The practice of visiting the churches of the Stations, where are preserved the
sacred memorials of the saints, and especially of the martyrs, dates its
institution from the first ages of Christianity; and on certain days in the year
the people, clergy, and even Popes, used to go there in procession to pray. This
pious and time-honoured devotion, constantly maintained, moved Pope Gregory
the Great to make a list of the Stations, assigning time churches to be visited,
not only during Lent, but also on certain other days and times in the year
and these days he ordered to be inserted in the Roman Missal, as is related by John the Deacon in his
Life of
St. Gregory, book ii. cc. 2 and
6.
In order to induce the faithful to make these visits to the churches of the
Stations on the appointed days, and to pray there according to the intention of
the Sovereign Pontiff, the same Pope St. Gregory, and others his successors,
granted various Indulgences, which were all confirmed afresh for ever by Pope
Pius VI. in a decree of the S. Congr. of Indulgences, July 9, 1777; a list of
these Indulgences will presently be given, as well as of the days and churches
of the Stations.
Afterwards, Leo XII., motu proprio, given through the same S. Congr. of
Indulgences, Feb. 28, 1827, granted -
i. An indulgence of forty years and as many quarantines, to all the faithful,
every time that during Lent, with contrite hearts and devotion, they visit the
churches of the Stations in the manner he prescribed; and he ordered this
method of visiting the churches to be published in a book for the purpose
printed at the press of the Camera Apostolica. He granted also -
ii. A plenary indulgence to all persons who shall have made the visit as
above three times, each visit on a different day; to be gained on any one day
when, being penitent, they shall, after Confession and Communion, visit some
church or public oratory, and pray there for our holy mother the Church, &c.
The method prescribed to be used is as follows: First, to visit some church,
and say there the prayers appointed in the book, to the Blessed Sacrament,
to the Blessed Virgin, and to the holy martyrs; then to go to the church
of the Station, saying on the way the psalm Miserere, five Pater noster’s,
five Ave Maria's, and five Gloria Patri's, and then the Steps of the Passion of
Our Lord Jesus Christ; and lastly, whilst at the church itself, to say
the Litanies of the Saints with the versicles and prayers assigned, and at the
end the psalm De profundis, &c. All unlearned persons, however, and others
who do not possess this book of the Stations, may gain the same Indulgences by
saying at the two churches which they visit such prayers as their own devotion
suggests to them and as are suitable to their capacity; and while they go
from one church to the other, they are to say a third part of their rosary with
the Litanies; and on leaving the church of the Station, to end their visit
with the psalm De profundis, or else with one Pater noster, one
Ave Maria, and a
Requiem aeternam for the holy souls in purgatory.
The same Pontiff declared his will that all nuns and others dwelling in
monasteries and communities should participate in the benefit of these
Indulgences, provided that they keep the method prescribed and visit their own
churches; and he also extended these Indulgences to the sick and to prisoners,
provided they supply what they are unable to perform by doing some good work
enjoined them by their own confessor.
Note, that although it is only necessary to visit one church in order to gain
the Indulgences, there are on certain days, besides the churches set down in the Roman Missal for the Stations, several
other churches enjoying the same Indulgences
through grants of various Sovereign Pontiffs; thus we may instance the grant of Leo
XII. above named, who, by a Brief of Jan. 8, 1828, confirmed a privilege already
granted by Clement VIII., Feb. 4, 1603, viz, that the church of St. Gregory
on the Celian Hill should be one of the stational churches for the Friday
after Ash-Wednesday whilst at time same time he desired that on the second Sunday
in Lent there should be another Station at this church, as
appears from a notice of his Eminence the Cardinal-Vicar, Feb. 20, 1828.
Jan. 1. Circumcision of our Lord Jesus Christ. Station, St.
Mary beyond the Tiber. Indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines.
Jan. 6. The Epiphany of our Lord. St. Peter, on the Vatican. The same
indulgence.
Septuagesima Sunday. St. Laurence, outside the Walls. The same indulgence.
Sexagesima. St. Paul, outside the Walls. The same indulgence.
Quinquagesima. St. Peter, on the Vatican. The same indulgence.
Ash-Wednesday. St. Sabina in St. Alexius, and St. Mary in Cosmedin, called
Bocca della Verità. Indulgence of fifteen years and fifteen
quarantines.
Thursday after Ash Wednesday. St. George in Velabro,
and the church of Jesus and Mary. Indulgence of ten years and ten quarantines.
Friday. SS. John and Paul, and St. Gregory, on the Celian Hill. The
same indulgence.
Saturday. St. Tryphon, and St. Augustine. The same indulgence.
First Sunday in Lent. St. John Lateran. The same indulgence.
Monday. St. Peter’s Chains and St. John della Pigna. The same
indulgence.
Tuesday. St. Anastasia. The same indulgence.
Wednesday (Ember day). St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Thursday. St. Laurence in Pane e Perna. The same indulgence.
Friday (Ember day). The Twelve Holy Apostles. The same indulgence.
Saturday (Ember day). St. Peter, on the Vatican. The same
indulgence.
Second Sunday in Lent. St. Mary in Domnica, called the Church of the
Navicella, and St. Gregory, on the Celian. The same indulgence.
Monday. St. Mary Major and St. Clement. The same indulgence.
Tuesday. St. Balbina. The same indulgence.
Wednesday. St. Cecilia
beyond the Tiber. The same indulgence..
Thursday. St. Mary beyond the Tiber. The same indulgence.
Friday. St. Vitalis. The same indulgence.
Saturday. SS. Marcellinus and Peter’, near the Lateran Basilica. The same indulgence.
Third Sunday in Lent. St. Laurence, outside the Walls. Indulgence of ten years
and ten quarantines.
Monday. St. Mark, The same indulgence.
Tuesday. St. Pudentiana. The same indulgence.
Wednesday. SS. Sixtus, Nereus, and Achilleus. The same
indulgence.
Thursday. SS. Cosmas and Damian, in the Forum. The same
indulgence.
Friday. St. Laurence in Lucina. The same
indulgence.
Saturday. SS. Caius and Susanna, and St. Mary of time Angels, at the Baths. The same
indulgence.
Fourth Sunday in Lent. The Holy Cross in Jerusalem.
Indulgence of fifteen years and fifteen quarantines.
Monday. The Four Saints crowned with Martyrdom. Indulgence of ten years and ten
quarantines.
Tuesday. St. Laurence ins St. Damasus, and St. Andrew della Valle. The same
indulgence.
Wednesday. St. Paul, outside the Gates. The same indulgence.
Thursday. SS. Martin and Silvester, on the Hills, and St. Silvester in
Capite. The same indulgence.
Friday. St. Eusebius and St. Bibiana. The same indulgence.
Saturday. St. Nicholas in Carcere. The same indulgence.
Passion Sunday. St. Peter, on the Vatican, and St. Lazarus. The same
indulgence.
Monday. St. Crysogonus, beyond the Tiber. The same indulgence.
Tuesday. St. Cyriacus, and St. Mary on the Broad Way,
and SS. Quiricus and Julitta, on the Hills. The same indulgence.
Wednesday. St. Marcellus. The same indulgence.
Thursday. St. Apollinaris. The same indulgence.
Friday. St. Stephen, on the Celian, called the Round Church of
Stephen. The same indulgence.
Saturday. St. Johns before the Latin Gate, and St. Caesareus. The same
indulgence.
Palm Sunday. St. John Lateran. Indulgence of twenty-five years and
twenty-five quarantines.
Monday in Holy Week. St. Praxede. Indulgence of ten
years and ten quarantines.
Tuesday in Holy Week. St. Prisca, and St. Mary at the Gate of the People.
The same indulgence.
Wednesday in Holy Week. St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Thursday in Holy Week. St. .John Lateran. Plenary indulgence,
after Confession and Communion.
Good Friday. Holy Cross at Jerusalem. Indulgence of thirty years
and thirty quarantines.
Holy Saturday. St. John Lateran. The same indulgence.
Easter Day. St. Mary Major. Plenary indulgence; after Confession and
Communion.
Easter Monday. St. Peter, on the Vatican, and St. Onuphrius.
Indulgence of thirty years and thirty quarantines.
Easter Tuesday. St. Paul, outside the Walls, The same indulgence.
Wednesday in Easter Week. St. Laurence, outside the the Walls. The same indulgence.
Thursday in Easter Week. The Twelve Holy Apostles. The same
indulgence.
Friday in Easter Week. St. Mary of the Martyrs, called La Rotunda (The Round
Church). The same indulgence.
Saturday in Easter Week. St. John Lateran. The same
indulgence.
Low Sunday. St. Pancratius and St. Mary della Scala. The same
indulgence.
April 25. Feast of St. Mark the Evangelist. St.
Peter, on the Vatican. The same indulgence.
Rogation Monday. St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Rogation Tuesday. St. John Lateran. The same indulgence.
Rogation Wednesday. St. Peter, on the Vatican. The same
indulgence.
Ascension Day. St. Peter, on the Vatican. Plenary indulgence; after
Confession and Communion.
Saturday, Vigil of Pentecost. St. John Lateran. Indulgence of ten years and
ten quarantines.
Whit-Sunday. St. Peter, on the Vatican. Indulgence of thirty years and
thirty quarantines.
Whit-Monday. St. Peter's Chains. The same
indulgence.
Whit-Tuesday. St. Anastasia, The same indulgence.
Wednesday in Whitsun-Week (Ember Day).
St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Thursday in Whitsun-Week. St. Laurence,
outside the Walls. The same indulgence.
Friday in Whitsun-Week (Ember Day). The Twelve
Holy Apostles. The same indulgence.
Saturday in Whitsun-Week (Ember Day). Eve of the Feast of the Most Holy
Trinity. St. Peter, on the Vatican.
The same indulgence.
Wednesday in September (Ember day). St. Mary Major. Indulgence
of ten years and ten quarantines.
Friday in September (Ember day). The Twelve Holy Apostle’s, The same
indulgence.
Saturday in September (Ember day). St. Peter, on the Vatican. The same indulgence..
First Sunday in Advent. St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Second Sunday in Advent. Holy Cross in Jerusalem. The same
indulgence.
Third Sunday in Advent. St. Peter, on the Vatican. Indulgence
of fifteen years and fifteen quarantines.
Wednesday in December (Ember day). St. Mary Major.
Indulgence of ten years and ten quarantines.
Friday in December (Ember day). The Twelve Holy
Apostles. The same indulgence.
Saturday in December (Ember day). St. Peter, on the Vatican
The same indulgence.
Fourth Sunday in Advent. The Twelve Holy Apostles. The same
indulgence.
Dec. 24. Christmas Eve. St. Mary Major. Indulgence
of fifteen years and fifteen quarantines.
Dec. 25. Christmas Day. First Mass. Altar of the
Holy Crib, in St. Mary Major. The same indulgence.
Second Mass. St. Anastasia. The same indulgence.
Third Mass and the rest of the day . St. Peter, on the
Vatican, and St. Mary Major. Plenary indulgence, after Confession and Communion.
Dec. 26. St. Stephen the First Martyr. St. Stephen on the Celian Hill, commonly called the Round Church of St. Stephen. Indulgence of thirty
years and thirty quarantines.
Dec. 27. St. John the Apostle and Evangelist. St. Mary Major. The
same indulgence..
Dec. 28. The Holy Innocents. St. Paul, outside the Walls. The
same indulgence.
The custom of visiting the Seven principal churches in Rome is of most
ancient institution:- They are as follows: St. Peter, on the Vatican; St.
Paul, and St. Sebastian, outside the Walls; St. John Lateran; the Holy Cross
in Jerusalem; St. Laurence, outside the Walls; and St. Mary Major. This
devotion was introduced by the piety of our ancestors; and it has the authoritative approval of the
Sovereign Pontiffs, as Sixtus V.
observes in his Bull Egregia Populi Romani Pietas, Feb. 13, 1586,
in which he speaks of the visit to the seven churches. It was almost the daily
devotion of St. Joseph Calasactius, it was frequently practised by St.
Philip Neri as well as by other Saints, and it is now in continual use with
persons of every rank, not only those who dwell in Rome, but with strangers
also, who come to Rome in order to venerate in these churches the relics
deposited there, especially those of the holy apostles and martyrs.
Whoever, having Confessed and Communicated, shall visit these seven
churches after this pious custom, and pray there according to the intention of
the Sovereign Pontiff, may gain the many indulgences, with which these
churches have been enriched for every day in the year.
See Several Bulls and Pontifical Briefs, the originals of which are to be
found in the archives of these churches.
Most ancient also is the custom of visiting the seven privileged altars
in these churches, but especially in St. Peter, on the Vatican; a record of this custom being found in the archives of this church as far back as the
times of Pope Innocent II., who flourished in 1130. These seven altars in St. Peter’s are
-
1. The Altar of Our Lady, commonly called the "Gregoriana;"
2. Of SS. Processus and Martinianus;
3. Of St. Michael the Archangel;
4. Of St. Petronilla, Virgin;
5. Of Our Lady, commonly called "of the Pillar;"
6, Of the Holy Apostles St. Simon and St. Jude; and
7. Of St. Gregory the Great.
Any of the faithful who shall visit devoutly these seven altars with due
dispositions, and (if intending to gain the plenary indulgence) having
Confessed and Communicated, may obtain many indulgences granted by various
Sovereign Pontiffs, and confirmed by St. Pius V., by Sixtus V., Paul V., Clement VIII,,
and Urban VIII. This last Pope issued many Bulls in favour of the churches outside the walls, in
which he grants to the seven altars of these churches the same Indulgences as are
granted to the
seven altars in St. Peter, on the Vatican.
The little church of Our Lady of the Angels, near Assisi,
commonly
called Della Porziuncula, from a villa near it, was given to St.
Francis by the Benedictine monks. It was in this holy chapel, or rather little
church, as it them was, that
the seraphic father so urgently besought our Lord Jesus Christ that all the
faithful who should visit it after Confession and Communion might obtain a
Plenary Indulgence.
His prayers, made in union with the prayers of our Blessed Lady, were
answered; and the Indulgence he had asked was granted by our Divine Lord, who
ordered it to be confirmed by His Vicar Honorius III., at that time Sovereign
Pontiff, who, having ascertained that such was the Divine pleasure, did, in the
year 1223, confirm for ever this Plenary indulgence for the 2d of August,
beginning with the First Vespers, the anniversary of the dedication of this church, which was afterwards
magnificently enlarged and decorated
with the title
of Basilica. (1)
This Indulgence, commonly called the Indulgence of the Sacred Pardon, or of the Sacro
Perdono, was afterwards extended by many Popes to all the churches of the three orders instituted by St. Francis,
more particularly by Gregory XV, in a Bull, Splendor Paternae Gloriae,
July 4, 1622, who prescribed Communion as well
as Confession as a good work to be done for gaining this Indulgence.
The Venerable Innocent XI., by a brief of Jan. 22, 1689, confirming this Bull of Gregory XV., declared that this
Indulgence might also be applied in suffrage for the holy souls in purgatory.
(2)
The peculiarity of this Indulgence is, that it may be gained toties quoties,
that is, as many times as it is visited, though on the same day; and this pious
custom of visiting again and again many times the same
chapel or church of the Porziuncula, or any other of the churches
of the order of St. Francis, in order to gain this Indulgence in suffrage for
the departed on each of these visits, has never been prohibited; (3) this has been twice decided by
the S. Congr. of the Council - on July
17, 1700, and on Dec, 4, 1723;. (4) Nay more, when in the S. Congr. of
Indulgences, held Feb. 22, 1847, the question was proposed, "Whether in visiting on the 2d of August churches of the order of St. Francis, the
Plenary indulgence could be gained every time the visit was repeated;” the S.
Congr. decided in the affirmative, and at the same time declared that the Holy
Communion, requisite for the indulgence, need not be made in the Franciscan
church. These declarations were all confirmed by the Sovereign Pontiff Pius IX.,
in a decree of the said S. Congr., July 12, 1847.
NOTES.
(1) Lections of the 2d Noct. for Aug. 2, in the Breviary and Martyrology of
the Franciscan Order.
(2) See Lambertini (afterwards Benedict XIV.) as promoter of the faith, in the petitions concerning this
Indulgence addressed to a special Congregation deputed for this purpose my Pope
Clement XI., in the year 1700, § ii. no. 26.
(3) See the same author, in his Report to the S. Congr. of the Council,
of which he was at that the secretary, in the year 1723, on the ancient custom toties
quoties of the said Indulgence.
(4) Thesaurus of the Resolutions of the S. Congr. of the Council, vol.
ii. Dec. 4, 1723, p. 398.