from the wood of the Manger to the wood of the Cross.
pil·grim·age
(pĭl′grə-mĭj)
n.
“Journey of devotion to holy places - a practice common to
Christianity and other world religions.”
G. O’Collins, and E.G. Farrugia, A Concise Dictionary of Theology (New Jersey, Paulist Press, 2013), 199.
In the Name of the Lord, Peace and good to you dear pilgrim, and welcome to this five day
adventure through Rome where we will attempt to briefly visit some of Rome’s most important
and also lesser well known spiritual places of pilgrimage!
We will have to limit ourselves to the 35 places on our itinerary as it’s impossible for us to
grasp the full depth of Rome’s treasures in these five 1 hour sessions. There’s truly a
phenomenal wealth of Christian spiritual, cultural and artistic places of importance yet for you
to discover in Rome, yet regardless of our limitations we hope to help you grow in a further
appreciation of our Christian Spiritual heritage and patrimony. We will limit ourselves also to
the Spiritual importance of such places rather than architectural or archeological importance.
This Pilgrimage mission has been prepared with the help of our Sister Comet Maria Umilu
of the Little Nuns of Jesus and Mary who graduated from Rome’s Gregorian University in
“Beni Culturali e Storia di Arte Cristian” that is “Christian Cultural Heritage and Art History”.
In April on 2015, Friar Volantino Verde (MD in 2011 and Licentiate in Fundamental Theology
in 2013 at the Lateran Pontifical University), founder and Servant General Superior of the
“Little Friars & Little Nuns of Jesus and Mary” delegated Sr. Cometa, Sr. Sara & Fr. Friar
Antonio to prepare this mission, visiting most of the places mentioned in the mission.
“And Joseph too went up from Galilee from the town of Nazareth to Judea, to the city of David that is
called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David, to be enrolled with Mary, his
betrothed, who was with child. While they were there, the time came for her to have her child, and she
gave birth to her firstborn son. 3 She wrapped him in swaddling clothes and laid him in a manger,
because there was no room for them in the inn.” (Matt 2: 4-7)
 It is understood that the present Basilica was built under Pope Sixtus III (432-440) in
honor of the Virgin Mary, erected following the Council of Ephesus (431), which
proclaimed Mary “Theotokos”; Mother of God.
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 The Basilica is sometimes referred to as Our Lady of the Snows. It is said that in the 4
Century some wealthy benefactors made a vow to the Virgin Mary too donate their land
to the Church. That night they had a dream where She appeared to them, asking them to
build the basilica in Her honor. Coincidentally the Virgin Mary also appeared in a dream
to Pope Liberius (352-366) where she indicated a place in Rome by the fall of snow. The
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following day on the 5 of August 358, at the height of the Roman summer, snow fell
during the night on the summit of the Esquiline Hill, and Pope Liberius then declared the
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will of the Virgin Mary to have the Basilica built.
 Relics of wood from the crib or manger of the Nativity of Jesus Christ are found in the
crypt chapel under the main alter that are believed to be given to the Church in the time
of Pope Theodore I (640-649). It is said that Saint Ignatius of Loyola celebrated his first
Mass as a priest here in St. Mary Major’s on 25 December 1538.
 In the Borghese Chapel (left of the main alter) is the icon “Salus Populi Romani” meaning
“Health of the Roman People” or “Salvation of the Roman People”. Named as such due
to a miracle in which the icon helped keep plague from the city. Said to be at least a
thousand years old, and according to a tradition was painted from life by St Luke the
Evangelist using the wooden table of the Holy Family in Nazareth.
 August 5th – Dedication of St. Mary Major’s Basilica (As one of the four Patriarchal Cathedrals)
“The disciples then did as Jesus had ordered, and prepared the Passover.
When it was evening, he reclined at table with the Twelve”. (Matt 26: 19-20)
 The official dedication of the Archbasilica and the adjacent Lateran Palace was presided over
by Pope Sylvester I in 324, declaring both to be a Domus Dei or "House of God." The Papal
Cathedra was placed in its interior, making it the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. The
Archbasilica “claims primacy” in the world as "mother church". The words Sacrosancta
Lateranensis ecclesia omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput (translated as "Most
Holy Lateran Church, of all the churches in the City and the world, the mother and head") are
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inscribed in the front wall between the main entrance doors.
 Every pope beginning with Pope Miltiades †314 occupied the Lateran Palace, until the reign of
the French Pope Clement V, who in 1309 decided to transfer the official seat of the Catholic
Church to Avignon, France. The Lateran Palace has also been the site of five ecumenical councils.
 The relic of cedar wood said to be from the table used by Christ at the Last Supper above the
Alter of the Blessed Sacrament.
During our April 2015 pilgrimage to Rome,
we made a visit to Sr. Veronica who is
studying “Utroque Iure” (Canon and Civil
Law) at the Lateran Pontifical University.
(From left to right: Sr. Veronica M. D. –
Sr. Comet M. U. – Sr. Sara M.A.)
On the road to St. Peter’s Basilica from the Ottaviano
Metro station, you may also happen to pass our friend
for almost 5 years now, Nicola. He is from Romania and
we guarantee that he is humble, and in need.
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 The relics of Saint Peter and Paul’s heads are said to be above the High Altar’s baldacchino.
 The relic of the wood said to be from St. Peter’s communion table is under the High Alter.
 The Lateran Basilica, is the cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome and the official
ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome, who is the Pope.
 6 existing Papal Tombs (Including Popes Innocent III & Leo XIII [the last Pope not entombed in
St. Peter’s Basilica]) & 12 others were buried but destroyed during the two fires in 1308 and 1361.
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 Place Where St. Francis’ Rule was approved verbally by Pope Innocent III (1206-07aprox. )
 November 9th Dedication of the Lateran Basilica (As one of the four Patriarchal Cathedrals)
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“Then they brought Jesus from Caiaphas to the praetorium. It was morning. And they themselves did not enter
the praetorium, in order not to be defiled so that they could eat the Passover.
So Pilate came out to them and said, "What charge do you bring (against) this man?" (John 18:28-29)
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28 Marble steps said to be the same stairs that lead to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate
in Jerusalem where Jesus was condemned to death. Reputedly, they were brought to
Rome by St. Helena in the fourth century.
Above the stairs on the first level is the private Chapel of the early Popes used before the Saint
Peter’s Vatican Site was established, called the “Sancta Sanctorum”, that is, the Holy of Holies.4
“Yes, and I ask you also, my true yokemate, to help them, for they have struggled at my side in promoting
the gospel, along with Clement and my other co-workers, whose names are in the book of life.” (Phil 4:3)
“The Church of God which sojourns in Rome to the Church of God which sojourns in Corinth, to them which are
called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace from Almighty
God through Jesus Christ be multiplied…” (Prologue to the First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, AD 95 – 97)
 The Basilica stands hidden between the Colosseum and St. John in Lateran Basilica.
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 Named after Pope St Clement, the 3 successor of St Peter, who died about 100 A.D.
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 The deepest archeological findings revealed a 4 stratum of architecture destroyed by
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the fire of Nero in 64 AD. 4 Century Architects built the ground floor Basilica that was
later destroyed in the conflict between the Normans and Robert Guiscard in rescue of
Pope Gregory the VII in 1084. This was buried to the top of its pillars where on these
foundations the current replica of the old basilica was erected (ca 1099 - ca 1125).
“Then Pilate took Jesus and had him scourged” (John 19:1)
st
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Commissioned by Pope Hadrian I the year ca. 780. Built on top of the remains of a 5th century structure to house the bones of Saint Praxedes and Saint Pudentiana; daughters
of Saint Pudens who is traditionally St. Peter's first Christian convert in Rome. The two
female saints were murdered for providing Christian burial for early martyrs.
The relic of what is said to be part of the column that Jesus was flogged upon in
Jerusalem during his Passion. Tradition says that St. Helen brought the column to Rome
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in the early 4 century.
Pope Paschal I (817/824) supposedly transported the relics of some 2300 martyrs into
this Basilica from the catacombs where they were later transferred by Eugene II
(824/827) to St. Sabina.
 The relics of St. Clement I (under high alter) and St Cyril (under 1 Level alter).
 The relics of St. Ignatius of Antioch (under high altar)
 3 subterranean levels where it is said that the first Christians celebrated Mass in what are
known now as “Domus Ecclesiae” or House-Churches.
 November 23 rd Feast Day of St. Clement I
 The Catacombs are among the largest and most important in early Roman Christian
history originating from the middle of the second century.
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Relics of St. Tarcisious and many other martyrs.
Relics of St. Pontious, St. Zephyrinus and 7 other Popes.
The burial place of St. Cecelia.
Early Christian Catacombs as the official cemetery of the early Church of Rome.
“And the soldiers wove a crown out of thorns and placed it on his head” (John 19:2)
“Pilate also had an inscription written and put on the cross. It read, "Jesus the Nazorean, the King of the Jews (John 19”19)
“Then he said to Thomas, ‘Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand
and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.’” (John 20:27)
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Mid 3 Century the imperial palace Sessorium was adapted to be the church by the Emperor
Constantine and his Mother Helen and is famous for housing many relics from Jerusalem
collected by his mother Helen.
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Relic of a nail that crucified our Lord.
Relic of 2 thorns that crowned our Lord.
Relic St. Thomas’ finger that entered our Lord’s wounded side.
Wood from the Cross that crucified our Lord.
Life-size copy of the Shroud of Turin that wrapped our Lord’s Resurrected Body.
The Basilica is one of the 7 pilgrim churches of Rome.
St. Theresa of Lisieux mentions her pilgrimage here in her “Story of a Soul”
“At Rome, in the church if the Holy Cross of Jerusalem, we venerated some fragments of the
true Cross, two thorns and one of the sacred nails. I stayed behind so that I could take my
time in looking at them, when the monk in charge of these treasures came to restore them
to the altar, I asked if I could touch them, He said I could, but seemed to think I shouldn’t be
able to. I pushed my little finger into a hole in the reliquary and was just ale to touch the
precious nail stained with the Blood of Jesus”. (St. Therese of Lisieux, Story of a Soul, Chap. 6)
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 The 7.8 mile (12km) long Catacombs are the first called "katà kymbas" = near the caves.
 Relics of St. Sabastian (an imperial army convert to Christianity shot under the rule of Diocletian
with numerous arrows for his faith. believed to be dead, he then after healing returned to the
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Emperor who then ordered him to be beaten to death) and relics other Saints buried here.
 Relic of the Column that St. Sabastian was tied to whilst shot and an arrow extracted from his body.
 St. Sabastian Catacombs are the final apex of the famous pilgrimage of 7 Churches of St. Philip Neri.
 Original footsteps of "Domine, quo vadis?"
 20th January Optional Memory of the Feastday of St. Sabastian
 The first galleries were carved out towards the end of the 2
nd
Century and given to the
Christians by Flavia Domitilla, nephew of the emperor Vespasian.
 Approximately 11 miles (17km) of catacombs. More than 150000 sepultures.
 Relics of St. Nereus & St. Achilleus (understood as Roman soldiers and converts -
consequently martyred for their faith) are found in their tombs in the subterranean Basilica.
 Tomb of St. Petronilla - In the “Passio of St. Nereus & St. Achilleus” composed in the V-VI
century it speaks of her being St. Peters daughter. The only other solid information about her
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is written on the IV century frescoes painted on the wall of the same subterranean basilica.
.
Pray to St. Philomena…“Whatever you ask from her, She will obtain for you.” -Pope Gregory XVI.
 There has been a sanctuary on the spot since the ninth century, but the current church is from 1637.
 “Because of the great number of martyrs buried within (the Catacombs of St. Priscilla), it was
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called “regina catacumbarum – the queen of the catacombs.” Originally dug in the VI – V
Centuries, the land was donated by St. Priscilla as a Christian burial ground. It has some 40000
tombs dug into 8miles (13km) of catacombs at 3 levels dug out of the soft volcanic rock “tuffo”.
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Tomb of St. Philomena (her body was later moved to Avellino in Southern Italy).
Oldest painted image of the Virgin Mary know in existence.
One of the oldest images of the Good Shepherd know in existence.
Early Christian Catacombs including 7 Popes and some 300 Martyrs.
 According to the legend, Saint Peter met the Resurrected Jesus here whilst St. Peter was
fleeing persecution in Rome. According to the apocryphal Acts of Peter, Peter asked Jesus,
"Lord, where are you going?" (Latin: Domine, quo vadis?). Jesus answered, "I am going to
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Rome to be crucified again" (Latin: Eo Romam iterum crucifigi).
 A marble slab copy (original found in the Catacombs of St. Sabastian) of the so said
miraculous footprints of Jesus.
 Located near the Roman law courts, the Tullianum was used by the Roman Empire as a jail or
“They have recounted to us that Agnes had the courage to leave her nanny when the persecutions had broken out,
and spontaneously presented herslf to the magistrate: the threat of fire ignited to burn her did not stop her; rather,
she found the strength to cover herself with her hair so not to expose her body, the living temple of the Lord. Oh
venerable virgin, listen to the prayer of Damasus: obtain also for me to know how to live and witness the modesty of life.”
(Pope St. Damasus engraved this poem into marble - Basilica’s entrance)
holding cell for short periods before executions. There are written records stating that 63 BC, certain
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co-conspirators of the government Publius Cornelius Lentulus Sura, was briefly held here.
 It is said that Saint Peter was imprisoned here before being crucified. According to legend he
performed baptisms in a spring at the bottom of the pit.
 According to ancient sources the cemetery on Via Nomentana was owned by the parents
of St. Agnes in the second half of the third century.
 On Agnes’ tomb in the catacomb, Pope Honorius I (625-638) had the present-day basilica
 In the Vth century the Roman Empress Eudossias (422–462) daughter of Eastern Emperor
Theodosius II was given as a gift the chains when in Constantinople. She then bringing them
to Rome gave them as a gift to Pope Leon I, but doubtful that they were really the true chains,
he fetched the chains already in the Church’s possession that kept Saint Peter in custody when
held in the Mamertine Prison. The two sets of chains are said to have miraculously fused
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together. In 442 the church was built in memory of these events.
built, which replaced a more ancient edifice from the time of Pope Symmachus (498-514).
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 Tomb and Relics of St. Agnes (Martyrdom date uncertain – sometime in the 3 Century). “We
know that Agnes died at just twelve years of age and underwent tremendous torments: fire,
according to Pope Damasus; decapitation, according to St. Ambrose and Prudentius, while
according to others, the veins in her neck were severed. As a matter of fact, devotion to Agnes
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boomed right after her martyrdom” .
 Early Christian Catacombs.
 The Relics of the chains that are said to have held Saint Peter in custody when both in
Jerusalem & in Rome.
 With the Emperor Constantine’s conversion to Christianity, the edict of Milan was written (313AD)
 First consecrated by Pope Simplicius between 468 and 483. It was dedicated to the protomartyr
Saint Stephen, whose body had been discovered a few decades before in the Holy Land.
 "The walls of the church are decorated with numerous frescoes portraying 34 scenes of
martyrdom, commissioned by Gregory XIII in the 16th century"... "The paintings, naturalistic
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depictions of torture and execution, are somewhat morbid, if not gruesome."
 Its name is known to have derived from the colossal statue of Nero that was once nearby.
 The emperor Vespasian in 72 AD, began its construction and was completed in 80 AD under
that gave Christian’s the freedom to practice their religion which led to the construction of churches
in Palestine and Rome, of these was the Basilica of St. Peter. It’s construction began between 319 to
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324 and took some 30 years to complete. It was built over the Vatican Necropolis (used from the II
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to the IV century) with the tomb of St. Peter directly under the altar. St. Peter was killed there
alongside the cemetery in a circus (circuit) often used for killing Christians.
 Most of the original basilica was then demolished in 1506 to construct the new one that we see
today. In 1964 Pope Pious XII willed that archeological diggings take place under the High Altar,
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later announcing that they found the bones of St. Peter.
 Over the tomb of St. Peter Constantine I built a monument that later, one over the other was
built the alter of Gregory the Great (590-604), then the alter of Calisto II (1123) and in the end
in 1594, the alter of Clement VIII. Following all this the baldacchino of Bernini was built in 1633.
 The Relics of the bones of St. Peter. (Type: “scavi tours” in Vatican website for info on bookings)
 St. Peter is said to have been crucified upside down at the foot of the obelisk now found at
his successor Titus. Said to have held 50,000 and 80,000 spectators.
 The place where some Christians were martyred.
 Every Good Friday the Pope leads the Way of the Cross here.
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the center of Saint Peter’s Square (that was once at the center of the Circus) that was found
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left of the current basilica (approximately where the Paul the VI hall now stands).
Relics of Saint Simon the Apostle
Relics of Saint John XXIII
Relics of Saint John Paul II
Site of the First and Second Vatican Councils.
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“When this was concluded, Paul made up his mind to travel through Macedonia and Achaia, and then to go on
to Jerusalem, saying, 'After I have been there, I must visit Rome also.'" (Acts19:21)
"The following night the Lord stood by him and said, 'Take courage. For just as you have borne witness to my
cause in Jerusalem, so you must also bear witness in Rome.'" Acts 23:11)
 Being the place where Saint Paul was decapitated here, there arose a legendary story that once his
head fell to the ground, three fountains (tre fontane) sprung up at each place that it bounced down
the hill. Though this legend arose, the springs had already been called the Aquae Salviae, well
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known already in pre-Christian times.
 One of the places said to be where Saint Paul was imprisoned.
 The Place said to be where Saint Paul was decapitated.
"When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days
later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, "My brothers, although
I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner
from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me
deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had
no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak
with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains". (Acts 28:16-20)
 Named as such because it was built outside the Aurelian walls by the Emperor Aurelian from 270 to
275 to protect Rome.
 After the Edict of Milan 313, Pope Sylvester built a little basilica over the Tomb of Saint Paul. To
accommodate for the many pilgrims who came to visit the tomb, the Emperors Arcadius,
Theodosius and Valentinian II demolished this first little Basilica In 386 to make way for the current
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basilica that over time has been embellished by diverse popes though history.
The tomb and Relics of the bones of St. Paul.
The relics of the chains that detained St. Paul (mentioned in Col 4,18)
Famous chronological mosaics of the Succession of Peter.
In 1854, Pope Pius IX re-consecrated the rebuilt Basilica in the presence of cardinals from all
over the world for the proclamation of the Dogma of Mary’s Immaculate Conception.
 Small fragments said to be relics of the Holy Cross, Mary’s Veil, parts of St. Anna’s arm are
found in the little Sacristy Chapel.
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Mosaics of all existing Popes chronologically listed encircle the interior of the basilica
of Saint Paul Outside the Walls.
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The Statue of St. Peter in Vatican erected to commemorate the Dogma of Papal
infallibility [LG25] (in the document “Pastor Aternus” in 1870) by Pope Pius IX
who’s mosaic image found directly above the statue can also be found at the
entrance of the upper Church at Lourdes (for commemorating the dogma of the
Immaculate Conception in the Document “Ineffalibiss Deus” - 1854). The Dogma
of Papal infallibility was only ever used once in history when Pope Pius XII
approved the dogma of the Assumption of Mary in heaven in 1950.
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 In the 13th century, Cardinal Pietro Capocci had a house here, and there was a well in his
stable yard. On the night of 26 September 1256, it overflowed. The horses were frightened,
and when the domestics rushed out they found an icon of the Blessed Virgin, painted on a
terracotta tablet, floating on the water.
 Iconic image of Our Lady of the Well.
“The day was now approaching when my mother Monica would depart from this life… At the time we were in (the Roman port)
Ostia on the Tiber. We had gone there after a long and wearisome journey to get away from the noisy crowd, and to rest and
prepare for our sea voyage… Then one day during the course of her illness she became unconscious and for a while she was
unaware of her surroundings. My brother and I rushed to her side but she regained consciousness quickly. She looked at us as we
stood there and asked in a puzzled voice: “Where was I?” We were overwhelmed with grief, but she held her gaze steadily upon us
and spoke further: “Here you shall bury your mother.” I remained silent as I held back my tears. However, my brother haltingly
expressed his hope that she might not die in a strange country but in her own land, since her end would be happier there. When she
heard this, her face was filled with anxiety, and she reproached him with a glance because he had entertained such earthly
thoughts. Then she looked at me and spoke: “Look what he is saying.” Thereupon she said to both of us: “Bury my body wherever
you will; let not care of it cause you any concern. One thing only I ask you, that you remember me at the altar of the Lord wherever
you may be.” Once our mother had expressed this desire as best she could, she fell silent as the pain of her illness increased.”
(Confessions of St. Augustine, (Lib. 9, 10-11; CSEL 33, 215-219)
 Built by the Augustinians in honor of their founder, the façade was built in 1483 by Giacomo di
From 1739 to 1798, the church and adjacent monastery were under the care of the Irish
Augustinians. On January of 1855, the Redemptorist missionaries purchased the Church and
convent and converted it into their residence.
Pietrasanta, using travertine marble taken from the Colosseum.
 The relics of the body of St. Monica (Mother of St. Augustine)
 Houses Caravaggio’s famous “Our Lady of Loreto”, otherwise known as “Our Lady of Pilgrims”
 The Iconic image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help – Story goes more or less that a thief stole it
from a Church in the Isle of Crete and sailed to Rome. Falling terminally ill, he asked it be
returned to a Church. The Virgin Mary appeared to the thief’s daughter saying she wanted the
painting at Saint Mathew’s Church and was finally given to the Church by her mother on
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March the 27 1499.
 The Virgin of Child Birth (by Jacopo Sansovino) is said to be miraculous in helping barren
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women conceive children by praying upon a little stool before the statue.
 It is said that a Poplar tree grew directly over the tomb of the Roman emperor and Christian
 “In 1740, a pilgrim was attacked by angry dogs near the gatehouse and, according to the
tradition, was saved through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. As a result of the
number of pilgrims drawn to this site, a chapel was built and the image of the Madonna was
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transferred to it.”
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 In 1944, on 24 January Rome was in serious threat of devastation through the II World War.
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The image was carried in pilgrimage from parish to parish until on the 4 of June 1944 a vow
was made on behalf of the people to renew their lives, erect a new sanctuary in her honor and
to do charitable works. The miracle was obtained and Rome was saved. On 11 June, 1944,
Pope Pius XII visited the Sanctuary in thanks giving with the people of Rome and confers Our
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Lady of Divine Love the title “Saver of the City”
 Every Saturday night, from Easter until the end of October, a night Pilgrimage on foot takes
place. It sets out at midnight from Piazza di Porta Capena (Metro: Circo Massimo), Rome, and
reaches the Sanctuary at 5 o'clock on Sunday morning. A similar night Pilgrimage is carried
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out on 7 December, on the eve of the feast of the Immaculate Conception.
 Friar’s note: Make friends whilst walking there to drive you back in the morning.
 In 12 April 1947 the anti-Catholic Seventh Day Adventist Bruno Cornacchiola made a visit with his 3
persecutor Nero (died 68AD) buried on this sight. Christians fearing the zone infested with demons,
sought to have the square exercised. Pope Pasqual II built the first Church here after having a
dream where the Virgin Mary asked him to build a Church in her honor, dedicated to “Our Lady of
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the People” over the same site to “cut down the tree infested with evil spirits.
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 Pope Gregory XI transported the Byzantine icon now known as “Our Lady of the People”
from the Lateran’s Holy Stairs - Sancta Sanctorum in 1213.
 The sculpted mural depiction of Pope Pasqual II’s dream is directly above the altar.
 Caravaggio’s famous paintings of St. Peter’s crucifixion and St. Paul’s conversion are in the
side chapel.
 See in “Life of Christ” on page 5.
 In the Borghese Chapel (left of the main alter) is the icon “Salus Populi Romani” meaning
“Health of the Roman People” or “Salvation of the Roman People”. Named as such due
to a miracle in which the icon helped keep plague from the city. Said to be at least a
thousand years old, and according to a tradition was painted from life by St Luke the
Evangelist using the wooden table of the Holy Family in Nazareth.
 Pope Francis has a devotion to Our Lady “Salus Populi Romani” visiting the icon the day
after his Papal election.
children to Tre Fontane. Whilst his children played in the secluded park, he prepared a violent
speech against the Immaculate Conception. His children stumbled upon a cave where mesmerized,
they fell to their knees and began saying “beautiful lady”. Bruno, terrified, also fell to his knees when
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he too saw the Virgin Mary who revealed to them that she was the “Virgin of Revelation.”
 The apparition has not been officially approved by the Catholic Church but in 1956 Pope Pius
XII consented the construction of the Chapel.
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 In 1997 Pope John Paul II approved naming her “Holy Mary of the III Millennium at Tre Fontane.”
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 “St. Gregory the Great built the first church on the site. By the 12th century, it was dedicated to Santa
“The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request, "I want you to give me at once on a platter
the head of John the Baptist." The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not
wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He
went off and beheaded him in the prison.” (Mark 6:25-27)
Maria in Vallicella ("Our Lady in the Little Valley"). In 1575, Pope Gregory XIII recognized Neri's group
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as a religious Congregation and gave them the church and its small attached convent”.
 The Relics of the body of St. Philip Neri
 Built in the 8th century as a shrine for the relics of the saints and martyrs from the Catacombs.
 The Relics of the Scull of St. John the Baptist; left of main entrance in the side chapel.
th
 Erected in the IV century by the Emperor Constantine near the tomb of the martyr St. Laurence.
 The Relics of the body of St. Laurence
 One of St. Philip Neri’s 7 pilgrimage Churches.
 The basilica is listed as 'Titulus SS Apostolorum' in the acts of the synod of 499. Destroyed in an
earthquake in 1348 and left abandoned until Martin V restored it in 1417.
 The Relics of the bodies of the Apostles St. Philip and St. James Minor.
"Jesus said to her, "Mary!" She turned and said to him in Hebrew, "Rabbouni," which means Teacher. Jesus said
to her, "Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, 'I
am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.'" Mary of Magdala went and announced to
the disciples, "I have seen the Lord,"(John 20:16-18)
 Pius IX inaugurated the central Roman railway station in 1863 that dramatically transformed
the shape of the local area and later begins the construction of the Church dedicated to the
Sacred Heart, but is halted for lack of funds. Leon XIII entrusts the funding and conclusion of
th
St. John Bosco on the 15 of April 1880. Exhausted and at the age of 72, on the 14 of May 1887
the church becomes solemnly consecrated with the Saint celebrating Mass for the first time
24
there at the Alter of “Our Lady Auxiliatrix”
 The Alter of “Our Lady Auxiliatrix” where St. John Bosco cried during Consecration as he
 Construction begun in 1508
 The Relics of the foot of St. Mary Magdalene: considered the first foot that entered the tomb of
the Resurrected Christ. (Plenary indulgence to the pilgrims who come to venerate it)… the rest of
her body is found in France, owned by the Basilica of St Maximin, Diocese of Fréjus-Toulon.
rd
 1280 the Oratory was constructed by Nicolas III and continued even after Boniface VIII and the
Papal exile to Avignon, France.
 The Relics of the body of St. Catherine of Sienna
 The tomb and relics of Blessed Angelico, declared by Pope John Paul II
nd
as the Universal
patron of Artists”
contemplated and understood the words of the Virgin Mary he had in a dream at the age of 9.
The Plaque translated from Italian reads:: “SAINT JOHN BOSCO, Celebrating the Eucharist on this
th
alter on the 16 of May 1887, was seen stopping to cry over and over again contemplating with a
miraculous all-encompassing gaze of his whole life summarized in the words of the Virgin Mary
that he heard in a dream: ‘WITH TIME, YOU WILL UNDERSTAND EVERYTHING – 16 May 1987”
 First erected by the Roman senator Bezant or his son Pachomius in 398, but first dating back to the
first or second centuries as a Domus Ecclesiae (House Church). It then became the place of the Saint
Martyrs John and Paul.
 The first church was destroyed by the Visigoths in the Sack of Rome (410), then by an earthquake in
nd
442 and then ransacked by the Normans in 1084. Pope Pasqual II then requested the restorations.
 The Relics of the body of St. Paul of the Cross
 Is the General headquarters for the Passionist Fathers.
 1551 St. Ignatius commissioned the construction of the Church for the ‘Company of Jesus’ and was
concluded in 1575. Michelangelo drew plans for the interior that were never used. Giovanni Battista
Gaulli painted the very elaborate and glorious ceiling that can be seen through a mirror as one
enters the Church.
 After the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773 the Church was later reinstated to the order in 1814.
 1525 Friar Matteo da Bascio initiated the Franciscan reform with the Capuchin Friars breaking off
 The Relics of the body of St. Ignatius of Lyola
 Ossuary of Franciscan Friars.
 The Relics of the right arm of St. Francis Xavier
of the other Franciscans to try to live more authentically the Rule of St. Francis.
th
 16 of April 1631 they moved into the Church of the Immaculate Conception built for them.
15
Start at Metro Termini - 33 - pass through Station - 1 - 4 - 21 - 2 - 3 - 5
To
Anagnina
To
Rebibbia
& Jonio
Start Metro Barbarini - 35 - 20 - 26 - 27 - 30 - 29 - 24 – 25
Start Metro San Giovanni - 2 - 6 - 12 - pass under archway - 34 - 13 - 16 - 15
Start Metro Ottaviano - 17 - 28 - 31
36
37
To
Battistini
Friar Volantino Verde (MD in 2011 &
Licentiate in Fundamental Theology
in 2013 at the Lateran Pontifical University),
founder and Servant General Superior
of the “Little Friars & Little Nuns of Jesus
&Mary” in front of St. Peter’s Basilica.
To
5. Tomb of St. John Paul II
9. Tomb of St. John XIII
36. Site of Vatican Council I
37. Site of Vatican II
Laurentina
Cathedral
“And so I say to you, you are
, and
, and the gates of
the nether-world shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on
earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven .” (Matt 16:18-19)
“It’s
and all the faithful
,
because of the Authority of its origin” (St. Irenaeus of Lyon (Bishop &
Martyr, 130 - † 202), Against Heresies, III, Chap. 3, par. 2).
“They went out from us, but they were not really of our number;
if they had been, they would have remained with us. (1John 2:19a)
Jesus gave the Keys
of the Kingdom to
Year 33
Protestant
Lutheran
Anglican
Episcopalian
Baptist
Evangelical
Pentecostal
Assembly of God
7th Day Adventist
Mormon
Jehovah’s Witness, etc..
“ποίμαινε”
(1517)
(1054)
(aprox)
2015
St. Peter
The first Pope
“To him be glory
0
1
St. Peter
St. Linus
St. Anacletus
St. CLEMENT I
St. Evaristus
Period in which the Gospel did
not exist in a written form, but
was transmitted orally
1
2
3
4
3 4
100
200
300
400
.t Alexander I
St. Sixstus I
St. Telesphorus
Sy. Hyginus
St. Pius I
St. Anicetus
St. Soterus
St. Eleutherius
St. Victor I
St. Zephyrinus
St. Callistus I
St. Urban I
St. Pontianus
St. Anterus
St. FABIAN
St. Cornelius
St. Lucius I
St. Stephen I
St. Sixstus II
St. Dionìsius
St. Felix I
St. Eutichianus
St. Caius
St. Marcellinus
St. Marcellus I
St. Eusebius
St. Miltiades
St. SILVESTER I
St. Mark
St. Giulius I
-- Liberius
St. Damasus I
St. Siricius
St. Anastasius
St. Innocent I
St. Zosimus
St. Boniface I
St. Celestine I
St. SixstusI III
St . Leo the Great
St. Hilarius
St. Simplicius
St. Felix III
St. Gelasius I
St. Anastasius II
St. Symmachus
50 approx. Gospel of Matthew
70 approx. Gospel of Luke
75 approx. Gospel of Mark
90approx. Gospel of John
0
2
5
500
St. Hormisdas
St. John I
St. Felix IV
-- Boniface II
-- John II
St. Agapetus I
St. Silverius
-- Vigilius
-- Pelagius I
-- John III
-- Benedict I
-- Pelagius II
St.GregoryItheGreat
Francis
, forever and ever. Amen”(Eph 3;21).
and in Christ Jesus to
7
6
8
10 11 12 13 14 15
600
700
-- Sabinianus
-- Boniface III
St. Boniface IV
St. Adeodatus I
-- Boniface V
-- Honorius I
-- Severinus
-- John IV
-- Theodore I
St. Martin I
St. Eugene I
St. Vitalian
-- Adeodatus II
-- Donus
St. Agatho
ST. LEO II
St. Benedict II
-- John V
-- Conon
St. Sergius I
800
900
-- John VI
-- Jonh VII
-- Sisinnius
-- Constantine
St. Gregory II
S. Gregory III
St. Zachary
-- Stephen II
St. Paul I
-- Stephen III
-- Adrian I
St. Leo III
-- Stephen IV
St. Paschal I
-- Eugene II
-- Valentine
-- Gregory IV
-- Sergius II
St. Leo IV
-- Benedict III
St. Nicholas I
-- Adrian II
-- John VIII
-- Marinus I
St. Adrian III
-- Stephen V
-- Formosus
-- Boniface VI
-- Stephen VI
-- Romanus
-- Theodore II
-- John IX
------------------------
1000
Benedict IV 19 -- Jonh XVII
-- John XVIII
Leo V
-- Sergius IV
Sergius III
-- Benedict VIII
Anastasius III
-- Jonh XIX
Lando
-- Benedict IX
John X
-- Sylvester III
Leo VI
-- Benedict IX
Stephen VII
-- Gregory VI
John XI
-- Clement II
Leo VII
-- Benedict IX
Stephen VIII
-- Damasus II
Marinus II
St. Leo IX
Agapetus II
-- Victor II
John XII
-- Stephen IX
Leo VIII
-- Nicholas II
Benedict V
23-- Alexander II
John XIII
St. Gregory VII
Benedict VI
B. Victor III
Benedict VII
B. Urban II
John XIV
-- Paschal II
John XV
Gregory V
Sylvester II
1100
-- Gelasius II
-- Callixtus II
-- Honorius II
-- Innocent II
-- Celestine II
-- Lucius II
B. Eugene III
-- Anastasius IV
-- Adrian IV
-- Alexander III
-- Lucius III
-- Urban III
-- Gregory VIII
-- Clement III
-- Celestine III
-- INNOCENT III
16
17 18
19 20
1200
1300
1400
-- Honorious III
-- Gregory IX
-- Celestine IV
-- Innocent IV
-- Alexander IV
-- Urban IV
-- Clement IV
B. Gregory X
B. Innocent V
-- Adrian V
-- John XXI
-- Nicholas III
-- Martin IV
-- Honorius IV
-- Nicholas IV
St. Celestine V
-- Boniface VIII
B. Benedict XI
-- Clement V
-- Jonh XXII
V. Benedict XII
-- Clement VI
-- Innocent VI
B. Urban V
-- Gregory XI
-- Urban VI
-- Boniface IX
------------
1500
Innocent VII
Gregory XII
Martin V
Eugene IV
Nicholas V
Callixtus III
Pius II
Paul II
Sixtus IV
Innocent VIII
Alexander VI
-- Pius III
-- Giulius II
-- Leo X
-- Adrian VI
-- Clement VII
-- Paul III
-- Julius III
-- Marcellus II
-- Paul IV
-- Pius IV
St. Pius V
-- Gregory XIII
-- Sixtus V
-- Urban VII
-- Gregory XIV
-- Innocent IX
-- Clement VIII
22
1600
1700
1800
1900
-- Leo XI
-- Paul V
-- Gregory XV
-- Urban VIII
-- Innocent X
-- Alexander VII
-- Clement IX
-- Clement X
B. Innocent XI
-- Alexander VIII
-- Innocent XII
---------
-- Pius VII
-- Leo XII
-- Pius VIII
-- Gregory XVI
B. Pius IX°
-- LEO XIII
St. Pius X
-- Benedict XV
-- Pius XI
V. PIUS XII
St. John XXIII
-- Paul VI
-- John Paul I
St. John Paul II
Clemente XI
Innocent XIII
Benedict XIII
Clement XII
Benedict XIV
Clement XIII
Clement XIV
Pius VI
2000
-- Benedict XVI
-- Francis
“Therefore, brothers, stand firm and hold fast to the traditions that you were taught, either by an oral statement or by a letter of ours”. (2Thess 2:15)
48 Council of Jerusalem(Pope St. Pietro) Resolves the problem of circumcision.
325 Ist Council of Nicea (Pope St. Sylvester I – against the Arian heresy): Confirms that Jesus is also God (not only man),
Formula of the Creed, in the Nicene Creed is professed: “The Son is God and of the same substance of the Father”
(έκ τής ούσίας τού Пατρός), “that He is true God and from true God, generated, not created, of the identical substance of
the Father”(όμοούσιοσ τώ Пατρί). Terminology: homoousia = “consubstantiality”
381 Ist Council of Constantinople(Pope St. Damasus I – against the Apollinarist heresy): Confirms the Primate of the
Bishop of ROME and that the Holy Spirit is God. Formula of the Creed, in the Nicene-Constantinopolitan Creed is
professed the Divinity of the Holy Spirit: “We believe.. in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the Giver of life, who proceeds from the
Father, who together with the Father and the Son is adored and glorified, who spoke through the prophets”.
431 Council of Ephesus (Pope St. Celestine I – against Nestorius) Confirmed Jesus Christ as: True God and True Man (2 Natures
in 1 Person) then, followed in the Union of Antioch 433, the approval of the title “Theotokos” that is: Mary, Mother of God.
451 Council of Calcedonia (Pope St. Leo the Great – condemnation of Monophysitism) One only Christ in two natures –
United but not confused, distinct but not separated – perfect in Divinity and in humanity.
553 IInd Council of Constantinople (Pope Vigilious) – Condemns the “Three chapters” of the Nestorians
9
1123 Ist Lateran Council (Pope Callixtus II) – Condemnation of the lay investiture and Simony.
10
Reaffirmed Celibacy and the freedom of the Church.
1139 IInd Lateran Council (Pope Innocent II) – Ended the Anacletus II schism & Condemned “Petrobrusians”.
11
12
Condemnation of John Huss. Decree on the supremacy of the Councils over the Pope and frequent Councils
6
18
7
19
1517 Vth Lateran Council (Popes Julian II & Leon X – Primarily to resolve the Gallican disputes.
1546 Council of Trent (Popes Paul III, Julian III, and Pius IV – Doctrine on the Sacred Scripture and
of every heresy, 2) rediscover peace amongst Christians, etc.. [Florence: OT & NT have the identical Author]
tradition, original sin and Justification, Sacraments and the sacrifice of the Holy Mass, veneration of Saints.
1869 IstVatican Council (Pope Pius IX – against the
Rationalist Pantheistic and Modernist heresy) 5 themes:
Faith, Discipline, Religious Orders, Oriental Rites and
Missions. The Dogmatic Constitution “De Fide Cattolica”
defined the Fundamental Doctrine of Christianity, and the
Dogmatic Constitution “Pastor Aeternus” defined the
Primate and infallibility of the Pope.
and Holy Communion. Against Catharism (material world as evil).“Creato ex nulla”.
1245 Ist Council of Leon ( Pope Innocent IV) – Against Frederic II and the Saracens.
14
1274 IInd Council of Leon (Pope B. Gregory X) – Regulations on the Papal conclave.
15
1312 Council of Vienna(Pope Clement V) – Suppression of the Templar order, dispute over Franciscan poverty.
16
1418 Council of Costance (Pope Gregory XII and Martin V- Contradistinction of the Western Schism
13
1445 Councils of Basel-Ferrara-Florence-Rome (Pope Eugene IV) - Aims:1) against the darkness
681 IIIrd Council of Constantinople (Popes St. Agatho & St. Leon II –Condemns the doctrine of 1 will in Christ: Monothelitism).
787 IInd Council of Nicea(Pope Adrian I) – Meaning and appropriate honor of images.
8
870 IVth Council of Constantinople (Pope Adrian II) – The tradition as a criteria of faith.
21
1179 IIIrd Lateran Council (Pope Alexander III) – Papal Elections 2/3 of Cardinals.
1215 IVth Lateran Council (Pope Innocent III) – Eucharistic Transubstantiation, annual Holy Confession
17
5
21
22
1962-65 IInd Vatican Council (Popes St. John XXIII and
Paul VI) - Constitutions on Liturgy, the Church, Divine
Revelation and the Church in the Contemporary world.
Decrees on the instruments of Social Communication, the
Eastern Catholic Church, Ecumenism, the Pastoral Office of
Bishops, Renewal of Religious Life, Formation of Priests, the
Apostolate of the Laity, the Missionary activity of the
Church, and the Ministry and Life of Priests. Declarations
on Christian Education, the relation of the Church with
other non-Christian religions and religious freedom.