Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
March
March 3rd
Optional memorial of Katharine Drexel, virgin*
St Katharine Drexel (d. 1955, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA) (Relics: Bensalem, Pennsylvania, USA)
March 4th
Optional memorial of Casimir
St Casimir (d. 1484, Hrodna, Belarus) (Relics: Vilnius, Lithuania)
March 7th
Memorial of Perpetua and Felicity, martyrs
Saint Perpetua (d. 203, Carthage, Tunisia) (Relics: Carthage, Tunisia; Vierzon, France)
Saint Felicity (d. 203, Carthage, Tunisia) (Relics: Carthage, Tunisia)
March 8th
Optional memorial of John of God, religious
St John of God (d. 1550, Granada, Spain) (Relics: Granada, Spain)
San Giovanni Calibita
(Saint John Calibytes)
Isola Tiberina 39
Rome, Italy
*This church is located on Tiber Island just across from San Bartolomeo all’ Isola.
*St John of God was the patron saint of the community that founded this church and the hospital adjacent to it. Several works within this church depict various events from his life. Also placed upon a small obelisk in the piazza just outside of this church is a small statue of the saint.
March 9th
Optional memorial of Frances of Rome, religious
St Frances of Rome (d. 1440, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Santa Francesca Romana
(Saint Frances of Rome)
Piazza di Santa Francesca Romana 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is next to the Roman Forum.
*The remains of St Frances of Rome are in the crypt below the main sanctuary. Her skeleton is vested in the habit of the Oblate Sisters.
*To the right of the sanctuary is the tomb of Pope Gregory XI (d. 1378). He returned the papal seat to Rome after the exile in Avignon. St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) was instrumental in persuading him to return. A relief depicting her involvement can be seen on the tomb.
*Two flagstones within the right transept of the church are said to bear the imprints of the knees of St Peter. According to a legend the magician Simon Magus levitated in the Roman Forum to demonstrate that his powers were superior to those of Peter. In response Peter fell to the ground in prayer causing the knee imprints in the stone. Simon Magus then immediately fell to his death.
Sant’Agnese in Agone
(Saint Agnes in Agone)
Piazza Navona
Rome, Italy
*St Frances of Rome received the sacraments of Baptism and Confirmation in this church.
*According to tradition St Agnes was martyred here in 304 AD. A relic of her skull is present in a chapel located to the left of the main sanctuary.
Casa di Santa Francesca Romana
(House of Saint Frances of Rome)
Via dei Vascellari 61
Rome, Italy
*Located in Trastevere at the Ponte Rotto Hotel.
*Ask within the hotel for access to St Frances’ house. Generally access is only available during weekday mornings.
Santa Maria Annunziata a Tor de’Specchi
(Annunciation of Mary at the Tower of Mirrors)
Via del Teatro di Marcello 32
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of Piazza Venezia.
*St Frances of Rome lived here with her oblate community after the death of her husband. This church is only open to the public on March 9th the feast day of St Frances of Rome.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
(Our Lady in Trastevere)
Via della Paglia 14 / Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere.
*Within the first chapel on the right side of the nave is a painting by Giacomo Zoboli that depicts St Frances of Rome receiving the Eucharist.
*Relics of the two popes St Callistus I (d. 222) and St Cornelius (d. 253) also rest under the main altar of this church. These relics are joined by others in particular those of the priest and martyr St Calepodius (d. 232).
March 17th
Optional memorial of Patrick, bishop
St Patrick (d. 461) (Relics: Downpatrick, United Kingdom)
San Patrizio a Villa Ludovisi
(Saint Patrick at Villa Ludovisi)
Via Boncompagni 31
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Spanish Steps. It is dedicated to St Patrick.
March 18th
Optional memorial of Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and doctor
St Cyril of Jerusalem (d. 386, Israel)
March 19th
Solemnity of Joseph, husband of Mary
Tradition and Scripture are silent with regard to the death of St Joseph. However, a possible location of his burial is a 1st century tomb located in Nazareth beneath the Sisters of Nazareth Convent next door to the Franciscan Casa Nova.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
St Joseph’s Altar
*This is the main altar in the left transept. The Blessed Sacrament is reserved here. It is dedicated to St Joseph.
*Relics of St Simon and St Jude rest under this altar.
San Giuseppe al Trionfale
(Saint Joseph at the Trionfale)
Via Bernardino Telesio 4/B
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in the Trionfale district just north of the Vatican.
*St Luigi Guanella was instrumental in the founding of this church. It is a major center of devotion to St Joseph for the people of Rome.
San Giuseppe alla Lungàra
(Saint Joseph at the Lungara)
Via della Lungàra 45
Rome, Italy
*This church is along the Tiber River just north of Trastevere. The community located here focuses on catechizing rural areas.
*The church is dedicated to St Joseph. The altarpiece in the main sanctuary by Mariano Rossi depicts an angel appearing to St Joseph in a dream.
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 and is above the Mamertine Prison. It is dedicated to St Joseph.
San Giuseppe a Capo le Case
(Saint Joseph at the Head of the Houses)
Via Francesco Crispi
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps. It is dedicated to St Joseph.
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
(Saints John and Paul)
Piazza dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo 13
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Colosseum.
*The third chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Joseph.
*Located beneath this church is a complex of well preserved ancient Roman houses. Among these is an ancient house church. These ruins can be visited.
*St Paul of the Cross (d. 1775) is buried under the altar in the large side chapel on the right side of the nave. Upon request one can visit the room in which he died in the monastery adjacent to the church.
Sant’Ignazio (Saint Ignatius)
Via del Caravita 8/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Pantheon.
*A painting within the second chapel on the right side of the nave depicts the death of St Joseph. It was completed by Francesco Trevisani.
*The remains of St Aloysius Gonzaga (d. 1591) 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.
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 just east of Piazza Venezia.
*A painting within the third chapel on the right side of the nave depicts the death of St Joseph.
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.
*A marble relief in the first chapel on the right side of the nave depicts the dream of St Joseph that prompted the Holy Family to flee to Egypt.
Santa Maria in Campitelli
(Our Lady in Campitelli)
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter.
*The first chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Joseph.
*The body of St John Leonardi (d. 1609) is enshrined in the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
Sant'Andrea delle Fratte
(Saint Andrew of the Bushes)
Via Sant'Andrea delle Fratte 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*A painting within the fourth chapel on the left side of the nave depicts St Joseph and the infant Jesus. It was completed by Francesco Gozza in 1732.
*The third altar on the left side of the nave is where the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to Ratisbonne, an agnostic Jew, in 1842. Ratisbonne converted on the spot. In 1918 St Maximilian Mary Kolbe (d. 1941) offered his first Mass in this very same chapel.
March 23rd
Optional memorial of Turibius of Mogrovejo, bishop
St Turibius (d. 1606, Sana, Peru) (Relics: Lima, Peru)
Sant'Anastasia (Saint Anastasius)
Piazza di Sant'Anastasia
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Circo Massimo.
*To the right of the main sanctuary is an altar dedicated to St Turibius.
March 25th
Solemnity of The Annunciation
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
(Our Lady Above Minerva)
Via del Beato Angelico 35
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*A 15th century painting of the Annunciation by Antoniazzo Romano is within the fifth chapel on the right side of the nave. Also the chapel in the right transept is dedicated to the Annunciation.
*The body of St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) rests under the main altar.
Sant’Onofrio (Saint Onuphrius)
Piazza di Sant’Onofrio 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is on the Janiculum Hill.
*Within the first chapel on the right side of the nave are a pair of frescoes by Antoniazzo Romano. They are uniquely placed upon the upper pinnacles of the vault above the altar. Together they depict the miraculous exchange of the Archangel Gabriel and the Blessed Virgin Mary at the Annunciation.
San Carlo ai Catinari
(Saint Charles at the Catinari)
Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Largo di Torre Argentina.
*Within the first chapel on the right side of the nave is a beautiful painting of the Annunciation by Giovanni Lanfranco.
*Also a chapel in the right transept preserves a copy of the miraculous image of the Blessed Virgin Mary entitled Mother of Divine Providence. The original is located in a Barnabite church in Trastevere.
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 right side of the nave is dedicated to the Annunciation.
San Marcello al Corso
(Saint Marcellus on the Corso)
Piazza di San Marcello 5
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of Piazza Venezia.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to the Annunciation.
*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 in this chapel in a reliquary.
San Lorenzo in Lucina
(Saint Lawrence in Lucina)
Via in Lucina 16/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of the Pantheon.
*The fourth chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to the Annunciation.
*Also the grill used to burn St Lawrence (d. 258) is preserved under the altar in the first 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.
*Within the third chapel on the left side of the nave is a fresco of the Annunciation by Joseph Ernst Tunner.
San Salvatore in Onda
(The Holy Savior in the Deluge)
Via dei Pettinari 51
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Tiber Island.
*A chapel on the right side of the nave honors the Annunciation.
*The remains of St Vincent Pallotti (d. 1850) rest below the main altar.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
*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.
