Chandlery, Peter Joseph; Gerard, John: Pilgrim-walks in Rome: a guide to the holy places in the city and its vicinity (New York: Fordham University Press, 1908)

CHAPTER XX.

The Lenten Stations—Visit to the Seven
Churches.
377.—THE LENTEN STATIONS.
The Stations, as observed in the earliest times, seem to have
been visits of the clergy and faithful to the tombs of the
martyrs, there to watch and pray in preparation for the conflict
with the enemies of the Church. They are said to date from
the fourth century. St. Gregory the Great, in 590, arranged the
ceremonial of the stational processions, appointed the churches
to be visited and the prayers to be recited ; the churches he-
then assigned are nearly the same as at the present day.
The devotion of the Lenten Stations, as practised since
St. Gregory’s time, is intended to honour the tombs and the
relics of the martyrs, and to obtain through the intercession of
these glorious witnesses of the Faith, the help the Church needs
for the spread of religion, the repression of heresies, the secur-
ing of peace in Christian countries.

List of the Stations.

Ash Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday
First Sunday in Lent
Monday .
Tuesday .
Wednesday
Thursday
Friday
Saturday

S. Sabina.1
S. Giorgio in Velabro.
SS. Giovanni e Paolo.
S. Agostino.
S. Giovanni in Laterano.
S. Pietro in Vincoli.
S. Anastasia.
S. Maria Maggiore.
S. Lorenzo in Panisperna.
SS. Apostoli.
S. Pietro.

1 The page of each church will be readily found by referring to the
Index.