Praying With The Saints
In Rome
A Guide For Finding And Praying With The Saints
Throughout The Liturgical Year
In Rome.
** ** ** ** ** ** ** **
May
May 1st
Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph the Worker
SEE THE ‘FEAST OF ST JOSEPH’ ON MARCH 19TH FOR CHURCHES IN HIS HONOR.
May 2nd
Memorial of Athanasius, bishop and doctor
St Athanasius (d. 373, Alexandria, Egypt) (Relics: Venice, Italy; Cairo, Egypt)
Sant'Atanasio (Saint Athanasius)
Via del Babuino 149
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza del Popolo and is dedicated to St Athanasius. It is not open often.
May 3rd
Feast of Philip and James, apostles
St James the Less – The cousin of the Lord and the son of Alphaeus. (d. 62) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Jerusalem, Israel)
St Philip (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy)
Santi Apostoli (Holy Apostles)
Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 51
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of Piazza Venezia.
*Relics of St Philip and St James the Less rest within the confessio of this church. During the 6th century they were transferred from Constantinople to Rome by Pope Pelagius I (d. 561). In 1873, as excavations commenced below the central altar, their relics were unearthed. They were then carefully examined and repositioned within the confessio where they rest today.
*Also the painting above the main altar depicts the martyrdom of St Philip and St James the Less. It was completed by Domenico Maria Muratori in the early 18th century.
May 10th
Optional memorial of Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka’i, priest*
St Damien Joseph de Veuster of Moloka’i (d. 1889) (Relics: Leuven, Belgium; Kalawao, Hawaii, USA; Honolulu, Hawaii, USA)
May 12th
Optional memorial of Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs
Saints Nereus and Achilleus (d. 4th century) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Chiesa Nuova (The New Church)
Via del Governo Vecchio 134
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*In 1597 this church received the skulls of Saints Nereus and Achilleus. They rest within reliquaries in the sacristy and are sometimes brought out for public veneration on May 12th.
*The additional remains of Saints Nereus and Achilleus are said to rest within a porphyry urn under the main altar of this church. In 1870 they were stolen from the church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo; however, they were later recovered and are now said to rest here.
*The body of St Philip Neri is enshrined in the left transept of this church. His private rooms can be visited on certain days of the week. They are located in the right wall of the left transept.
Santi Nereo e Achilleo
(Saints Nereus and Achilleus)
Via delle Terme di Caracalla 28
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Colosseum. It is not open often.
*In 1597 this church received relics of Saints Nereus and Achilleus through the efforts of Cardinal Cesare Baronio. They now rest in Chiesa Nuova as previously noted.
Basilica dei Santi Nereo ed Achilleo / Catacombe di Domitilla
(Basilica of Saints Nereus and Achilleus / Catacombs of Domitilla)
Via delle Sette Chiese 282
Rome, Italy
*This ancient church is located south of the Aurelian Walls. It is not open often. Saints Nereus and Achilleus were originally buried in the catacombs located here.
May 12th
Optional memorial of Pancras, martyr
St Pancras (d. 4th century) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Pancrazio (Saint Pancras)
Piazza San Pancrazio 5/D
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of Trastevere and was built on the site of St Pancras’ tomb.
*In 1798 a general under Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Rome and established the Roman Republic. During this time intruders entered the church of San Pancrazio and severely damaged the remains of St Pancras. His head, which was kept in the Basilica of St John Lateran from 850 to 1966, fortunately was left untouched. In 1966 Pope Paul VI returned this relic to San Pancrazio. It now rests within a reliquary bust on the right side of the nave.
*Additionally, a few relics of St Pancras and other early church martyrs are said to rest within the porphyry urn that makes up the base of the altar in the main sanctuary.
May 13th
Optional memorial of Our Lady of Fatima
Nostra Signora di Fatima a San Vittorino
(Our Lady of Fatima at San Vittorino)
Via Ponte Terra, San Vittorino
00132 Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the city of Rome. It is the Italian Shrine to our Lady of Fatima.
FOR ADDITIONAL MARIAN CHURCHES TO VISIT PLEASE SEE THE LINK AT THE TOP OF THIS PAGE.
May 14th
Feast of Matthias, apostle
St Matthias (Relics: Rome, Italy; Trier, Germany)
St Helena is said to have acquired the relics of St Matthias. These relics were then distributed to both Rome, Italy and Trier, Germany.
Basilica of St Mary Major
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore 42
Rome, Italy
*Some relics of St Matthias rest within the porphyry urn that makes up the base of the Papal Altar. Also in 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.
May 15th
Optional memorial of Isidore*
St Isidore the Farmer (d. 1130, Madrid, Spain) (Relics: Madrid, Spain)
Sant'Isidoro a Capo le Case
(Saint Isidore at the Head of the Houses)
Via degli Artisti 41
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of the Barberini metro stop. It is not open often. However, if one rings at the gate the sacristan may grant access.
May 18th
Optional memorial of John I, pope and martyr
St John I (d. 526, Ravenna, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*St John I reigned as pope for less than three years. During his brief papacy he ardently supported orthodoxy despite intense pressures exerted by the Arian ruler of Italy, King Theodoric. Eventually the king had him arrested. Due to the poor treatment that he received while imprisoned he passed away in 526 AD. His body now rests in the crypt of this basilica.
May 20th
Optional memorial of Bernardine of Siena, priest
St Bernardine of Siena (d. 1444, d. L’Aquila, Italy) (Relics: L’Aquila, Italy)
San Bernardino da Siena ai Monti
(Saint Bernardine of Siena at the Hills)
Via Panisperna 256
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of the Basilica of St Mary Major. It is dedicated to St Bernardine of Siena. At present it serves the Chinese community.
Santa Maria in Aracoeli
(Our Lady in Aracoeli)
Piazza del Campidoglio 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is on top of the Capitoline Hill.
*The first chapel on the right side of the nave depicts scenes from the life of St Bernardine of Siena.
May 21st
Optional memorial of Christopher Magallanes, priest and martyr, and Companions, martyrs
Honored on this day are 25 martyrs who died in Mexico from the years 1915-1937. (Relics: Totatiche, Mexico)
May 22nd
Optional memorial of Rita of Cascia, religious
St Rita of Cascia (d. 1457, Cascia, Italy) (Relics: Cascia, Italy)
Santa Rita da Cascia alle Vergine
(Saint Rita of Cascia at the Vergine)
Via del Umilta 83B
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Trevi Fountain. It is dedicated to St Rita of Cascia.
Sant'Agostino (Saint Augustine)
Piazza Sant'Agostino
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Navona.
*The third chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Rita of Cascia.
*Relics of St Monica (d. 387) rest in the chapel to the left of the main altar.
Santa Maria del Popolo
(Our Lady of the People)
Piazza del Popolo 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is at Piazza del Popolo.
*A chapel to the right of the main sanctuary is dedicated to St Rita of Cascia.
May 25th
Optional memorial of Bede the Venerable, priest and doctor
St Bede (d. 735, Jarrow, Northumbria, United Kingdom) (Relics: Durham, United Kingdom)
May 25th
Optional memorial of Gregory VII, pope
St Gregory VII (d. 1085, Salerno, Italy) (Relics: Salerno, Italy)
San Gregorio Settimo
(Saint Gregory the Seventh)
Via del Cottolengo 4
Rome, Italy
*This is a modern church that is located near the Vatican. It is dedicated to St Gregory VII.
May 25th
Optional memorial of Mary Magdalene de Pazzi, virgin
St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi (d. 1607, Florence, Italy) (Relics: Florence, Italy)
Santa Maria in Traspontina
(Our Lady in Traspontina)
Via della Conciliazione 14
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Vatican.
*The chapel in the right transept is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi.
*Also the third chapel on the right side of the nave contains a beautiful statue of Our Lady of Mt Carmel. A memorial at this chapel recalls that this church provided a new scapular for St John Paul II after the assassination attempt upon his life in 1981.
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 first chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi.
*The greater part of the remains of St Martin I (d. 655) were transferred to this church in Rome. They now rest in the confessio below the main altar.
*The church also houses the relics of many saints taken from the Catacombs of Priscilla.
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 second chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene de Pazzi.
*A relic of St Mary Magdalene’s foot also rests in a shrine to the left of the main sanctuary.
May 26th
Memorial of Philip Neri, priest
St Philip Neri (d. 1595, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Chiesa Nuova (The New Church)
Via del Governo Vecchio 134
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*The body of St Philip Neri is enshrined in the left transept of this church. His private rooms can be visited on certain days of the week. They are located in the right wall of the left transept. St Philip Neri spent the last 12 years of his life at Chiesa Nuova.
*In 1597 this church received the skulls of Saints Nereus and Achilleus. They rest within reliquaries in the sacristy and are sometimes brought out for public veneration on May 12th.
*The additional remains of Saints Nereus and Achilleus are said to rest within a porphyry urn under the main altar of this church. In 1870 they were stolen from the church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo; however, they were later recovered and are now said to rest here.
San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura
(Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls)
Via Appia Antica 136
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*Tradition claims that within the catacombs located under this church St Philip Neri experienced such an enlargement of his heart due to a supernatural infusion of God’s love that two of his ribs cracked.
*These same catacombs also at one time housed the remains of St Sebastian (d. 288). 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.
*This church also 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.
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.
*St Philip Neri became rector of this church in 1564. He also founded the Congregation of the Oratory at this church.
*A relic of St Mary Magdalene’s foot rests in a shrine to the left of the main sanctuary.
San Girolamo della Carità
(Saint Jerome of Charity)
Via di Monserrato 62/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Farnese.
*St Philip Neri lived here from 1551 to 1583.
*In the left transept is a spectacular chapel honoring St Philip Neri. A marble statue of the saint is surrounded by a gilded frame. The ceiling opens up revealing a small domed space filled with further statues of angels.
*This church was built on the site of the house of St Paula. Tradition claims that St Jerome (d. 420) lived in this house when he was secretary to Pope St Damasus I (d. 384).
Sant'Agostino (Saint Augustine)
Piazza Sant'Agostino
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Navona.
*Prior to his ordination, St Philip Neri prayed in front of the crucifix located within the fifth chapel on the right side of the nave. Through these prayers he was inspired to sell all that he had and to give his life completely to the Lord.
*Relics of St Monica (d. 387) rest in the chapel to the left of the main altar.
May 27th
Optional memorial of Augustine of Canterbury, bishop
St Augustine of Canterbury (d. 605, Canterbury, United Kingdom) (Relics: St Augustine of Canterbury’s shrine was destroyed and his relics were lost during the English Reformation.)
May 31st
Feast of The Visitation of The Blessed Virgin Mary
Chiesa Nuova (The New Church)
Via del Governo Vecchio 134
Rome, Italy
*This church is along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*The fourth chapel on the left side of the nave is dedicated to the Visitation.
*The body of St Philip Neri (d. 1595) is also enshrined in the left transept. His private rooms can be visited on certain days of the week. They are located in the right wall of the left transept.
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 Visitation completed by Giovanni Maria Morandi in 1659 is above the altar in the right transept.
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 Visitation by Joseph Ernst Tunner.
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.
