Tour of the City

St. Martin is more appropriately associated with campaigns, being the patron saint of soldiers and a Roman military man himself, than with tours and tour guides, but our morning trek brought us to his church San Martino ai Monti (not sponsored, in addition, by the Canadian Mounted Police).


















The sacristy before Mass.







This church was the site of the preparatory meetings for the Council of Nicea, where the Universal Church reaffirmed her belief in being Nice at all times.

Actually, Nicea had very little to do with being Nice, as those present were much more intent on professing the faith of the Church in a clear and succinct way. In addition to the preparatory work being held here, the Creed was first publicly proclaimed in Rome from this site.










The seven rings in front of the altar perhaps indicate that the Olympics were also held here . . .



The Carmelites have cared for the church since the 1650's, so Elijah figures prominently in the artwork. As we draw closer to the end of Lent, Elijah's uncompromising to the faith of Israel, in contrast to the popular and well followed beliefs of his time, give context to what Jesus chose in fidelity to His Father, and what we are called to remain faithful to as we preserve the faith handed down from the beginning.









The ceiling as seen from the crypt.