To the honor of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Mother of God
whose inspiration and protection
lead us ever closer to her divine Son.
With sincere appreciation

To
His Eminence
James Cardinal Hickey
Cardinal Priest of the Title
Sanctae Mariae Matris Redemptoris
Ad Turrim Bellamonicam
Archbishop emeritus of Washington, D.C.
and
Thirteenth Rector
Of the
Pontifical North American College
1969-1974

and

Brother Randal Riede, C.F.X.

For inspiring decades of priests and seminarians
to observe the Church’s ancient tradition of walking
the Lenten Station Churches of Rome

To them the College owes an inestimable debt of gratitude.

Ad Multos Annos!

Acknowledgements:

Originally compiled in 1978
by
Mark J. Simeroth ’78
with gratitude to
Robert Sullivan ’78
Mark Nolting ’78
Steven Otellini ’78

Expanded and reprinted in 1986
by
James D. Watkins, Jr. ’88
with permission of the original authors

Revised in 1994
through the generous assistance of
Steven F. Nash, KHS ’97
Mark D. Knestout ’98
and
The Legionaries of Christ

Revised and reprinted in 2002
by
Carter H. Griffin ’04
Amended in 2003


Published online in the Spring of 2006
by webmasters
Seamus Griesbach and Kevin Regan

The information contained in this text has been reprinted
with the permission of its principal authors or publishers,
with particular acknowledgement of the writing of

Georgia Masson
Mary Sharp
Reverend Joseph N. Tylenda, S.J.

Message that accompanied the text when published for Lent, 1994:

Dear Brothers and Friends of the North American College,

For several years now, the Holy Father has made a custom of visiting parishes of his diocese every Sunday. It is a similar custom which serves as a foundation of the station (or stational) churches of Rome. Early after the legitimation of Christianity (313), it became customary for the Bishop of Rome to visit his parishes on set days each year. Although the practice was discontinued after the return of the Pope from Avignon (1378), the people of Rome have revived the tradition of a pilgrimage to these churches since the nineteenth century, many of which are associated with the earliest Christian community.

Since the latter part of the 1960s, the Pontifical North American College has celebrated early morning Mass at the station churches of Rome during Lent. This observance, moreover, has grown considerably, involving not only the priests of the Casa Santa Maria on the Via dell’Umilta and the seminarians of the College on the Gianicolo, but other priests, women religious, and laity residing in Rome as well. Beginning with the church of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill, we gather each morning at the station of the day for holy Mass promptly at seven o’clock.

The Mass is offered every morning, Monday through Saturday; the College does not observe the station church Mass on Sundays. If you are unable to participate in the early morning liturgy, you may wish to attend the official one at five o’clock in the evening which is conducted by the Collegium Cultorum Martyrum in Latin and Italian.

Participants are invited to make a contribution to help offset the expenses incurred: a donation to the church; a bustarella to the sacristan; and a memento-card to be printed and distributed. Donations may be given to the Station Church coordinator who is, traditionally, a priest of the Casa Santa Maria, assisted by one of the seminarians of the College. Your assistance is greatly appreciated.

The work of several hands, this compilation of notes is intended to assist the many Christians who worship in these places made holy by the blood of the martyrs. The description pages of each church are brief and informative, and floor plans for some churches have been included. Moreover, the appendices provide an assortment of information, trivia, and a set of maps which approximately locate the churches in the City, as well as various Lenten hymns and prayers. Other helpful information is provided for pilgrims and tourists who have come ad tombas martyrum to behold these “treasures among the ruins.”

The daily Sacrifice of Holy Mass at the station churches is a proud tradition of the Pontifical North American College which affords us an opportunity to make a true and unique pilgrimage of faith, uniting our prayers and penitence with the Communion of Saints in preparation for the glories of Easter. All are most welcome to join us during these holy days of Lent.

Reverend James D. Watkins ’88