News from San Antonio Church – April 5, 2020

Contributed by Terrie Evans

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Contributed by Terrie Evans

We send our condolences to Rosemary Moore and her family members on the passing of their patriarch, Don Moore on Wednesday, March 18, 2020 at the age of 88.  Don was a member of San Antonio Church for many decades and a generous supporter for all our many events throughout the years. In the early years of our Church, Don was an Altar Server who came from an original Little Italy and San Antonio family.  He proudly served in the Korean War (1950-1953) in the Marines in the Communications Field.  Don was an Officer with the Men’s Society and one of the 4 Committee Members for the celebration of the Golden Jubilee   held on October 8, 1972 at the hall of Mirrors Netherland-Hilton.  He also worked the fish fry’s, Monte Carlo Nights, Mother’s Day Banquets, Spaghetti Dinners and the Tuesday Lunch on the House.  Everyone at San Antonio has missed seeing Rosemary and Don at our Sunday Mass and we send our prayers to their children Barb, Donnie, Carol, Paul and Gary, their spouses, Don’s 10 Grandchildren and 2 great Grandchildren.  Don also leaves his sister, Rosemary and brother, Frank. 

On this Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, the Station Church in Rome will be St. John Lateran (Part 2).  Built by Emperor Constantine the 1500-year-old Church was dedicated in 320.  Before this magnificent church was erected, Christians met in 25 ordinary homes or small buildings throughout Rome for worship.  St. John Lateran holds 10,000 with the inscription above the entrance inviting all to “The Mother of Churches”.  During Holy Week, the Minor Basilica Santa Prassede is the Station Church for Holy Monday.  It was completed in 822 and is located near the Papal Basilica of St. Mary Major.  The Basilica provided the inspiration for Robert Browning’s 1845 poem, “The Bishop Orders His Tomb at Saint Praxeds Church”. 

On Holy Tuesday, the Station Church named by Pope Francis is Santa Prisca. A titular church for Cardinal Priests.  It is named for the 1st Century Martyr whose relics are contained in a crypt there.  On Wednesday within the Octave of Easter, the Station Church is Saint Mary Major Part (2).  For 16 Centuries this Basilica while keeping the original structure, is the Marian Shrine that has welcomed pilgrims from all over the world.  Every August 5th, the celebration of the “Miracle of the Snows” takes place with white petals cascading from above.  On Thursday withing the Octave of Easter, Saint John Lateran (Part 3) the Cathedral of the Diocesan of Rome is the Station Church.  In this area of the Cathedral are the niches where the sculptures of the 12 Apostles completed between 1705-1718 are located.  Near St. John Lateran are the Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta) the 28 marble stairs that are believed to be the stairs that Jesus ascended for His interrogation.  They were brought from Pilates praetorium in Jerusalem to Rome around 326 A.D. by Empress St. Helena, mother of Roman Emperor Constantine I. 

On Good Friday, within the Octave of Easter, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Part 2) or the Basilica di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, is the Station Church on the Day commemorating the passion and death of Christ for the salvation of the world.  One of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome, this Basilica was consecrated in 325 to house the relics of the Passion of Jesus Christ brought from the Holy Land to Rome by St. Helena.  During that time in the Basilica’s history, the floor was covered with soil from Jerusalem as a reference that a “piece” of Jerusalem was moved to Rome for its foundation.  The altar displays a huge statue of St. Helena and in 1601, artist Peter Paul Rubens completed St. Helena with the True Cross and the Mocking of Christ for the Chapel of St. Helena.  There are frescoes telling the Legend of the True Cross and the Basilica contains several famous relics such as two thorns of the Crown of Thorns, part of a nail, the index finger of St. Thomas and three small wooden pieces of the True Cross.  On Good Friday, many will climb the steps at Holy Cross Immaculata in Mt. Adams as a yearly tradition.  People have prayed the 85 steps with their family and friends for many years.

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