixion took place.
*The bones of St Peter are in the confessio below the Papal Altar and his jawbone can be seen on the Scavi tour.
*Tradition holds that within the large bronze chair located above the Altar of the Chair in the apse of the church is a second smaller chair made out of wood. This second chair is said to consist of fragments from the original Episcopal chair that St Peter once sat in.
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*Positioned above the Papal Altar of this church are two busts of St Peter and St Paul. According to tradition the skulls or parts of the skulls of St Peter and St Paul are within these busts. Also located within the Papal Altar is a wooden table that St Peter and many of the earliest popes are said to have celebrated the Eucharist upon.
*Located to the left of the Papal Altar is another very ancient table. This table rests above the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. It is placed directly behind a bronze relief of the Last Supper. Tradition claims that it was upon this table that Jesus and the apostles celebrated the Last Supper.
Domine Quo Vadis
(Lord, Where Are You Going?)
Via Appia Antica
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*This is the location where Christ allegedly appeared to St Peter as he was fleeing Rome. Upon seeing the Lord, St Peter asked, “Domine, Quo Vadis?” (Lord, where are you going?) to which Jesus replied, “I am going to Rome to be crucified again.” Spurred on by this encounter St Peter returned to Rome where he became a martyr.
San Giuseppe dei Falegnami / Carcere Mamertino
(Saint Joseph of the Carpenters / Mamertine Prison)
Clivo Argentario 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in the Roman Forum above the Mamertine Prison. It was in this prison that the Romans incarcerated individuals of great importance. As a result a long standing tradition has placed St Peter’s imprisonment here. Such a high profile imprisonment would seem likely from today’s perspective, however, at the time of St Peter’s death his role as the leader of a little-known Jewish sect would have almost certainly been regarded as insignificant. As a result his imprisonment at this location is doubted. Nevertheless, this prison continues to actively promote tours. Within St Peter’s alleged cell is a raised ring that is believed to be the spot where a spring of water arose allowing St Peter to baptize two guards.
San Pietro in Vincoli
(Saint Peter in Chains)
Piazza San Pietro in Vincoli 4/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Cavour metro stop.
*A tradition claims that St Peter was condemned and imprisoned near this site. This tradition is probably more credible than the one held at the Mamertine Prison.
*Venerated within the confessio of this church are the chains of St Peter. A tradition holds that these chains are a result of the chains from St Peter’s imprisonment in Jerusalem coming into contact with the chains from St Peter’s imprisonment in Rome. Miraculously these two chains were fused into the one inseparable chain that is now found in the confessio.
Santa Pudenziana
(Saint Pudentiana)
Via Urbana 160
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St Mary Major.
*It is believed that St Peter lodged here while he was in Rome. The house in which he stayed was owned and provided for by St Pudens, a Roman Senator. Since early Christians did not have public places for worship it is also presumed that St Peter celebrated Mass here. Remnants from the ancient wooden altar used for these Masses are said to be preserved in the chapel dedicated to him on the left side of the main sanctuary.
San Pietro in Montorio
(Saint Peter in Montorio)
Piazza San Pietro in Montorio 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on the Janiculum hill.
*Within the main sanctuary of this church is a painting by Vincenzo Camuccini entitled the Crucifixion of St Peter. This is a copy of the original that was done by Guido Reni. This painting recalls a mistaken medieval tradition which placed the martyrdom of St Peter at the location of this church and not at St Peter’s Basilica. This tradition, which has in modern times been disproved, led to the construction of a small circular chapel within the cloister adjacent to this church. This chapel, called the Tempietto, is considered one of the best examples of Italian Renaissance architecture in Rome. It was designed by Bramante in the early part of the 16th century. Special permission is needed to access this chapel.
Santa Maria del Popolo
(Our Lady of the People)
Piazza del Popolo 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is at Piazza del Popolo.
*In the Cerasi Chapel, to the left of the main altar, are two works by Caravaggio. The one to the left is entitled the Crucifixion of St Peter.
February 23rd
Memorial of Polycarp, bishop and martyr
St Polycarp (d. 155, Smyrna) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant’Ambrogio della Massima
(Saint Ambrose)
Via San 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.
*The relics of St Polycarp are set in a marble memorial stone under the main altar.
*Tradition also 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.
*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.
