Answers to the StationChurch Trivia

1. The four Major basilicas of Rome are: 1) St. John Lateran or San Giovanni in Laterano; 2) St. Peter’s Basilica or San Pietro; 3) St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls or San Paolo Fuori le Mura; and 4) St. Mary Major or Santa Maria Maggiore.

The three Minor basilicas are: 1) St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls or San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura; 2) Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem or Santa Croce in Gerusalemme; and 3) St. Sebastian (ad catacumbas) or San Sebastiana (alle catacombe).

Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) granted a plenary indulgence to be joined between First Vespers and sunset of the following day to anyone who visited these basilicas, provided the other usual conditions have been satisfied (i.e., confession, reception of Holy Communion, and prayers for the intentions of the Pope).

2. The Seven Hills of Imperial Rome are: 1) the Viminal; 2) the Esquiline; 3) the Capitoline; 4) the Coelian (or Celian); 5) the Palatine; 6) the Aventine; and 7) the Quirinal.

3. The pallia are made by the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere from the wool shorn from the lambs blessed on the Feast of Saint Agnes at the Basilica of Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura on the Via Nomentana each year on January 21. The pallia are presented to the newly created metropolitan archbishops by the Pope (customarily on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul, June 29), and the remaining wool is retained in a gilded box in the niche of the confessio below the high altar at Saint Peter’s Basilica.

4. Traditionally, the stations of Santa Sabina and San Lorenzo in Damaso.

5. St. John Lateran: The Patriarchal Lateran Archbasilica, formerly the Basilica of the Holy Savior and the traditional residence of the Patriarch of the West, the Cathedral of Rome, representing the See of Rome.

St. Peter’s: The Patriarchal Vatican Basilica, representing the See of Constantinople.

St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls: The Patriarchal Ostian Basilica, traditionally the church of the Patriarch of Alexandria, representing the See of Alexandria.

St. Mary Major: The Patriarchal Liberian Basilica, traditionally the church of the Patriarch of Antioch, representing the See of Antioch.

Note: The Latin Rite Patriarchate of Jerusalem was recognized when the Major basilicas had already been assigned titulars. The question of Jerusalem’s right to the title of "Patriarchate" came up at the Council of Chalcedon (451). The Pope assigned Saint Lawrence Outside-the-Walls, which thus became patriarchal without becoming Major.

Holy Cross-in-Jerusalem: The Sessorian Basilica (or in 433 the Helenian Basilica).

6. San Lorenzo Fuori le Mura; San Lorenzo in Lucina; San Lorenzo in Damaso; and San Lorenzo in Panisperna.

7. St. John Lateran; St. Peter’s; St. Paul’s Outside-the-Walls; St. Mary Major; and St. Lawrence Outside-the-Walls. The only patriarchal archbasilica is St. John Lateran.

8. Saint Philip Neri (1515-1595) used to lead excursions to the four Major and three Minor basilicas of Rome, often with music and a picnic along the way as a cheerful means of instructing his penitents. In 1559, his famous "Pilgrimage to the Seven Churches" brought censure from Pope Paul IV (1555-1559) and a temporary suspension of all St. Philip’s works. In the same year, however, Pope Pius IV (1559-1565) restored him to favor. Today, friends of San Felipo gather to make the Seven-Church Walk in honor of the "Apostle of Rome" (customarily on Wednesday of Holy Week, "Spy Wednesday".)

9. For crimes against the State, political prisoners were often executed "outside the walls" of Imperial Rome (or secretly), especially if they were prominent citizens. Peter and Paul were formidable religious leaders whose public death (say, in the Circus Maximus) might have instigated immediate Christian uprising.

10. A) Circus Nero; B) the Vaticanum was a hill outside Rome near the Circus Nero and a Roman necropolis; C) 63 or 67 A.D.

11. The Patriarchal Lateran Archbasilica, the Cathedral of Rome.

12. His Holiness, the Pope, is also named the "Bishop of Rome, Vicar of Jesus Christ, Successor of the Chief of the Apostles, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Church, Patriarch of the West, Primate of Italy, Archbishop & Metropolitan of the Roman Province, Sovereign of the State of Vatican City, Servant of the Servants of God".

13. Palazzo Massimo (Corso Vittorio Emmanuele, 141).

14. Pope Saint Pius V (1566-1572) was a Dominican and one of two Dominican popes (the other being Benedict XIII, 1724-1730) who chose to wear his religious garb as an outward sign of his monastic austerity. From that time onward, the custom seems to have been retained – with some obvious alterations!

15. Twenty-eight (28) cameo portraits remain empty at this time. According to the local Roman "tradition", the last portrait to be completed marks the last pontificate before the apocalypse. Festina lente!

16. Saint Peter (two keys); Saint Paul (a sword); Saint Lawrence (a grilliron); a martyr in general (a palm branch).

17. New York – Ss. John and Paul; Boston – S. Susanna

18. Solemnities of Saint Joseph (March 19) and the Annunciation (March 25). Note: The Gloria is also said on the Feast of the Chair of Peter (February 22).

19. A) Benedictines; B) Cistercians; C) Trinitarians; D) Lateran Canons; E) Dominicans; F) Franciscans Conventual Minor; G) Servants of Mary; H) Crosiers; I) Irish Dominicans; J) Augustinians; K) Passionists; L) Paulists; M) Atonement Friars; N) Third Order Regular Franciscans; O) Rosminians.

20. The total number is 40.

21. Santa Maria ad Martyres (i.e., the Pantheon).

22. San Pancrazio (on the Janiculum)

23. Nero ordered the beheading of Saint Paul on the Ostian Way near Tre Fontane sometime between 64 and 67 AD.

24. Since he is said to have been martyred on a grilliron, Saint Lawrence is often regarded as the patron of cooks. For this reason, the station church San Lorenzo in Lucina has been quaintly referred to as " San Lorenzo in Cucina"!

25. Musicians (S. Cecilia in Trastevere); Physicans & Surgeons (Ss. Cosma e Damiano); Fishermen ( S. Pietro in Vaticano); Deacons ( San Lorenzo [take your pick]); Prisoners (S. Nicola in Carcere).

26. Matilda of Tuscany; Charlotte, Queen of Cyprus; Queen Christina of Sweden; Clementina Sobieski, "Queen" of England, Ireland, and France; and Agnes Colonna, wife of Onarato Caetani (hero of Lepanto and Governor of Rome).

27. The original property where the Archbasilica and Palace now stand was owned by the Roman, Platius Lateranus. Hence, the name "Lateran".

28. Pontificum Collegium Civitatum Foederatarum Americae Septemtrionalis.

29. A) Della Rovere; B) Barberini; C) Colonna; D) Farnese; E) Borgia; F) Aldobrandini; G) Pamphili; H) Boncompagni; I) Borghese; J) Pacelli; K) Medici