Santa Prassede

One of my favorite churches, Santa Prassede was the site for today’s Station Mass.  In addition to having beautiful 9th century mosaics, it gives a glimpse into the history of the martyrs’ relics.

  

First century Praxedes lived here as with her sister Pudentiana and father Pudens she helped hide Christians from Roman persecution.  When 23 of them were discovered in her home, they were cut down before her eyes.  Taking a sponge, she collected their blood and preserved it in a container hidden in the courtyard well.  When she herself was martyred, she was buried in the same spot.

Centuries later, after the emperor got the idea of pitching the martyrs’ relics into the sea, Pope Saint Paschal I began collecting relics from the catacombs and bringing them here, carrying some of them barefoot from outside the city.  Over 2,300 martyrs are now buried here today.

Paschal, who also rebuilt the church, added a small chapel on the side as a tomb for his mother Theodorica.  From the same period as the mosaic over the apse, it is full of the rich gold of the Byzantine style.

Adjacent to the tomb is a small chapel with a portion of the pillar brought back from Jerusalem at which Jesus was scourged.