Tag Archives: Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem

News

ROME: Rector of Basilica of Holy Cross to carpet-ban Masses there during Jubilee Year

1 Comment

Exclusive Report by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem, at Rome, is one of the holiest places of pilgrimage in the Eternal City, because it houses the largest collection of major relics of Christ’s Passion and Death in the world.

These relics include, (1) the largest single piece of the Wood of the Holy Cross upon which Christ was Crucified and which was excavated by St. Helena, mother of the Emperor Constantine; (2) One of the Nails with which Christ was affixed to the Cross; (3) one of the Thorns from the Crown of Thorns, which was placed on His sacred Brow to humiliate and torture Him; (4) The cross-beam of the Cross of the Good Thief; (5) the Titulum, upon which Pontius Pilate wrote the sentence of punishment in 3 languages: Jesus Christ, King of the Judeans.

So naturally speaking, during a Jubilee Year — which begins Dec. 25, 2024, and lasts until January 6, 2026 — the Basilica is the pilgrimage destination for millions of Catholics, both laymen and clergy.

But this Jubilee Year will be different, because NO MASSES will be allowed to be celebrated anywhere in the Basilica by pilgrim priests. Even Bishops with a large number of pilgrims attending them in a single group have to make prior arrangements to have permission. They also have to be a Bishop approved by the Rector of the Basilica.

Moreover, no masses will be allowed at any of the side altars, nor in the Chapel of the Relics.

No masses, in any language, not even Italian or Latin, will be allowed, except the morning and Sunday masses of the local Parish, at which the Rector or his staff preside.

I have all this information from the Parish secretary, who confirmed it for me in person. In fact, when I assumed she was referring to Masses celebrated only at the main altar, I asked about masses at the side altar, and she looked so shocked, as if I had asked permission about Satanic Rituals.

When I asked about the reason for the universal ban on the Mass, in any language or rite, the secretary told me that the vast numbers of pilgrims would make it impossible to allow separate masses and still control the crowds visiting.

I do not know about the crowds. I tend to think the Jubilee year will be a nothing burger, since the parking lots in the tourist areas of the city, which are usually full are presently nearly 50% empty.

The sacristy of the Basilica, presently used as a parish office, featured vinyl banners with reproductions of Renaissance art, full of male nudity of one kind or another, from floor to ceiling on both sides.  So as I wondered at this carpet ban on the Mass, I wondered what the reason was.

Surely, to celebrate the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the vicinity of the very relics of Christ’s Passion is a good thing, no?

FromRome.info has twice featured the Basilica in Videos, here, and here; for those who cannot or won’t come to Rome during the Jubilee.

CREDITS: The featured image is of the front facade of the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce) taken by Br. Bugnolo in October, 2024.

Faith, Videos

A Pilgrim’s Visit to the Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem at Rome

4 Comments

by Br. Alexis Bugnolo

Every Catholic dreams of visiting Rome and making the pilgrimage to the 7 Patriarchal Basilicas, which are the object of the devotion of the faithful seeking the plenary indulgence for pilgrims to Rome. But not all of us have the opportunity or the means. For this reason, FromRome.Info publishes a series of virtual visits, so that Catholics everywhere can know something of these holy places and gather some grace by visiting them in spirit.

See our previous reports:

Today, I made a pilgrimage to the Basilica of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, which contains the most holy relics of the Passion of the Lord. Here in video and image is what you would see, if you came alone with me, this morning at Rome.

Then as you enter, you see this amazing sight:

IMG_20200301_090857

This is the view of the Nave of the Church from the front door. In front, and the end of the Nave is the Apse containing the High Altar and a magnificent Fresco of Christ the Teacher, revealed in the immensity of Heaven.

Everything about this Basilica is amazing. Look at the floor, covered with precious marble tiles in the mosaic style of the High Middle Ages, which imitated that of Constantinople:

IMG_20200301_084520

Then there are some magnificent side altars and devotional images. Here is some of them.  First, Our Lady of Grace:

IMG_20200301_084234

Then, a side altar dedicated to Saint Bruno, showing him miraculously remove a tooth from a Martyr’s skull, so as to obtain a relic for the devotion of the faithful.

IMG_20200301_084222

The acolyte to the right is vested in the style of the 16th century: that object in his hands is a double candle: here in Italy, on occasion they fuse two long candles together, side by side, to prevent each from breaking. Their use is customary in solemn processions. Saint Bruno to the left is weather the habit of the Eremitical Order which he founded: the Carthusians. He is depicted in this side altar, because at one time his Order had the care of the Basilica.

The Next is a side altar of Christ Crucified, with an ancient wooden carving of Our Lord upon His Cross:

IMG_20200301_084812

Here, now, is a short video showing the magnificent Sanctuary of the Basilica. In Italian, they call this the Presbiterio, because it is the place reserved for the clergy. At the center is the High Altar, covered above with an elegant Marble and Wood Canopy supported by four pillars. High above in the Apse, there is a quarter-dome with a splendid fresco in late Renaissance style depicting Saint Helena discovering the Holy Cross, venerating it, and carrying it off to Constantinople accompanied by troops of the Imperial Army of her son Constantine.

If you noticed, beneath the High Altar is a marble reliquary: it contains the relics of Saint Helena, and is based on a design found in the Roman Catacombs, at the altars of the Martyrs. This is the ancient reason why in the Latin Rite, relics of the Saints are placed inside or beneath high altars, so that the prayers of the Mass might be accompanied to Heaven by the prayers of the Saints whose relics are enshrined therein.

Here is a better photograph of the High Altar and Apse:

IMG_20200301_085005

In the next video, which follows, I take you step by step to the Chapel of the Holy Cross, which is located behind the High Altar, but which is approached through a separate hallway, and I show you the wonderful Relics kept there.

The treasure of treasures and the goal of every pilgrim is to kneel before the Relics of our Salvation, and beg the Lord Who hung upon them to redeem us for every grace and blessing:

IMG_20200301_085832

The 4 Major Relics of the Holy Cross are in the 4 arms of the Cross Shaped Reliquary at the center of the above photo. Beneath,  on the left, is a reliquary containing one of the Nails which held Our Lord to His Cross in his 3 Hour long Agony for our salvation. On the right,  next to it, is the reliquary of the Tabella, the piece of wood on which Pontius Pilate had etched in Greek, Latin and Hebrew:  Jesus Christ, King of the Jews!

In the reliquaries above, I am only certain of this, that the one on the right contains 2 thorns of the Crown of Thorns.

+ + +

[simple-payment id=”5295″]