St George was born to a noble Greek family living in Lydda in Palestine during the late third century.  His father, Gerontius, from Cappadocia, was an officer in the Roman army; and his mother was a native of Lydda. When George was fourteen, Gerontius died, and a few years later, his mother died as well.  After their deaths, George left Palestine for the palace of Emperor Diocletian in Nicomedia in Asia Minor, to apply for a position in the Roman army.  

Diocletian was delighted to welcome him; his father, Gerontius had been one of the Emperor's finest soldiers. By his late 20s, George had been assigned to the imperial guard of the Emperor at Nicomedia.

On 24 February 303, Diocletian issued an edict (instigated by the Caesar Galerius) that every soldier must offer a sacrifice to the Roman gods for the health of the Emperor and as a sign of loyalty to the Empire. Because he was a Christian, George declined, and appealed to the Emperor. Diocletian was displeased with the prospect of losing his best tribune and the son of his best official, Gerontius, but George publically renounced the Emperor's edict in front of his fellow soldiers, proclaiming his Faith. Diocletian attempted to convert George, offering gifts of land, money and slaves if he would sacrifice to the Roman gods, but George declined all offers.

Pilgrimage: 

San Giorgio in Velabro is located in Rome near the Palatine Hill and the Roman Forum, and is across the street from St Anastasia which you will remember was the ancient collect church for Ash Wednesday.  Anciently, this area flooded often, and as a result was a swampy marsh (velabro means marshy land).  Here, where the Tiber makes a sharp turn, according to legend, Romulus and Remus drifted ashore, and were adopted and nursed by the she-wolf.  The legend also tells us that it was here that Romulus killed his brother Remus before founding the city. 

 In contrast to the legendary pagan founders of Rome, St George, that courageous martyr/knight, is a glorious companion to have join us here, so early in our Lenten pilgrimage.  One of the purposes of Lent is to bring spiritual renewal to the soul --- to this end we fast, pray, and give alms.  Prayer is a sacred act, requiring continuous effort to overcome our wandering minds, our weak wills, and our slothful bodies.  God meets us in the Holy Eucharist, and in His saints, and pulls us forward.  For the tiniest effort, He rewards us profoundly with a deeper awareness of His presence.  

Dear St. George, encourage us in our journey of conversion - our pilgrimage to Calvary with our Lord.  Intercede for us, and help us slay the dragon of inertia in our prayer lives, so that we may effectively fight the battles that lie before us.

The collect church for Thursday after Ash Wednesday is the nearby church of San Nicholas in Carcere, built in the ruins of the vegetable market of ancient Rome.  Again and again on this pilgrimage, we will see evidence of rebirth as the Church reclaims the ruins of the old and makes all things new.

Optional activities, videos, music, etc.:

In keeping with this being the titular church of Cardinal Newman, I have included a reading by Jonathan Roumie from the "Dream of Gerontius - Fifth Chorus of Angels" by John Henry Cardinal Newman, from whence comes the English hymn "Praise to the Holiest in the Height."