from June 6, 2025
In this building you’ll find a couple of chapels and some ancient relics from previous religious leaders. It also houses the “Holy Stairs.”
These Holy Stairs
According to Catholic tradition, these are the marble stairs which Jesus climbed when he went before Pilate in Jerusalem. It seems that when Helena, the mother of Constantine the Great, went to Jerusalem in the 4th century, she discovered these stairs and brought them back to Rome.
Pilgrims are only allowed to scale the stairs on their knees while praying. Once at the top, they can visit the holy place of Saint Sylvester. We took a stairwell flanking this one.
The 9/11 Monument
On September 11, 2009 diplomats in Rome dedicated this monument to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington and Pennsylvania.
The monument consists of two columns from the 7th century, placed side by side to represent the twin towers of New York. They are positioned along a busy thoroughfare so that commuters will see them and remember the past.
The Holy Doors
Rome has four papal cathedrals:
- St. John Lateran
- St. Peter’s Basilica
- St. Paul Outside the Walls
- St. Mary Major
Each basilica has a rather imposing holy door which is only opened by the pope once every 25 years during the year of jubilee. Pilgrims walking through the door during this special year receive blessings from the Lord.
The Holy Door at St. John Lateran
The Holy Door at St Peter’s Basilica
LORD, Thank you for the opportunity to see these special places in Rome and to learn their historical and spiritual significance. Thank you for forgiving me of my sin and for helping me to mature daily in your world.
Amazing!! Ty 😍🐻
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