Rome: Minor Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls (Basilica di San Lorenzo fuori le mura)
About Saint Lawrence:
One of the deacons of the early Church, he was ordered by the Emperor Valerian to produce all the wealth he had.
He showed up with men who were poor, crippled, and ill. As he explained, “the true wealth of the Church” were those men.
Incensed by this act of defiance, the emperor sentenced him to die by roasting him on a gridiron. Keeping his sense of humor to his last moment, he famously said, “Turn me over, I’m done on this side!”
St. Lawrence was martyred on August 10, 258 and we celebrate his Feast day each year on August 10.
An interesting note: The Perseid meteor shower occurs every year and peaks around August 10….the date of his martyrdom. It acquired the nickname “The tears of Saint Lawrence” since the burning meteors look like the coals that wold have been used to roast Saint Lawrence.
About the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls:
The Minor Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls is one of Rome’s oldest churches and houses the relics not only of Saint Lawrence but also of Saint Justin and Saint Stephen.
It is one of the seven station churches of Rome. If all are visited by a pilgrim, then you are granted a plenary indulgence.
The origins of this church come from the Emperor Constantine, who built an oratory here in honor of the site where it was assumed that Saint Lawrence was martyred. Later, in the 6th Century, a church was built here. Even later, in the 12th Century, another Church was built.
The Basilica is of the simpler style of the earlier Christian churches, which makes it somewhat unique among Roman Basilicas.
The Basilica was damaged by Allied bombing in 1943 and later rebuilt in 1948. Unfortunately, the frescoes that originally adorned the Basilica were lost.
The tomb of Pope Pius IX in the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls:
At the very back end of the church is the tomb of Pope Pius IX. Pius IX was the longest-reigning Pope in history, having been Pope for over 32 years, from 1846 until his death on February 7, 1878.
He was notable for convoking the First Vatican Council.
About the First Euceminical Council (Vatican I):
Convened in 1868, The First Ecumenical Council of the Vatican (commonly known as the First Vatican Council or Vatican I) was the 20th ecumenical council of the Catholic Church. The council’s main purpose was to clarify Catholic doctrine in response to the rising influence of the modern philosophical trends of the 19th century. In the Dogmatic Constitution on the Catholic Faith (Dei Filius), the council condemned what it considered the errors of rationalism, anarchism, communism, socialism, liberalism, materialism, modernism, naturalism, pantheism, and secularism.
Its best-known decision is its definition of papal infallibility.
Subsequently the Vatican lost permanent control of the Papal States in 1870 to the Kingdom of Italy.
Pope Pius IX was beatified in 2000 by Pope John Paul II. Although not a feast day or memorial, we celebrate the date of his death on February 7.
Finding the Basilica of Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls:
The name “outside the walls” is a bit misleading……it is outside of the original city walls, but not very far from the city center. It is about one mile from Vatican City and only about 1/4 mile from the Trevi Fountain, so you can definitely include it in any walking tour of the city.
Address: Piazzale del Verano 3, 00185 Rome, Italy
Tel: +39 06 446 6184
Note: There is also a Basilica of Saint Lawrence in the the city of Milan, and a Basilica of Saint Lawrence in the United States in Asheville, North Carolina.
Click here for the Basilica of Saint Lawrence in Asheville, North Carolina.
⇐ Back to Catholic shrines and places of interest in Rome