Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
June
June 1st
Memorial of Justin, martyr
St Justin (d. 165, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Sacrofano, Italy)
Santa Maria della Concezione
(Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
Via Veneto 27
Rome, Italy
*This church is just north of the Barberini metro stop.
*Relics of St Justin the Martyr rest under the altar within the choir chapel. Kindly ask the sacristan for access. The remains of St Justin the Martyr were temporarily transferred in 1992 to the parish church of San Giustino a Centocelle in Rome; however, they have now been returned to this church.
*The bones of nearly 4,000 Capuchin friars are located in the crypt.
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).
June 2nd
Optional memorial of Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs
Saints Marcellinus and Peter (d. 304, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Seligenstadt, Germany)
Santi Marcellino e Pietro
(Saints Marcellinus and Peter)
Via Merulana 162
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St John Lateran.
*Relics of Saints Marcellinus and Peter are preserved within the main altar of this church. Typically on their feast day these relics are brought out and exposed for public veneration. A large painting depicting their martyrdom is also placed above the main altar.
Catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter
Via Casilina 641
Rome, Italy
*These catacombs are located east of the Aurelian Walls.
*The bodies of Saints Marcellinus and Peter were buried in these catacombs prior to their transfer to Santi Marcellino e Pietro.
June 3rd
Memorial of Charles Lwanga and Companions, martyrs
Honored on this day are 22 martyrs who died in Uganda from the years 1885-1887. (Relics: Namugongo, Uganda)
June 5th
Memorial of Boniface, bishop and martyr
St Boniface (d. 754, Dokkum, Netherlands) (Relics: Fulda, Germany)
June 6th
Optional memorial of Norbert, bishop
St Norbert (d. 1134, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany) (Relics: Prague, Czech Republic)
June 9th
Optional memorial of Ephrem, deacon and doctor
St Ephrem (d. 373, Edessa, Turkey)
June 11th
Memorial of Barnabas, apostle
St Barnabas (d. Cyprus) (Relics: Famagusta, Cyprus)
San Carlo al Corso
(Saint Charles on the Corso)
Via del Corso 437
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Barnabas. An early legend claimed that he was the first bishop of Milan.
*The heart of St Charles Borromeo (d. 1584) rests within a reliquary in an altar located behind the main sanctuary.
June 13th
Memorial of Anthony of Padua, priest and doctor
St Anthony of Padua (d. 1231, Padua, Italy) (Relics: Padua, Italy)
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 altarpiece within the main sanctuary depicts St Anthony with the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christ Child.
Sant’Antonio da Padova
(Saint Anthony of Padua)
Via Merulana 124
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St John Lateran and is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua.
Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles)
Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 51
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of Piazza Venezia.
*The third chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua.
*Relics of St Philip and St James the Less also rest within the confessio.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
(Our Lady in Aracoeli)
Piazza del Campidoglio 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is on top of the Capitoline Hill.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. The fresco in this chapel was completed by Benozzo Gozzoli in the 15th century.
Santa Maria della Concezione
(Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
Via Veneto 27
Rome, Italy
*This church is just north of the Barberini metro stop.
*The fifth chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Anthony of Padua. The altarpiece, completed by Andrea Sacchi, depicts St Anthony raising a dead man.
June 19th
Optional memorial of Romuald, abbot
St Romuald (d. 1027, Val di Castro, Italy) (Relics: Fabriano, Italy)
June 21st
Memorial of Aloysius Gonzaga, religious
St Aloysius Gonzaga (d. 1591, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy)
Sant’Ignazio (Saint Ignatius)
Via del Caravita 8/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Pantheon.
*The remains of St Aloysius Gonzaga rest under the altar in the right transept. His rooms are next to the church and can be visited by appointment.
*The body of St Robert Bellarmine (d. 1621) rests under the altar in the third chapel on the right side of the nave.
*The remains of St John Berchmans (d. 1621), the patron saint of altar servers, rest under the altar in the left transept.
Santa Maria della Consolazione
(Our Lady of Consolation)
Piazza della Consolazione 94
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of Tiber Island.
*In 1506 a hospital was founded adjacent to this church. It was at this hospital that St Aloysius Gonzaga contracted the plague while caring for the sick. He eventually died from this disease at the age of twenty-three.
Santissimo Nome di Maria al Foro Traiano
(The Most Holy Name of Mary at Trajan’s Forum)
Piazza Foro Traiano 89
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Trajan’s column which is east of Piazza Venezia.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Aloysius Gonzaga.
Santo Spirito in Sassia
(Holy Spirit in Sassia)
Via dei Penitenzieri 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Vatican.
*A statue of St Aloysius Gonzaga is placed within the first chapel on the left side of the nave.
San Carlo al Corso (Saint Charles on the Corso)
Via del Corso 437
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*A painting depicting St Aloysius Gonzaga among the plague stricken is within the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
*The heart of St Charles Borromeo (d. 1584) rests within a reliquary in an altar located behind the main sanctuary.
June 22nd
Optional memorial of Paulinus of Nola, bishop
St Paulinus of Nola (d. 431, Sicily) (Relics: Nola, Italy; Sutera, Sicily)
San Bartolomeo all'Isola
(Saint Bartholomew on the Island)
Piazza San Bartolomeo, Tiber Island
Rome, Italy
*This church housed the relics of St Paulinus of Nola for about 1000 years until they were transferred to the Italian city of Nola in 1909.
*Relics of the apostle, St Bartholomew, rest within the red porphyry basin that supports the main altar.
*Enshrined in each of the side altars are relics of recent martyrs from around the world.
*The Holy Roman Emperor, Otto III, began building San Bartolomeo all’Isola in 998 to honor his friend St Adalbert (d. 997) who had recently been martyred. An arm of St Adalbert is currently enshrined in the chapel to the left of the main sanctuary. It rests within a little metal box placed under the altar of this chapel.
June 22nd
Optional memorial of John Fisher, bishop and martyr; Thomas More, martyr
St John Fisher (d. 1535, London, United Kingdom) (Relics: London, United Kingdom)
St Thomas More (d. 1535, London, United Kingdom) (Relics: London, United Kingdom; Canterbury, United Kingdom)
San Tommaso Moro
(Saint Thomas More)
Via dei Marrucini 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is outside of the Aurelian Walls and is just east of Termini. It is dedicated to St Thomas More.
June 24th
Solemnity of the Birth of John the Baptist
St John the Baptist (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Siena, Italy; Amiens, France; Munich, Germany; Damascus, Syria)
San Silvestro in Capite
(Saint Sylvester in Capite)
Piazza San Silvestro
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*A relic of the skull of St John the Baptist is within the chapel to the left of the main entrance. 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.
*The remains of St Sylvester I (d. 335) rest in the confessio below the main altar. Also a work from 1688 depicting the legend of St Sylvester I baptizing Constantine can be seen in the apse vault.
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*This basilica is dedicated to both St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist.
*Within the Colonna Chapel to the left of the main sanctuary is a painting completed by Giuseppe Cesari of St John the Baptist and St John the Evangelist pointing to Christ. Another painting of these two saints is on the left wall of the Lancellotti Chapel. Also within the confessio below the Papal Altar is a statue of St John the Baptist.
*The baptistry next to the basilica also has a chapel dedicated to St John the Baptist.
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. It is dedicated to St John the Baptist.
*In the sanctuary is a large sculpture of the Baptism of Christ.
*A relic of St Mary Magdalene’s foot rests in a shrine to the left of the main sanctuary.
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 first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St John the Baptist.
Sant'Antonio dei Portoghesi
(Saint Anthony of the Portuguese)
Via dei Portoghesi 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of Piazza Navona.
*The second chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St John the Baptist.
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
(Our Lady Above Minerva)
Piazza della Minerva 42
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*Within the second chapel on the left side of the nave is a painting of St John the Baptist completed by Francesco Nappi.
*Also the body of St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) rests under the main altar.
June 27th
Optional memorial of Cyril of Alexandria, bishop and doctor
St Cyril of Alexandria (d. 444)
June 28th
Memorial of Irenaeus, bishop and martyr
St Irenaeus of Lyon (d. 203, Lyon, France) (Relics: St Irenaeus was buried in Lyon; however, his tomb and remains were totally destroyed by Huguenots in 1562.)
June 29th
Solemnity of Peter and Paul, apostles
St Peter (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Paul (Relics: Rome, Italy; Valletta, Malta)
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 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 a crucifix that is said to have spoken to St Bridget in 1370 is in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel.
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 Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura
(Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls)
Via Appia Antica 136
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*This church has an ancient tradition connecting it to St Peter and 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.
*St Sebastian (d. 288) was originally buried in the catacombs located under this church. At some point, however, these remains were removed. Some of these remains are now located within an urn in a chapel on the left side of the nave. This is the chapel with the very impressive statue of St Sebastian created by Giuseppe Giorgetti.
*Directly across from this chapel on the right side of the nave is a reliquary chapel that contains the column to which St Sebastian was tied and an arrow that pierced his flesh. Also within this same reliquary chapel are some small relics said to be from St Peter, St Paul, St Andrew, and a number of other saints including the pope, St Fabian (d. 250). St Fabian was originally buried in the Catacombs of San Callisto but later his remains were moved to this church.
*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.
SEE ‘THE CHAIR OF ST PETER’ ON FEBRUARY 22ND FOR ADDITIONAL CHURCHES IN ST PETER’S HONOR.
SEE ‘THE CONVERSION OF ST PAUL’ ON JANUARY 25TH FOR ADDITIONAL CHURCHES IN ST PAUL’S HONOR.
June 30th
Optional memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome
Pantheon / Santa Maria dei Martiri
(Our Lady of the Martyrs)
Piazza della Rotonda
Rome, Italy
*This ancient temple was converted into a Christian church in the year 609. It now honors the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Christian martyrs.
*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.
