Day 7 - Tuesday - Sant Anastasia al Palatino

Thus says the Lord:

Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down

and do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful,

giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats,

so shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth;

my word shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.

First Mass reading for Tuesday, 1st Week of Lent

We usually think of the Word of the Lord as either being Scripture, or the Great Word of God Himself, our Lord, Jesus Christ. But in a very real way, the word of God may also be seen and heard as well in the lives of the saints and in the historical witness of the Church, through liturgy, architecture, art, etc. Alas, not all things that happen in the Church, not all words that are spoken, not all musical pieces that are sung, are the Word of the Lord. We must be careful in discerning this Word. Through the centuries, the Church has provided safe ways to discern the ways of the Lord, by canonizing saints, by giving us Scripture, by shepherding us with liturgy, by giving us a vast body of literature and prayers written by saints, and by providing us with a corpus of magnificent music that opens our minds to the glory of Heaven itself.

These are the glorious ways of Heaven brought down to us, who sojourn here on Earth, by our Mother, the Church. However, not all who are embraced within the Fold are in tune with these glories. Individuals may err, even shepherds and popes may err in their personal beliefs, but with time, those errors are addressed and removed from contaminating the flock. We must learn to be alert and diligent to recognize those things that may seem reasonable to our fallible earthly eyes, but subject us to sentimental nonsense, foolish speculation, banal and clumsy traditions, and trite habits.

For an example, have you ever seen a holy water font filled like the one on the right, with sand during Lent? Some liturgical "specialist" came up with this idea, in the aftermath of Vatican II, to convey the thought that Lent is a time of spiritual dryness--a "desert" experience--that precedes Easter, in which we refrain from using the sacramental of holy water. It sort of sounds reasonable, doesn't it? But this is not seeing with the eyes of Eternity. What does the Church say?

The Congregation for Divine Worship has stated:

"This Dicastery is able to respond that the removing of Holy Water from the fonts during the season of Lent is not permitted, in particular, for two reasons:

1. The liturgical legislation in force does not foresee this innovation, which . . . is contrary to a balanced understanding of the season of Lent, which though truly being a season of penance, is also a season rich in the symbolism of water and baptism, constantly evoked in liturgical texts.

2. The encouragement of the Church that the faithful avail themselves frequently of the sacraments is to be understood to apply also to the season of Lent. The "fast" and "abstinence" which the faithful embrace in this season does not extend to abstaining from the sacraments or sacramentals of the Church.

The practice of the Church has been to empty the Holy Water fonts (but not replacing the water with sand!) on the days of the Sacred Triduum in preparation of the blessing of the water at the Easter Vigil, and it corresponds to those days on which the Eucharist is not celebrated (i.e., Good Friday and Holy Saturday)" [3/14/03: Prot. N. 569/00/L].

As we can see, it is not about "good ideas," no matter how clever and harmless they may seem to be. Rather, it is about "what does the Lord want to say to us," here and now," though liturgy, scripture, and history.

"Holy water is a sacramental. We get the powerful theology of its use in the older Roman Ritual in the prayers for exorcism of the water and salt used, and then the blessing itself. The rite of blessing holy water, in the older ritual, is powerful. It may sound odd, almost foreign to our modern ears, . . . but Holy Water is a powerful weapon of the spiritual life against the attacks of the devil . . . Holy water is for our benefit. It is not a toy, or something to be abstained from, like chocolate or television! . . ." "Sand in Holy Water fonts during Lent"

Thank goodness we don't have such nonsense in the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter! Remember the blessing of having Mass during the pandemic when almost every other parish was closed down!

Sometimes we are too easily pleased. We must rouse ourselves and remind our bishops and our priests, if we need to do so, that as the children of God, we must be fed with the abundant spiritual food our Lord God has provided for us. Perhaps we must even demand what God has desired us to have. But how can we insist on something we have never been exposed to, of which we are woefully ignorant? For example, there are parishes where the same banal hymns are sung over and over again in Mass. Sometimes ones that are heterodox at best. There is such an amazing body of heavenly music that God has provided for us, we should never have to hear a sentimental, heterodox hymn again. Praise God for the attention great music receives in the Ordinariate of the Chair of St. Peter! Whenever I hear ancient music in our little country parish, such as "Let all Mortal Flesh Keep Silence" with roots dating back at least to the fourth century, based on the Greek text “Prayer of the Cherubic Hymn” in the Liturgy of St. James, I am awed by the beauty and the deep meaning of the theology of the hymn. And we are blessed to hear other great music and chant from all the ages of the Church, a gift from God and inspired by his heavenly choirs of angels.

Awake O sleeper! In Ephesians 5:14, Paul tells us, "Arise you who sleep, arise from the dead, and Christ shall enlighten you." If need be, laity can remind our bishops and priests that we must be fed proper spiritual food. A holy bishop or priest will inspire holy laity, but it works the other way around just as well. During the Arian crisis of the 4th century, when most of the bishops of the world fell for the Arian heresy, the laity just kept stubbornly "doing the Catholic thing" and eventually the bishops came around.

Below is a Sanctus (Holy, Holy, Holy) and Hosanna for the Mass by Francisco Guerrero from the 1600's. Just listen to the movement of the different voices, and remember always, that the human voice is the Lord's favorite instrument when it is used according to His good pleasure!

One of the purposes of this pilgrimage, is to awaken us to the glories of God, alive in His saints, in the great churches of the world, in the magnificent liturgies, in the heavenly music. Please, my dear pilgrims, do not be satisfied with anything less than the full-course gourmet meal with which God desires that you be fed. God desires that His Kingdom should come, "on Earth as in Heaven." We do not have to wait for the Marriage Supper of the Lamb. For us, the full appetizer course is available here and now. Thanks be to God! The station church pilgrimage of Rome is just one way in which the Church has made this full appetizer course of the Marriage Supper present for us today, presenting the Holy Eucharist in the context of the lives of so many saints.

Today's Gospel reading is Matthew's account of that portion of the Sermon on the Mount in which Jesus gives his disciples the Lord's Prayer. In repeating the words of Our Lord, we pray for His Kingdom to come on Earth as it is in Heaven. Do we mean that? We pray this in every Mass, and it is prescribed for Morning Prayer and Evening Prayer, and all the other Hours of the day. The saints are witnesses among us, that there are those who take Our Lord seriously, and are willing to sacrifice even their lives if necessary, to be a part of the coming of the Kingdom. Today we meet another martyr saint of the early Church, St Anastasia. She is one of seven women commemorated by name in the Roman canon of the Mass.

St. Anastasia - Byzantine icon, 14th-15th century

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AAnastasia_of_Sirmium.jpgBy anonimus (http://days.pravoslavie.ru/Images/ii2384&104.htm)Public domain via Wikimedia Commons

Anastasia was a native of Sirmium in the Roman province of Pannonia Secunda in modern-day Serbia. She was a 3rd century Roman citizen of patrician rank, the daughter of Praetextus, a vir illustris (senator of highest office). Her mother was St. Fausta of Sirmium (who is one of the 140 colonnade saints which adorn St Peter's Square in the Vatican), and her mentor and teacher was St. Chrysogonus — we will meet him on Monday, the fifth week of Lent at his station. She is venerated as a healer and an exorcist.

St Anastasia is almost an anonymous saint, we know very little about her life or her martyrdom, except that her suffering was intense. However, those of the early centuries, knew of her holiness, and by inserting her name in the Roman Canon of the Mass, assured that she would never be forgotten. She was martyred on December 25th, and so her heavenly birthday is the same as our Lord's earthly birthday. For the Christmas Mass at dawn, Anastasia, whose name means "dawn", was traditionally commemorated, as well as on this day of Lent at her station. In the Extraordinary Form of the Mass we hear "fulgebit, fulgeat!" — meaning "shine, radiate!" Every Christian is called to be an Anastasia, a "new light," perpetually renewed by the Lumen Christi or light of Christ. One of the fruits of a holy Lent is that we may "radiate" the joy and love and peace of Our Lord to others, much as the face of Moses radiated when he came down from Mount Sinai after being in the presence of the Lord.

Above: 1588 engraving, showing the church of St. Anastasia prior to the 17th-century alterations. https://www.romeartlover.it/SistoVp55.jpg">Rome Art Lover</a>, Public Domain

Pilgrimage:

At the foot of the Palatine Hill, close by the Circus Maximus, stands a 4th century church originally known as "titulus Anastasiae.” It is not certain whether the name referrred to a Roman matron named Anastasia, as is the case with many titular churches in Rome, or whether it was originally an "Anastasis" church (dedicated to the Resurrection of Christ), such as was the case in Ravenna and Constantinople. Somewhere between the 4th and the 6th centuries, due to the name, the church became associated with St Anastasia of Syrmium.

As you stand in the piazza in front of the Church, facing the church - look over your left shoulder and across the street. What do you see there? Why, bless me, it's St George in Velabro. Salute our good soldier/saint as he stands guard over his church there.

St Anastasia was originally the collect church for Santa Sabina on Ash Wednesday. (Remember today it is St Anselmo) Later, when you walk out of the church and into the street, you will be able to look across the Circus Maximus to the Aventine Hill where Santa Sabina stands. Put on your VR headsets, and allow yourself to pause for a moment, and watch the ancient procession of the Pope and all the Cardinals, and the Deacons, and all the people of the Rome in antiquity - striding forth from St Anastasia, across the Circus Maximus, and up the Aventine, disappearing behind the wall of Santa Sabina.

The Basilica of Sant' Anastasia al Palatino - Façade

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ABasilica_di_Sant-Anastasia_Rome_2011_1.jpg By Karelj (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Comm

The church has undergone restoration several times, the last major restoration by Sixtus IV in 1636, due to damage from a cylone. The columns of the nave are recycled antiques from ancient buildings in the near-by Forum.

Today, St Anastasia is the church in Rome for Perpetual Adoration. A large chapel inside has been created for this purpose.

Below are views of the nave and ceiling

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/0a/Sant%27Anastasia_-_Roma_-_interno_-_Panairjdde.jpg

By Nicholas Gemini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80196159

Below: The high altar

By Dguendel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39312107

Above: Statue of Saint Anastasia in Ecstasy by Ercole Ferrata

Beneath the high altar (showing the influence of Bernini)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ARipa_-_s_Anastasia_figura_1030310.JPG By Lalupa (Own work) [GFDL (http://www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html), CC-BY-SA-3.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/) or CC BY-SA 2.5-2.0-1.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.5-2.0-1.0)], via Wikimedia Commons
Lalupa, CC BY-SA 3.0 <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/>, via Wikimedia Commons

Below: The Wall on the Left Side of the Nave - behind this wall the Chapel of St Jerome was located, which now is the location of the Adoration Chapel.

By Nicholas Gemini - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=80196156

The Ceiling is Spectacular!

By Krzysztof Golik - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137798854

Below: Enlargement from above the Triumphal Arch above

https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Coat_of_arms_Nuno_da_Cunha_(Basilica_di_Sant%27Anastasia_al_Palatino).jpg

By Krzysztof Golik - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=137798847

Above and below: The central frescoed panel depicts the Martyrdom of Anastasia(1722) by Michelangelo Cerruti;

Livioandronico2013, CC BY-SA 4.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0>, via Wikimedia Commons

Below: Madonna and Child - Sant Anastasia al Palatino

By Dguendel - Own work, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=39312156

Below: Altarpiece for the last chapel on the left in the Basilica of Sant' Anastasia al Palatino

Last Communion of St. Jerome by Domenichino 1614

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3ALastCommunion.jpg By Respear (Own work) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

This chapel no longer exists as it was dismantled to make way for the Adoration Chapel for perpetual adoration. However, since this is a virtual pilgrimage, we can explore it still.

The Basilica of St. Anastasia is traditionally linked to St. Jerome, and holds relics of St. Joseph's cloak as well as part of the Virgin Mary's veil, believed to have been brought from Jerusalem by St. Jerome from the Holy Land. Jerome was called to Rome by Pope St. Damasus I, to work for him in the affairs of his Pontificate, and he eventually commisioned Jerome to translate the Bible from the original languages of Greek and Hebrew into Latin. The result was the Latin Vulgate. For the 3 years that St. Jerome lived in Rome, he celebrated Mass at this altar in St. Anatasia daily, where the relic of St. Joseph's Cloak was preserved. The chalice that Jerome used is still exhitited here, and the altarpiece of the chapel once depicted St Jerome's last communion (this piece of art is now in the Vatican Museum).

Here we are given an opportunity to invite another saint to journey with us. St Jerome is a favorite of mine because he gives me such hope. It is said that he was a rather irascible fellow, and he often comes across to us when we encounter him, as somewhat abrupt and polemical. Yet he was also a dedicated shepherd to his little flock, and was dedicated to excellence in Christian scholarship. So apparently, his good points outweighed the bad, and in the end, he was found to be a saint! St Jerome has become quite dear to me, as he makes me believe that in spite of my weaknesses and shortcomings, there is still hope for me! I am very happy to introduce you to my friend here.

St Jerome was born Eusebius Sophronius Hieronymus ( which is probably why he went by Jerome!) in the 340’s and became the most learned of the Ancient Latin Doctors of the Church. In 366, he travelled to Rome with a friend to study rhetoric and philosophy. As a student in Rome, he joined in the wanton behaviour of the students there, and afterward suffered serious bouts of repentance. To ease his conscience, on Sundays he would visit the tombs of the Apostles and martyrs in the catacombs. Initially skeptical of Christianity, he was eventually converted.

The Temptation of St. Jerome - in the desert, tormented by memories of dancing girls in Rome

by Francisco de Zurbarán

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AFrancisco_de_Zurbar%C3%A1n_023.jpgW [Public domain or Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

After several years in Rome, he travelled to Gaul and settled in Trier where he first began theological studies. With a friend he soon moved to Aquileia, where he made many Christian friends, some of whom accompanied him in 373 on a journey through Thrace and Asia Minor into northern Syria. He stayed for quite a while in Antioch, where two of his companions died and he himself was seriously ill. During this illness (winter 373–374), he had a vision that led him to leave the secular life and devote himself to God.

He now desired an ascetic life, and spent time in the desert southwest of Antioch, in Syria, where he began to write and study, especially Hebrew. Returning to Antioch in 378 or 379, he was ordained, and soon afterward, went to Constantinople to study Scripture under Gregory Nazianzen. He spent two years there, then returned to Rome, serving as secretary to Pope Damasus I from 382-385. Pope Damasus asked him to begin revision of the old Latin Bible, based on the Greek manuscripts of the New Testament. Though Jerome did not realize it at the time, this would become the basis for a new translation of the Bible, the Latin Vulgate. It would be his most important achievement.

(You can read St Jerome’s response to Pope Damasus’ request here. It will give you an idea about their relationship and about Jerome's thoughts about the Papacy. And it is important to read primary sources now and then in your study of Church History.)

The Penitent Saint Jerome in his Study

by Matthias Stomer (1615–1649)

http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File%3AMatthiasStom-SaintJerome-Nantes.jpg Matthias Stom (fl. 1615–1649) [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons

In Rome, Jerome was surrounded by a circle of well-educated women from patrician families, such as the widows Lea, Marcella and Paula, and their daughters Blaesilla and Eustochium. They looked to him for further education and leadership in practicing the Christian life. Around this time, because of his unsparing criticism of the secular clergy of Rome, who were often seriously lacking in their Christian example, there began to be increasing hostility toward him among the Roman clergy and their supporters. As such high-profile women as those mentioned above began to reject the indulgent vulgarity of Rome and feel the call to consecrated life, the decadent clergy and the noble families of Rome felt they had entered a state of emergency. Soon after Pope Damasus died in December 384, they forced Jerome to leave Rome.

In August 385, he returned to Antioch, along with his brother and several friends. They were followed a little later by the widow Paula and her daughter Eustochium, who had resolved to spend the rest of their lives in the Holy Land. In the winter of 385, with Jerome as their spiritual adviser, the pilgrims visited Jerusalem, Bethlehem, the holy places of Galilee, and then went to Egypt, the home of the great heroes of the ascetic life.

In Egypt, Jerome visited the Catechetical School of Alexandria, listening to the catechist Didymus the Blind teaching the Old Testament, and reminiscencing about St Anthony the Great, who had died just 30 years previously. He also spent time in the Nitrian desert of Egypt, admiring the disciplined community life of the monks there. Late in the summer of 388 the group returned to Palestine, and Jerome spent the remainder of his life in a hermit's cell near Bethlehem, surrounded by a few friends, both men and women (including Paula and Eustochium), to whom he acted as priestly mentor. Paula and Eustochium became expert in Hebrew and aided him greatly in his translation of the Old Testament.

From her inheritance, Paula was able to provide an ample livelihood for Jerome, financing his subsequent 34 years of writing — including his version of the Old Testament from the original Hebrew text, a number of scriptural commentaries, a catalogue of Christian authors, & works against Pelagianism and other heresies. At one point, as a result of his writings against Pelagianism, a group of angry heretics broke into the monastic buildings, set them on fire, and even killed a deacon, forcing Jerome and his friends to flee to a nearby fortress!

St. Jerome died near Bethlehem on September 30, 420 - his relics were later transferred to the basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome, though his head is in the Escorial in Spain.

The collect church for today is St Nicholas in Carcere.

This was also our collect church for St Georgio in Velabro, and will be our station church for Day 32 of the Pilgrimage.

Dear brave Anastasia, dear blessed Jerome, and Sts Paula and Eustochium who helped St Jerome so much with his translations, we welcome you with all our hearts to our pilgrimage. In different ways, you each gave your all for the sake of the Kingdom. Be our companions and pray for us, that we also might give our all, that Our Lord's Kingdom may come!

Tomorrow we will visit our Mother Mary at the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore.

What a treat is in store for us there!

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