Third Station: Friday after Ash Wednesday at Ss John and Paul

Passing under arches, we come around the side of this ancient church, built over several Roman ruins.  Among these is the house in which the patrons of this church witnessed to their faith with their lives.  Ss. John and Paul were soldiers who were chosen to serve as functionaries in the Imperial household in the middle of the fourth century.  Although the Imperial family was often in heresy with regard to many of the theological disputes of this time, these two saints were able to continue in their offices while holding to the orthodox faith.  However, when Julian the Apostate ascended to the throne in 360, they were forced with the decision either to embrace the renewed pagan religion or face death.  They refused to cooperate with the Emperor’s demands, and so were executed in their home on this site and buried nearby.  Although such an execution within the city walls was illegal, it is thought that the emperor sought to be as discreet as possible about this matter because of the unpopularity of his command. After the death of Julian in 363, work began to perpetuate the memory of the saints. 

The church would be renovated several times between the fifteenth and eighteenth centuries, with the current interior dating largely from a renovation from 1715-18.  In the late 1850s, the sacristy was added, as well as a large chapel dedicated to St. Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionist order which serves the basilica.  In the late nineteenth century, archeological excavations and studies of the Roman ruins beneath the house began, with the results being open to the public as a museum today.  From 1948 to 1950, a restoration/renovation was carried out by the Cardinal Spellman of New York, who held the title to this church at that time.  During this time the façade was returned to its medieval appearance.  The interior was also restored; among the additions were chandeliers that had previously hung in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel in New York.  Therefore, the basilica today is a palimpsest of architectural history, from the Roman ruins that make up the foundations, to the modern chandeliers hanging in the nave. (From: Procedamus in Pacem: a Guide to the Station Churches of Rome, PNAC).

Let us Pray

Show gracious favor, O Lord, we pray,

To the works of penance we have begun,

That we may have strength to accomplish with sincerity

The bodily observances we undertake.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy spirit,

One God, for ever and ever. (collect from Mass)

Priests from Casa Santa Maria on their early morning pilgrim to today's stational church

Facade of SS John and Paul's Basilica. Passionist Father's headquaters 

Main altar contenining the relics of SS John and Paul

Tomb of St Paul of the Cross, founder of the Passionists. 

Detail in the cealing of the church depicting ss. John and Paul.

SS. John and Paul basilica is the titular church of Cardinal Egan, former Archbishop of New York and originally a priest from Chicago. Here is his coat of arms.

Archs by the side street of the church

And on our back to home, the best way is to go by the Arch of Constantine and the  Coliseum.