by Mark W. Lacey

Before the sunrise on Ash Wednesday, hundreds of English-speaking pilgrims who live in Rome set out for the Church of Santa Sabina atop the Aventine Hill. The first day of Lent rekindled the ancient tradition known as the Roman Lenten Stations.

Each year the English-speaking community in Rome is invited to participate in a 40-day pilgrimage to various churches in the city of Rome. This tradition draws priests, brothers, sisters, seminarians and lay persons from across the city to participate in daily 7 a.m. Mass as a penitential practice of Lent.

Archbishop Oscar Lipscomb of the Archdiocese of Mobile, Ala., who was visiting Rome during the first week of Lent, led the pilgrims in prayer on Ash Wednesday. In his homily he reminded the participants of the historical significance of this pilgrimage and encouraged the Lenten practice of conversion and prayer.

The students of the Pontifical North American College coordinate this pilgrimage. Four Atlanta seminarians, John Anderson, Greg Benassu, Mark Lacey and Hoa Tran are all participating in the program. They are joined by Father David Talley who is studying canon law in Rome.

In the darkness of the predawn hours the pilgrims set out in the blustery winter weather. As a part of their lenten penance, many of the participants climb the hills of Rome on foot to the site of the daily Mass. Others take public transportation and finish the trip on foot. By 7 a.m. the pilgrims are gathered in prayer much as other pilgrims have in centuries past.

When Mass is finished the pilgrims spend time in personal prayer and seek the intercession of the saints and martyrs to whom the particular church is dedicated. Before rushing off to their daily tasks the pilgrims examine the artistic treasures which are hidden in these often obscure churches.

This Roman tradition dates from the earliest of Christian times when the faithful used to gather at the tombs of martyrs in order to celebrate the Sacred Liturgy. In the pontificate of Saint Gregory the Great (560 AD-604 AD) this practice was formalized and first recorded.

The tradition was respected until the papal residence was moved to Avignon, France, in the early 14th century. Even with the return of the papacy to Rome some 73 years later the tradition seemed to have died.

After the Council of Trent, in the mid 1500s, the tradition was revived. It was not until the present century, however, that the tradition regained popularity.

Today the pilgrimage travels to the seven hills of Rome and stretches to locations beyond the ancient city walls. Highlights of the 40 days include Mass at the four patriarchal basilicas of Rome; St. Peter’s, St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls. Many of the church buildings date from the 4th and 5th centuries and elements of these ancient times remain.

The Lenten tradition draws its name from the Roman military term stadio which indicates the act of stopping and standing guard. In Christian terminology it came to mean a dedication and vigilance to conversion and prayer. In its evolution, the use of the term station has been associated with the Eucharistic assembly.

As in ancient times, the practice is not exclusive to English speakers. Each day of Lent Mass is celebrated at each Station in many different languages. It is thus that the universal nature of the tradition has been maintained.

The pilgrimage acts as a crescendo to Holy Week which reaches its apex with the Holy Father’s celebration of the Easter Vigil at Saint Peter’s Basilica. With the proclamation of the Risen Christ, on Easter Sunday, the pope delivers his Easter message and imparts his apostolic blessing.