Comparison of Prayers - Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul

This year, since it is in the year of Saint Paul, the Church has given permission to celebrate the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul on Sunday, January 25th.

The famous painting by Caravaggio of "The Conversion on the Way to Damascus" in Santa Maria del Populo, in Rome
"Conversion on the Way to Damascus" by Caravaggio
Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui univérsum mundum beáti Pauli apóstoli prædicatióne docuísti, da nobis, quaésumus, ut, cuius conversiónem hódie celebrámus, per eius ad te exémpla gradiéntes, tuæ simus mundo testes veritátis.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. God our Father, you taught the gospel to all the world through the preaching of Paul your apostle. May we who celebrate his conversion to the faith follow him in bearing witness to the truth.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, You Who have taught the whole world by the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, grant us, we beseech You, that, as we celebrate his conversion today, while advancing to You by his example, we may be witnesses of Your truth to the world.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

"Saint Paul Preaching in Athens" by Raphael
Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Illo nos, quaésumus, Dómine, divína tractántes, fídei lúmine Spíritus perfúndat, quo beátum Paulum apóstolum ad glóriæ tuæ propagatiónem iúgiter collustrávit.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, may your Spirit who helped Paul the apostle to preach your power and glory fill us with the light of faith as we celebrate this holy eucharist.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
While drawing us by this Divine Mystery, we beseech You, O Lord, may the Spirit pour forth by the light of faith, that with which he illuminated the blessed Apostle Paul for the continual spreading of Your glory.
Through Christ our Lord.

"Conversion of Saint Paul" by Rubens
Preface
Preface I of the Apostles - On the Apostles, Pastors of the People of God


Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salútare, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus:
Qui gregem tuum, Pastor ætérne, non déseris, sed per beátos Apóstolos contínua protectióne custódis, ut iísdem rectóribus gubernétur, quos Fílii tui vicários eídem contulísti præésse pastóres.
Et ídeo cum Angelis et Archángelis, cum Thronis et Dominatiónibus, cumque omni milítia cæléstis exércitus, hymnum glóriæ tuæ cánimus, sine fine dicéntes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You are the eternal Shepherd who never leaves his flock untended. Through the apostles you watch over us and protect us always. You made them shepherds of the flock to share in the work of your Son, and from their place in heaven they guide us still.
And so, with all the choirs of angels in heaven we proclaim your glory and join in their unending hymn of praise:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God:
You, O eternal Shepherd, Who do not forsake Your flock, but keep it in Your continual protection through the blessed Apostles, so that it may be governed by those rulers, whom as the vicars of Your Son You have given to be pastors over it.
And so, with all the Angels and Archangels, with the Thrones and Dominions, with the whole army of heavenly hosts, we sing the hymn of Your glory, saying without end:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

"The Conversion of Saint Paul" by Caravaggio
Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Sacraménta quæ súmpsimus, Dómine Deus noster, in nobis fóveant caritátis ardórem, quo beátus apóstolus Paulus veheménter accénsus, ómnium pértulit sollicitúdinem Ecclesiárum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord God, you filled Paul the Apostle with love for all the churches: may the sacrament we have received foster in us this love for your people.
Grant this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O Lord our God, may the Sacraments Which we have consumed sustain in us the zeal of charity, by which the blessed Apostle Paul being ardently inflamed, bore concern for all the Church.
Through Christ our Lord.

Tomb of Saint Paul, under the main altar
at Saint Paul's Outside the Walls in Rome.
RS

Tomb of Saint Stephen and Saint Lawrence

I know I'm a day late, but I did want to post these.

My last trip to Rome, I finally made it out to the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls. Father Benedict's uncle is a Deacon and he was at the ordination. So, since I wanted to go to Saint Lawrence, I was able to take the Deacon there with me. After trying to walk the distance from Termini, the main train station in Rome, and then getting lost, and then coming upon some big student protest, we decided to take a taxi the rest of the way.

We finally made it to the church.


Both Saint Stephen and Saint Lawrence are buried here.




Their tomb is under the main altar in the confessio.




If you go behind the altar and tabernacle in the confessio you can see their tomb.


RS

Pope Saint Damasus I

Today is the feast of Pope Saint Damasus I. Although he is not very well known, he did have great influence upon the Church. He was the one who commissioned Saint Jerome to translate the Bible which resulted in the Vulgate translation of the Bible. He also decreed the canon of the New Testament, ie what books officially make up the New Testament.

He is buried in Rome in the church of San Lorenzo in Damaso. I was able to visit him my last time in Rome. It is not an easy place to find. I walked past it once before I found it. The outside isn't really that "churchy". The name of the church comes from the fact that it is believed that the pope himself founded this church on his own home and dedicated it to Saint Lawrence.


However, the inside is simple (well for a church in Rome), but beautiful. It's also nice and quiet.


He is buried under the altar here.


And when I got there, I noticed there is another Saint buried there as well.


Saint Eutychius, Martyr. Unfortunately, I can't really find any information about him. I think he is the Saint Eutychius whose feast is on February 4th.


Pope Saint Damasus I and Saint Eutychius, orate pro nobis.

RS

Our Lady of Loreto

Today is the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto.

Loreto is a town in upper-mideast Italy which has the Holy House where the Angel Gabriel visited Mary on the Annunciation. Obviously, the house was originally in Nazareth. Legend says that the House was carried by Angels one night, and brought to Loreto. Although embellished, it is based on historical fact. Back during the Crusades, many Western Christians were bringing back relics from the Holy Land to rescue them from the Muslims. Sometimes for pious reasons and sometimes for more worldly reasons.

Anyway, the Angeli family (brought by "Angels") helped to bring the Holy House to Italy in Loreto and a basilica was built around it.

I was very blessed to be able to go there on my last trip to Italy back this October.

If you go there today, you have to go up on top of the large hill where the city is. At the top you'll come to a large fortress structure.


Then going through the gate, you'll see the basilica.


Then in the middle of the basilica is the Holy House. You can't see the outside of the house because it is covered in marble with reliefs.


I wasn't able to get a picture of the inside since they were strict about pictures and there were A LOT of people praying in there, so I didn't want to disturb them. So here's a picture I pulled off the web.


Fr. Benedict was able to say his 2nd Mass here in Latin, which I was blessed to serve. It really struck me when we processed in, as right behind the altar in gold letters you see:

"HIC VERBUM CARO FACTUM EST"
("HERE THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH")
And to think that Father Benedict was about to bring that about again at the Consecration as he said the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. It was a very profound experience.

There's also a custom in the mountain towns which I find rather humorous. In Norcia, and I believe other mountain towns in Italy, on the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, they build these huge bonfires in the piazzas of the town.

Bonfire in the Piazza di San Lorenzo in Norcia on the Feast of Our Lady of Loreto, 2001
This commemorates the legend of when the Angels carried the Holy House through the night to Loreto, and the Italians will light bonfires in the mountian towns to "guide" the Angels to Loreto so they don't bump into the mountains. I don't know why, but I find it humorous.

Anyway, today is a great opportunity to meditate upon the Annunciation and the fact that God became man. For a good meditation, here's an excellent homily by Fr. Angelo Geiger, FFI:

Homily on the Immaculate Conception

"The Annunciation" by Philippe Champaigne
RS

Relic of Saint Francis Xavier

Arm of Saint Francis Xavier at Il Gesu church in Rome. This arm has Baptized and blessed thousands and thousands in India and the Orient.

The body of Saint Francis Xavier is in Goa, India.

RS

November 29th, Feast of Saint Saturninus of Carthage

(Not to be confused with Saint Saturninus of Toulouse, Bishop & Martyr whose feast is also today)

Altar and relics of Saint Saturninus of Carthage at the Basilica of Saints John and Paul in Rome
Back in 2000, I had read a story about a priest (however, it was not Saint John Marie Vianney) who had begun praying to a very obscure and unknown Saint. He reasoned that because this Saint was so unknown, she would have more "time" to pray for him and his intentions. And sure enough, intentions he had for his parish were coming to pass through the intercession of this Saint.

A few weeks after I read that story I was in Rome for the Jubilee year and my friend Father Cassian had suggested I visit the basilica of Saints John and Paul (the ones mentioned together in the Roman Canon). While I was there, I was struck by a painting and relics in a side altar of Saint Saturninus of Carthage (as seen above). And having never heard of him before, I thought about that story I had read about the priest who began praying to this obscure Saint. So, I've had a devotion to Saint Saturninus of Carthage ever since. And I was blessed to be able to visit him on my last trip to Rome back in October.

Saint Saturninus of Carthage
The new (2004) Roman Martyrology has this:

Romæ in cœmetério Trasónis via Salária Nova, sancti Saturníni Carthaginénsis, mártyris, qui, ut sanctus Dámasus papa refert, sub Décio imperatóre pro Christo in pátria in ecúleo impósitus est et Romam extórris missus, ubi, áliis atrócibus torméntis superátis, Gratiánum tyránnum ad fidem convértit et cápite obtruncáto corónam martýrii adéptus est.

My rough translation

At Rome, in the cemetary of Trasonis on the New Via Salaria, Saint Saturninus of Carthage, martyr, who, Pope Saint Damasus relates, that under the Emperor Decius, in his homeland he [St. Saturninus] was placed on the rack for Christ, and sent into exile in Rome, where, having overcome other severe tortures, converted the tyrant Gratianus to the faith, and [St. Saturninus] being beheaded obtained the crown of martyrdom.

An older version of the Roman Martyrology has this:

Romæ, via Salaria, natális sanctórum Mártyrum Saturnini senis, et Sisinii Diáconi, sub Maximiáno Príncipe; quos, diu in cárcere maceratos, jussit Urbis Præfectus in equuleum levári et attrahi nervis, fustibus ac scorpiónibus cædi, deínde eis flammas apponi, et, depositos de equuleo, cápite truncari.

At Rome, on the Salarian Way, the birthday of the holy martyr, Saturninus, an aged man, and the deacon Sisinius, in the time of Emperor Maximian. After a long imprisonment, by order of the prefect of the city they were placed on the rack, stretched with ropes, scourged with rods and whips garnished with metal, then exposed to the flames, taken down from the rack and beheaded.

- from breviary.net's Roman Maryrology pages
(Sorry, it's a good site for the old martyrology, but the site is run by sedevacantists).

I'm not sure what happened to St. Saturninus' deacon companion Sisinius in the new Martyrology. I often worry that some parts of legends are automatically thrown out if they can't be proven, rather than keeping them until the can be proven false. I feel that is often the case in the rather snotty comments in the Thurston & Atwater edition of Butler's Lives of the Saints.

A brief article at catholicculture.org had this to say:

St. Saturninus

The Martyrology gives these details: "At Rome on the Via Salaria the death of the holy martyr, the aged Saturninus, and of the deacon Sisinius. Under the emperor Maximianus they suffered long in prison. The prefect of Rome ordered them placed on the rack till their joints were torn loose, then beaten with knotted whips, and burnt with torches; at last removed from the rack, they were beheaded." According to the inscription on his tomb by Pope St. Damasus, Saturninus hailed from Carthage. The Acts of Marcellus say he was condemned as a frail old man to carry sand for the construction of the Baths of Diocletian; but when by his patience and prayer and encouragement he led many to the faith, he was beheaded.

Saint Saturninus was originally buried in the Catacombs, and Pope Saint Damasus wrote a beautiful epitaph on his tomb there:

Epigraph of Pope Saint Damasus for St. Saturninus

Citizen now of Christ, formerly of Carthage,
The moment the sword pierced the Mother's holy breast,
through her blood he changed country, name and lineage,
the birth to the life of the saints made him a Roman citizen.
His faith was wonderful: as his heroic death would later show.
His enemy Gratianus trembled while he tore his holy members;
but though all his venomous rage exploded,
he could not induce you, O Saint, to deny Christ;
indeed through your prayers he even deserved to die a Christian.
This is the will of the suppliant Damasus: venerate this tomb!
[Here it is given to fulfil vows and to pour out chaste prayers,
because it is the tomb of the martyr St Saturninus]
To you, O Martyr Saturninus, I pay my prayerful homage.

source

Here's the collect for his feast (which used to be on the universal calendar before the changes of Vatican II) from the traditional Divine Office:

Orémus.
Deus, qui nos beáti Saturníni Mártyris tui concédis natalício pérfrui: eius nos tríbue méritis adiuvári. Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum. Amen.

Let us pray.
O God, Who givest us to rejoice in the feast of Thy blessed Martyr Saturninus: grant that we may be helped by his merits. Through our Lord Jesus Christ Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

I have become devoted to him, and love the fact that in spite of his old age he suffered for Christ, to the point of torture, exile, more torture, and martyrdom. He does show that God chooses the weak to shame the strong.

Sancte Saturníne (et Sancte Sisinie), ora(te) pro nobis.

"To you, O Martyr Saturninus, I pay my prayerful homage" as well.

And to any priests who are saying the extraordinary form of the Mass and can follow the traditional calendar or who say the ordinary form and have a copy of the Roman Martyrology, I invite you to remember him as well.

RS

Tomb of Saint Josaphat

Today is the feast of Saint Josaphat. I've had a devotion to him for awhile, and have tried to visit him every time I go to Rome. He's another Saint who is difficult to get to in Saint Peter's. His remains, as seen above, are in an altar which is in the area reserved for Confessions, and they usually won't let you in unless you are going to confession. I can usually muster up enough Italian to ask to go pray at his tomb, and they usually let me in, I think mainly because I have a beard and they think I am Eastern rite (that defintely was the case once).

On my last trip a month ago I had the great priviledge of learning how to serve the Tridentine Mass. The awesome part was that the second Tridentine Mass I helped serve was a low Tridentine Mass ... in Saint Peter's ... at the altar of Saint Josaphat. It worked out rather Providentially. Father had made arrangements to say Mass, but when we got there, they had not assigned him any altar. They just said to take any altar that was open. So after walking all around and finding every altar taken, we finally ended up at Saint Josaphat, and the priest there was just finishing up his Mass. So, I gently prodded Father in that direction, and that's where we had Mass.

I thought it was pretty appropriate that with Saint Josaphat being a Ruthenian Rite Catholic Bishop that we would say the Tridentine which is much closer to the Eastern Rites (and Tradition) than the Novus Ordo. It was also appropriate that Father Benedict being a monk would say the Mass at the relics of a Martyr who was a monk. Saint Josaphat was also a Martyr for unity between East and West in the Church, and here we had a very beautiful union of East and West and Heaven and earth. You can see the reason they put Saint Josaphat's relics in one of the altars closest to Saint Peter. Definitely a memory I will treasure.

You can read more about Saint Josaphat at Catholic Encyclopedia:

St. Josaphat Kuncevyc at Catholic Encyclopedia

RS

Tomb of Pope Saint Leo the Great

In the Ordinary Form, today is the feast of Pope Saint Leo the Great.



Here you can see where he is buried in the Basilica of Saint Peter in Vatican City. You can usually see it, but it is harder to get up to the alter itself. For some reason, that area of the basilica is usually closed off, so the closest you can get is about 30 yards away. Your best bet to visit the altar is to got to Saint Peter's right when it opens in the morning and attend one of the low private Masses at this altar. I was blessed last year with the opportunity to do this, so I snapped a couple of pictures afterwards.

So, here's just one of the many Saint's buried in Saint Peter's.

I also encourage you read Pope Saint Leo the Great's homilies. They are often very clear and solid expositions of the Faith.

You've got to love a guy who stood up to Attila the Hun.

RS

Basilica of Saint John Lateran

A few pictures of the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.


This is the actual Cathedral of Rome and is where the cathedra of the Pope is.

Cathedra (or chair) of the Pope
The main relics in this Church are pretty important.

The main one is a part of the table from the Last Supper which is high above the Eucharistic Chapel in the left trancept.


The other major relics are up in the top of the baldachino over the papal altar.


The two statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul hold the heads of these two Saints.

Enjoy.

RS

Pilgrimage List

OK, so here's my list of Saints and Relics I visited. This was actually harder to compile than I thought because there were a few I wasn't really sure about. Overall, I have to go with the information which seems to be consistant and also with what was on the reliquary or tomb itself. I do have photograpic evidence of most of these. I couldn't take photos of some of the tombs or altars in Saint Peters because the area they were in was either reserved for prayer or confiessions. But, hopefully in the future I can get up some pictures too.

So here goes:

These are ones that I can confirm:

Saints Tombs and Major Relics

Saint Eutizio
Saint Spes
Saint Paul the Apostle
Saint Peter the Apostle
Saint Matthias the Apostle
Pope Saint Pius V
Saint Jerome
Saint Stephen the Deacon
Saint Lawrence the Deacon
Blessed Pope Pius IX
Pope Saint Pius X
Saint John Chrysostom
Pope Saint Gregory the Great
Pope Saint Leo IX
Saint Jude Thaddeus the Apostle
Saint Simon the Apostle
Pope Saint Boniface IV
Pope Saint Leo the Great
Pope Saint Leo II
Pope Saint Leo III
Pope Saint Leo IV
Saint Processus (a Martyr)
Saint Martinian (a Martyr)
Saint Josaphat
Blessed Pope John XXIII
Saint Greogry of Nazianzen
Blessed Innocent XI
Saint Ignatius of Loyola
Saint Francis Xaiver (his right arm)
San Giuseppe Pignatelli
Saint Philip Neri
Saint Papius (a Martyr)
Saint Maurus (a Martyr)
Pope Saint Damasus I
Saint Eutychius (a Marytr)
Saint Joseph Calasanz
Saint Benedict (a young Martyr)
Saint Monica
Saint Felix (a Martyr)
Saint Camillus de Lellis
Saint Robert Bellarmine
Saint John Berchmans
Saint Aloysius Gonzaga
Saint James the Lesser the Apostle
Saint Philip the Apostle
Saint Catherine of Siena
Blessed Fra Angelico
Saint Vittoria (a Martyr)
Saint Valentine (his skull)
Saint John of Triora (Franciscan Martyr)
Fra Juniper (confrere of Saint Francis of Assisi)
Pope Saint Clement I
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Saint Cyril
Saint Servulus
Saint Praxedes
Saint Prudentia
Remains of Martyrs transferred from the catacombes to Saint Praxedes
Saint Alexander (a Martyr)
Saint Sabina
Saint Seraphia
Saint Alexander (a Martyr)
Saint Eventius (a Martyr)
Saint Theodulus (a Martyr)
Pope Saint Pontian
Pope Saint Anterus
Pope Saint Fabian
Pope Saint Lucius I
Pope Saint Eutychian
Pope Saint Stephen I
Pope Saint Sixtus II
Pope Saint Dionysius
Pope Saint Felix
Saint Bartholomew the Apostle
Saint Adalbert of Prague
Saint --erantius (first letters on reliquary are blocked in my photo)
Saint Marcello
Pope Saint Callistus
Pope Saint Cornelius
Pope Saint Julius I
Saint Firmus (a Martyr)
Saint Leontia (a Martyr)
San Carlo da Sezze
Saint Cecilia
Saint John (from the Roman Canon)
Saint Paul (from the Roman Canon)
Saint Paul of the Cross
Saint Saturninus
The Martyrs of Scillitan (12 Martyrs)

Relics

Holy House of Loreto
Part of the hairshirt of Pope Saint Peter Celestine V
Tooth of Saint Benedict
Bone of Saint Scholastica
Part of the Table of the Last Supper
Saint Helena
Nail from the Crucifixion
Thorns from the Crown of Thorns
Part of the True Cross
Cross beam of Saint Dismas
Part of the INRI sign
Finger of Saint Thomas the Apostle
Stone Saint Francis of Assisi used as a "pillow"

Popes

Pope Leo XIII
Pope Innocent III
Pope Pius II
Pope Pius III
Pope Leo X
Pope Clement VII
Pope Benedict XIII
Pope Urban VII
Pope Paul IV
Pope Innocent II

These I am having trouble with verifying.

Uncertain Tombs
Saint Eutropius (a Martyr)
Saint Dionysius (a Martyr)
Saint Sabinus
Saint Clemens

Uncertain Relics
Saint Erasmus
40 Martyrs, Saint Alexis, Saint Mary of Egypt

Final count of Saints, Blesseds, and major relics (including Fra Juniper) is about 98 ... 8 of whom are Apostles.
Final count of uncanonized Popes is about 10.
And other relics.
I did pray at the ones I was uncertain about too.

And in other places, many other holy martyrs, confessors, and holy virgins.

RS

Saints Galore

No, it's not just the name of my friends Catholic gretting card and calendar company. It's also a description of my last 30 hours.

I did manage to get into Saint Peters, so I was able to visit almost every Saint I wanted to (I only missed Saint Petronella), and I didn't get down into the crypt.

Today, I was all over the place. I think so far my total of Saints over the last 30 hours is around 40. However, I really did try to make my visits as reverent and recollected as possible. As Saint Benedict says, you don't have to sit and multiply your words in your prayers like the pagans do. The only Saint I haven't been able to see so far is Saint Agnes because the relic chapel is under repair, so it was totally closed off.

I'll try to get the list of Saints up when I get home.

Ciao for now.

RS

Saint Joseph of Cupertino

Saint Joseph of Cupertino
Today is the feast day of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. I thought I would share a few pictures from Assisi. Last year at this time I was making pilgrimage to Italy. A year ago tomorrow, I was in Assisi. I found a friar there whom I had met back in 2002. He was gracious enough to "sneak" me into the cell ... or actually prison cell" where Saint Joseph of Cupertino was held during the time the friars thought he might be possessed because sometime he would levitate. So, I thank Fr. Alfeo for allowing me to see the cell.
One reason I had asked him and knew about the cell before was that I was able to see it back during my Rome semester in 1993. At that time it was pretty unkept and sadly looked like it had been used as a storage closet. But last year I figured since it was the day after Saint Joseph of Cupertino's feast day, and since I had a friend who had just joined the Franciscans of the Immaculate who had a great devotion to Saint Joseph of Cupertino, I thought I'd try to get in and say some prayers for him (and take a few photos).

Sorry these are a bit lower in quality.

Part of the "prison" cell where Saint Joseph of Cupertino was held
Where Saint Joseph of Cupertino prayed (same room as the picture above)
Habit of Saint Joseph of Cupertino above the altar where he said Mass while imprisoned
(in a separate room right behind me when I took the first two pictures)
Chapel dedicated to Saint Joseph of Cupertino
(his cell is on the other side of the painting)
Life of Saint Joseph of Cupertino on EWTN

Thanks again to Father Alfeo.

RS

Comparison of Prayers - Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross

"Glorification of the Cross" by Adam Elsheimer

Collect (Opening Prayer)

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Deus, qui Unigénitum tuum crucem subíre voluísti, ut salvum fáceret genus humánum, præsta, quaésumus, ut, cuius mystérium in terra cognóvimus, eius redemptiónis praémia in cælo cónsequi mereámur.
Per Dóminum nostrum Iesum Christum, Fílium tuum, qui tecum vivit et regnat in unitáte Spíritus Sancti, Deus, per ómnia saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. God our Father, in obedience to you your only Son accepted death on the cross for the salvation of mankind. We acknowledge the mystery of the cross on earth. May we receive the gift of redemption in heaven.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. O God, You willed Your only-Begotten Son to undergo the Cross, so that He might save the human race, grant, we beseech You, that, having known His mystery on earth, we may be made worthy to obtain the rewards of His redemption in Heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, Who lives and reigns with You, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.

The reliquary on the left contains the finger of Saint Thomas, the one he would have used to probe the Sacred Wounds of Christ when He appeared again and confronted Saint Thomas about his doubt in His Resurrection.
The reliquary in the middle contains pieces from: the pillar at which Christ was scourged, the Holy Sepulcre where Christ was buried, and Christ's crib (the rest of which is in Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome).
The reliquary on the right contains two thorns from the Crown of Thorns.
Prayer Over the Gifts

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Hæc oblátio, Dómine, quaésumus, ab ómnibus nos purget offénsis, quæ in ara crucis totíus mundi tulit offénsam.
Per Christum Dóminum nostrum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Lord, may this sacrifice once offered on the cross to take away the sins of the world now free us from our sins.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
May this Sacrificial Offering, we beseech You, O Lord, Which on the altar of the Cross took away the offences of the whole world, cleanse us from all our offences.
Through Christ our Lord.

This reliquary contains one of the nails with which Christ was crucified. It is about the size of a nail used on railroad tracks.
Preface
Preface of the Victory of the Glorious Cross

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Vere dignum et iustum est, æquum et salútare, nos tibi semper et ubíque grátias ágere: Dómine, sancte Pater, omnípotens ætérne Deus:
Qui salútem humáni géneris in ligno crucis constituísti, ut unde mors oriebátur, inde vita resúrgeret; et, qui in ligno vincébat, in ligno quoque vincerétur: per Christum Dóminum nostrum.
Per quem maiestátem tuam laudant Angeli, adórant Dominatiónes, tremunt Potestátes.
Cæli cælorúmque Virtútes, ac beáta Séraphim, sócia exsultatióne concélebrant.
Cum quibus et nostras voces ut admítti iúbeas, deprecámur, súpplici confessióne dicéntes:
Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus ...

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Father, all-powerful and ever-living God, we do well always and everywhere to give you thanks.
You decreed that man should be saved through the wood of the cross. The tree of man’s defeat became his tree of victory; where life was lost, there life has been restored through Christ our Lord.
Through him the choirs of angels and all the powers of heaven praise and worship your glory.
May our voices blend with theirs as we join in their unending hymn:
Holy, holy, holy ...

My Own Literal Translation
It is truly right and just, proper and availing unto salvation, that we always and everywhere give thanks to You, O Lord, Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God:
You established the salvation of the human race through the wood of the Cross, so that from where death came forth, from there also life rose again; and, He Who was being conquered on the wood, was also to conquer on the wood: through Christ our Lord.
Through Him the Angels praise, the Dominions adore, and the Powers tremble before Your Majesty.
The Virtues, the blessed Seraphim, and the hosts of the Heaven of Heavens celebrate together in exultation.
With whom, we implore You, that You may grant our voices to be admitted, in humble petitioning saying in confession of faith:
Holy, Holy, Holy ...

There is also a part of the sign which was hung above Christ when He was crucified. The "Iesus Nazarenus Rex Iudeorum" (Jesus the Nazarene King of the Jews) sign.
Post-Communion Prayer

Official Latin from the 1969 & 2002 Roman Missals
Orémus. Refectióne tua sancta enutríti, Dómine Iesu Christe, súpplices deprecámur, ut, quos per lignum crucis vivíficæ redemísit, ad resurrectiónis glóriam perdúcas.
Qui vivis et regnas in saécula sæculórum.

Official 1973 I.C.E.L. Translation (Used at Mass in English)
Let us pray. Lord Jesus Christ, you are the holy bread of life. Bring to the glory of the resurrection the people you have redeemed by the wood of the cross.
We ask this through Christ our Lord.

My Own Literal Translation
Let us pray. Having been nourished by Your Holy restoration, O Lord Jesus Christ, we humbly beseech You, that, You may lead those who have been redeemed through the wood of the life giving Cross, to the glory of the resurrection.
You Who live and reign forever and ever.

Finally, at the center of the relics is a cross containing pieces from the True Cross on which Christ was crucified.

RS

Tomb of Saint Gregory the Great

Here's a few new photos which I took on my pilgrimage a year ago. Pope Saint Gregory the Great holds a place in my heart, not just because I am a Benedictine Novice Oblate and he was a Benedictine monk, but also because of the Masses I have heard at his altar in Saint Peter's. Pope Saint Gregory the Great's relics are in an altar very near the sacristy of Saint Peter's.

An interesting thing, if you ever visit Rome, is that if you can go to Saint Peter's right when the doors open in the early morning, you can attend a Mass of any number of the priests who say Mass at any of the side altars. What is nice about these Masses is that they are practically a private Mass. Usually, it is just the priest and the altar boy, however, the altar boy will sort of ask you if you are going to receive Communion [quizzical looks and a nodding of the head work well in spite of the language barrier, LOL], and give the priest an extra host at the offertory if you are. Anyway, the Mass, although a simple, low Novus Ordo Mass, is very beautiful and reverent if you get a good priest (as I did).

Since I had a devotion to Pope Saint Gregory the Great, I made it a point everyday I was in Rome, to get up early and go to the Mass at his altar.


Providentially, the priest who regularly said Mass at that altar spoke English. But it gets even better. Usually, the the priests say Mass in Italian. However, the second day I went, when the priest came to the altar and saw me again, he went up to the altar, took the Italian Missal, went over to the little cabinet next to the altar, put the Italian Missal in, and pulled a Latin Roman Missal out!


At that point, I was on a spiritual high. And the rest of my pilgrimage he used the Latin Roman Missal when he saw me. I made it a point to thank him, and he told me that since I was obviously not Italian, he figured I would have an easier time with the Latin. Indeed it was true. Being obedient to Vatican II, I know in Latin the parts of the Mass which pertain to me.*

I also love Pope Saint Gregory the Great because of his "Dialogues" which is the best source of information on the life of Saint Benedict, and which gave me information about some other Saints whom I love, Sant'Eutizio, San Fiorenzo, and San Spes.

His name is also attached to the chant of the Roman Rite (Gregorian Chant).


Sancte Gregori, ora pro nobis.

*Sacrosanctum Concilium
"36. 1. Particular law remaining in force, the use of the Latin language is to be preserved in the Latin rites."
"54. "... steps should be taken so that the faithful may also be able to say or to sing together in Latin those parts of the Ordinary of the Mass which pertain to them. "

RS

Pope Saint Leo IV

"A quite incredible story has reached our ears ... It is alleged that you have such an aversion from the sweet chant of St Gregory ... that you are at variance in this matter not only with this see, which is near to you, but with almost every other church in the West, in fact, with all those who use the Latin tounge to pay their tribute of praise to the King of Heaven..." - Pope Saint Leo IV writing to an abbot who lacked enthusiasm for Gregorian chant.

Pope Saint Leo IV (+ A.D. 855)
Wow, you learn something new everyday. Although I've been to Rome multiple times for pilgrimages, I am always frustrated to find out that I was right by Saints whom I didn't even know were there.

Take, for instance, one of the Saints we celebrate today, Pope Saint Leo IV. (Today is also the feast of Saint Alesseo (aka Saint Alexis) whom I mentioned 2 years ago.)

I only happend to find out about Pope Saint Leo IV because he is in my Monastic diurnal since he was a Benedictine.

In trying to find out where he was buried, I found that there's litereally a corner in Saint Peter's which is a cornucopia of holy Leos! I knew about Pope Saint Leo the Great's tomb in the far back left corner. But what I didn't know was that to the left of Pope Saint Leo the Great's altar is the altar of Our Lady of the Column.

Altar of Our Lady of the Column in Saint Peter's Basilica where Pope Saint Leo IV is buried
It not only contains the relics of Pope Saint Leo the IV, but also of Pope Saint Leo II and Pope Saint Leo III! And I've been to Mass at the altar of Pope Saint Leo the Great, and here were three other Saints named Leo to my right. Add some more to the list of Saints to visit on my next trip.

You can read about his life at Catholic Encyclopedia:

Pope Saint Leo IV

Papa Sancte Leo IV, ora pro nobis.

RS

Rome, Saints, and Relics ... oh my!

With today being the feast of the First Martyrs of Rome, I was thinking of how many relics I have seen when going to Rome.

Here's a sample from my trip to Rome last year. These are just "collections" of relics in various churches. This doesn't include all the more individual relics I have pictures of.

A side chapel at Il Gesu, the Jesuit church.

Turning around in the same side chapel the other wall has a similar collection.

A collection of relics related to the Passion of Our Lord. These are at Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, a Cistercian church.

Here is the reliquary in Saint Paul's Outside the Walls.
(At the bottom, just to the right, in the midle of that case, that's the skull of Saint Ananias, the man who healed Saint Paul of his blindness at his conversion.)

I'm disappointed that I don't have a picture of the "Holy of Holies" at the top of the Sacred Steps which was one of the main "collections" of relics of the early martyrs in Rome.

Still, it's amazing to go to Rome and see so many relics from so many Saints and Martyrs. I think here in the United States, we are starved of these visible remains of those who have not just gone before us, but actually died for the Faith. It's much different to see major relics in these Roman and Italian churches that what we usually see here in the States: tiny specks of a bone or something in a tiny reliquary.

But here's to asking the early Roman Martyrs for their intercession for an increase of our Faith, especially here in the States where we are overrun by secularism in the world and apathy in many in the Church.

RS