Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
January
January 1st
Solemnity of The Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God
Basilica of St Mary Major
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore 42
Rome, Italy
*This basilica is dedicated to Mary the Mother of God and was built by Pope Sixtus III shortly after Mary was given this title at the Council of Ephesus. It replaced an earlier church that had been built by Pope Liberius in the 4th century.
*Within the porphyry base of the Papal Altar in the main body of this church are some relics of St Matthias. Also prominently placed within the confessio below this altar are five pieces of wood believed to be from the crib of Jesus Christ.
*The remains of St Jerome (d. 420) were brought to this basilica in the 12th century. There is some doubt as to their exact location. They either rest under the Papal Altar within the main body of the church or within the confessio in the right transept.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
January 2nd
Memorial of Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzen, bishops and doctors
St Basil the Great (d. 379, Caesarea) (Relics: Mount Athos, Greece; Bruges, Belgium)
St Gregory Nazianzen (d. 389, Cappadocia) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Mount Athos, Greece; Lisbon, Portugal)
The body of St Gregory Nazianzen was first buried near his hometown in Cappadocia and then later transferred to Constantinople. In the 8th century his remains were removed from Constantinople and brought to Rome by a group of Basilian nuns who were escaping the Iconoclastic persecutions in the East. These nuns were given residence in the Campo Marzio district just north of the Pantheon in Rome. They then placed the remains of St Gregory Nazianzen within their church.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*Some relics of St Gregory Nazianzen rest within this basilica beneath the Altar of Our Lady of Succour. This altar is located near the entrance to the confessional area on the right side of the nave. In 2004 a major part of these relics were returned to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
*At the nearby Altar of St Basil, located on the back side of the first column, is a mosaic depicting St Basil celebrating Holy Mass. The original painting that this mosaic replaced hangs within the Roman church Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio
(Our Lady of the Conception in Campo Marzio)
Piazza Campo Marzio 45
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of the Pantheon.
*As noted previously Basilian nuns brought the relics of St Gregory Nazianzen to Rome in the 8th century. They were kept in Rome at Campo Marzio and eventually placed within this church.
*With the exception of one arm the remains of St Gregory Nazianzen were transferred to St Peter’s Basilica in 1580. This arm remained at Santa Maria della Concezione as compensation and was eventually placed in the nearby church of San Gregorio. This relic, however, is not accessible to the general public since San Gregorio is the church used by the Deputies of the Italian Parliament.
San Basilio agli Orti Sallustiani
(Saint Basil at the Sullstian Gardens)
Via di San Basilio 51/A
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of the Barberini metro stop. It is dedicated to St Basil.
January 3rd
Optional Memorial of The Most Holy Name of Jesus
Il Gesu (The Jesus)
Via degli Astalli 16
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It is dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus.
*St Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556) is buried under the altar in the left transept.
*An arm of St Francis Xavier (d. 1552) rests within a reliquary above the altar in the right transept.
Gesu e Maria (Jesus and Mary)
Via del Corso 45
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza del Popolo. It is dedicated to the Holy Names of Jesus and Mary.
January 4th
Memorial of Elizabeth Ann Seton, religious*
St Elizabeth Ann Seton (d. 1821, Emmitsburg, Maryland, USA) (Relics: Emmitsburg, Maryland, USA)
January 5th
Memorial of John Neumann, bishop*
St John Neumann (d. 1860, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) (Relics: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA)
January 6th
Optional Memorial of Andre Bessette, religious*
St Andre Bessette (d. 1937, Montreal, Quebec, Canada) (Relics: Montreal, Quebec, Canada)
January 7th
Optional memorial of Raymond of Penyafort, priest
St Raymond of Penyafort (d. 1275, Barcelona, Spain) (Relics: Barcelona, Spain)
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
(Our Lady Above Minerva)
Piazza della Minerva 42
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*The seventh chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Raymond of Penyafort.
*Also the body of St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) rests under the main altar.
January 13th
Optional memorial of Hilary, bishop and doctor
St Hilary (d. 368, Poitiers, France) (Relics: Poitiers, France)
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*The fifth chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Hilary. The painting within this chapel depicts him contemplating the Holy Trinity.
January 17th
Memorial of Anthony, abbot
St Anthony (d. 356, Mt. Colzim, Egypt) (Relics: Zaafarana, Egypt; Saint-Antoine-l'Abbaye, France; Arles, France)
Sant’Antonio Abate all’Esquilino
(Saint Anthony the Abbot on the Esquiline Hill)
Via Carlo Alberto 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St Mary Major. It is dedicated to St Anthony of Egypt.
Sant'Antonio dei Portoghesi
(Saint Anthony of the Portuguese)
Via dei Portoghesi 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of Piazza Navona. It is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. The first chapel on the left side of the nave, however, is dedicated to St Anthony of Egypt.
San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini
(Saint John the Baptist of the Florentines)
Via Acciaioli 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of the Vatican. It is next to the Tiber River and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*The fourth chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anthony of Egypt.
*A relic of St Mary Magdalene’s foot also rests in a shrine to the left of the main sanctuary.
January 20th
Optional memorial of Fabian, pope and martyr
St Fabian (d. 250, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura
(Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls)
Via Appia Antica 136
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*The last chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to the pope, St Fabian. Also a reliquary chapel near the center of the church on the right side of the nave contains relics of the saint. St Fabian was originally buried in the Catacombs of San Callisto but later his remains were moved to this church. Also within this same chapel are the column to which St Sebastian was tied, an arrow that pierced his flesh, and some small relics from a number of other saints including St Peter, St Paul, and St Andrew.
*Directly across from this chapel and on the left side of the nave is a chapel dedicated to St Sebastian (d. 288). St Sebastian was originally buried in the catacombs located under this church. At some point, however, his remains were removed. Some of these remains are now located within an urn in this chapel below the very impressive statue of St Sebastian created by Giuseppe Giorgetti.
*This church has an ancient tradition connecting it to St Peter and to St Paul. The Depositio Martyrum shows that in the year 258 pilgrims came to San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura on June 29th, the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul, to honor these two great saints. Therefore, it is presumed that at one time this church housed the remains of both St Peter and St Paul.
*Tradition also claims that within the catacombs located under this church St Philip Neri (d. 1595) experienced such an enlargement of his heart due to a supernatural infusion of God’s love that two of his ribs cracked.
Catacombs of San Callisto
Via Appia Antica 110/126
Rome, Italy
*South of the Aurelian Walls.
*St Fabian, St Pontian (d. 235), St Cornelius (d. 253), St Sixtus II (d. 258), and a number of other early popes were originally buried here within the Papal Crypt. The remains of St Fabian were later moved to San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura, the remains of St Cornelius to Santa Maria in Trastevere, and the remains of St Sixtus II to San Sisto Vecchio.
*St Cecilia was also buried in these catacombs. In 821 her remains were removed and taken to Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
*Finally, it was at this location in the year 258 that Roman soldiers burst into a chapel and arrested St Sixtus II and four other deacons while they were celebrating the liturgy. St Lawrence (d. 258) was not among this group; however, a legend holds that St Lawrence was able to speak to St Sixtus just before the pope was martyred. In this conversation St Sixtus said to St Lawrence, “You shall follow me in three days.” St Lawrence then in three days went on to suffer his own martyrdom by being burnt alive on a gridiron.
January 20th
Optional memorial of Sebastian, martyr
St Sebastian (d. 288, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
A major part of the relics of St Gregory the Great and the body of St Sebastian are said to have been taken to Soissons, France in 826 AD. Alban Butler in The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints claims that in 1564 these relics were stolen and thrown into a ditch by Calvinists. This tradition then maintains that some of these desecrated relics were recovered and subsequently placed into surrounding churches in that area. Despite this tradition the veneration of their relics in Rome has been maintained for centuries.
San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura
(Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls)
Via Appia Antica 136
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*Please see the previous entry under St Fabian for details on this church.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Treasury Museum
*The skull of St Sebastian is placed within a glass-sided reliquary in this museum.
*Also the second chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Sebastian. A mosaic within this chapel depicts his martyrdom. The original painting that this mosaic replaced hangs within the Roman church Santa Maria degli Angeli.
Santi Quattro Coronati
(Four Holy Crowned Ones)
Piazza dei Santi Quattro Coronati 20
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Colosseum.
*For centuries the skull of St Sebastian was venerated within the crypt of this church. Signage at an altar on the left side of the nave continues to indicate its presence. However, at some point in the last century the skull was removed. It can now be found within a reliquary in the Treasury Museum of St Peter’s Basilica as noted above.
Sant'Andrea della Valle
(Saint Andrew of the Valley)
Piazza Vidoni 6 / Piazza Sant'Andrea della Valle
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. Prior to the construction of this church in the 17th century a small church dedicated to St Sebastian was located here. Tradition claims that this ancient church rested upon a sewer from which the body of St Sebastian was recovered following his martyrdom. Today a remnant of this ancient church is partially preserved within a niche found in the first chapel on the left side of the nave.
*Also the third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Sebastian. The altarpiece within this chapel was painted by Giovanni de’ Vecchi in 1614.
San Sebastiano al Palatino
(Saint Sebastian at the Palatine)
Via San Bonaventura 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in the Roman Forum. It is not open often.
*St Sebastian had been a member of the Roman Emperor’s Praetorian Guard and therefore lived and worked in the Roman Forum. This church honors the memory of St Sebastian’s presence in the Roman Forum and his attempts to evangelize the Roman people. A small relic of St Sebastian rests in the sacristy of this church.
January 21st
Memorial of Agnes, virgin and martyr
St Agnes (d. 304, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura
(Saint Agnes Outside the Walls)
Via S Agnese 315
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of the Aurelian Walls and is located on Via Nomentana.
*The bones of St Agnes rest in the crypt under the main sanctuary.
Sant’Agnese in Agone
(Saint Agnes in Agone)
Piazza Navona
Rome, Italy
*According to tradition St Agnes was martyred at this location in 304 AD. A relic of her skull is present in a chapel located to the left of the main sanctuary.
*A large statue of St Agnes is prominently placed above an altar on the right side of this church. It was completed by Ercole Ferrata in the 17th century.
Santissima Trinita dei Spagnoli
(The Most Holy Trinity of the Spanish)
Via dei Condotti 41
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Agnes. Three paintings within this chapel depict scenes from her life.
January 23rd
Optional memorial of Vincent, deacon and martyr*
St Vincent (d. 304, Valencia, Spain) (Relics: Lisbon, Portugal; Castres, France)
Tre Fontane (The Three Fountains)
Via Acque Salvie 1
Rome, Italy
*Tre Fontane is located south of the Aurelian Walls.
*There are three churches located at this shrine, one of which is Santi Anastasio e Vincenzo. This is the large church on the left as one enters. It is dedicated to St Vincent and to St Anastasius.
January 23rd
Optional memorial of Marianne Cope, virgin*
St Marianne Cope (d. 1918, Kalaupapa, Hawaii, USA) (Relics: Syracuse, New York, USA)
January 24th
Memorial of Francis de Sales, bishop and doctor
St Francis de Sales (d. 1622, Lyon, France) (Relics: Treviso, Italy; Annecy, France)
Sacro Cuore di Gesu a Castro Pretorio
(Sacred Heart of Jesus at Castro Pretorio)
Via Marsala 42
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Termini Train Station. It was built by St John Bosco and finished in 1887. The church continues to be served by the Salesians.
*A chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Francis de Sales.
January 25th
Feast of The Conversion of Paul, apostle
(Relics: Rome, Italy; Valletta, Malta)
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
Via Ostiense 186
Rome, Italy
*St Paul is buried in the confessio of this church. 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 the main altar in the left transept is dedicated to the Conversion of St Paul. The painting above this altar, completed by Vincenzo Camuccini, depicts this event.
Tre Fontane (The Three Fountains)
Via Acque Salvie 1
Rome, Italy
*Located south of the Aurelian Walls.
*There are three churches located at this shrine. The one located on the backside of the property, called San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, is believed to mark the spot of St Paul’s martyrdom. Legend says that after St Paul was decapitated his head bounced three times and with each bounce a fountain of water sprang up. Three grated areas along the eastern wall of this church cover up the locations of these three fountains. Also within this church is the column to which St Paul was bound and the table upon which he died.
*Another church on this property, Santa Maria Scala Coeli, is believed to mark the spot of St Paul’s imprisonment prior to his martyrdom. This is the first church on the right as one enters. A crypt below the main sanctuary of this church marks the spot where St Paul was imprisoned.
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.
San Paolo alla Regola
(Saint Paul at the Place of Teaching)
Via di San Paolo alla Regola 6
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter
*This church claims to be built over the spot where St Paul lived for two years while he was under house arrest in Rome. A chapel to the right of the main sanctuary marks the location of his rooms.
*Also within the main sanctuary are three frescoes depicting scenes from St Paul’s life.
Santa Maria in Via Lata
(Our Lady at Via Lata)
Via del Corso 306
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Venezia.
*It is believed that this church is also built over a location where St Paul resided while he was under house arrest in Rome.
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 right is entitled the Conversion of St Paul.
San Pietro in Montorio
(Saint Peter in Montorio)
Piazza San Pietro in Montorio 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on the Janiculum hill.
*A painting within the right transept by Giorgio Vasari depicts the Conversion of St Paul.
Santa Maria in Campitelli
(Our Lady in Campitelli)
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter.
*A painting within the third chapel on the left side of the nave, entitled the Conversion of St Paul, depicts St Paul falling off of his horse. It was completed by Ludovico Geminiani in the 17th century.
*The body of St John Leonardi (d. 1609) is enshrined in the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
January 26th
Memorial of Timothy and Titus, bishops
St Timothy (Relics: Termoli, Italy)
St Titus (Relics: Heraklion, Crete, Greece)
January 27th
Optional memorial of Angela Merici, virgin
St Angela Merici (d. 1540, Brescia, Italy) (Relics: Brescia, Italy)
January 28th
Memorial of Thomas Aquinas, priest and doctor
St Thomas Aquinas (b. 1225, Roccasecca, Italy) (d. 1274, Fossanova, Italy) (Relics: Toulouse, France; Aquino, Italy; Naples, Italy)
Santa Sabina (Saint Sabina)
Piazza Pietro d'Illiria 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on the Aventine Hill just south of Circo Massimo.
*St Thomas Aquinas lived here in 1265 when he opened a house of studies at Santa Sabina to teach theology to Dominican students. It was also around this time that he began to write the Summa Theologica.
*One of the oldest depictions of the crucifixion in Christian art is located on the uppermost left panel of the left entrance door. This wooden door dates back to the year 430 AD. (Note: This is not the entrance off of the street but the entrance from the narthex.)
January 31st
Memorial of John Bosco, priest
St John Bosco (d. 1888, Turin, Italy) (Relics: Turin, Italy)
Sacro Cuore di Gesu a Castro Pretorio
(Sacred Heart of Jesus at Castro Pretorio)
Via Marsala 42
Rome, Italy
*This church was built by St John Bosco and was finished in 1887. It is located near the Termini Train Station.
*St John Bosco celebrated Mass at the altar in the left transept. It was at this altar that he profoundly realized that his life had fulfilled the vision of his youth.
*In the museum to the right of the main sanctuary are various relics. One reliquary contains a bone fragment of St John Bosco. Also upon request one can visit the rooms of St John Bosco.
*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.
