San Giovanni dei Fiorentini to be English centre for Pilgrims

(Vatican Radio) A number of churches throughout Rome have been designated as Pilgrimage centres for the Jubilee year of Mercy. These centres are assigned to assist pilgrims from particular language groups throughout their time in Rome.

The Church of San Giovanni dei Fiorentini has been designated as the English Language pilgrims centre. Visitors and pilgrims will find a variety of activities and liturgies available to them in English. The pilgrims will also be assisted by three Seminarians from the Venerable English College, who will be undertaking this work as part of their training for the Priesthood.

 

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“The church must already be in hundreds of thousands of tourist photos, as a distinctive, large church on the end of the Via Giulia, so it’s wonderful to have this role within the year of mercy as well,” says Michael Vian Clark of the Diocese of Plymouth. He went on to explain how the church has been a feature on the pilgrim route to Saint Peters Basilica for many centuries and spoke of one particular tradition associated with these pilgrimages.

“When the Chapel of Saint Mary Magdalene was demolished, the relic of Mary Magdalene was transferred here, so it’s wonderful to be able to promote that tradition of pilgrims going to see Mary Magdalene, the first to witness the resurrection of Jesus, before going on to St Peters. It’s great to be able to reflect on Mary Magdalene’s witness of the Lord’s mercy as we ourselves contemplate his merciful face.”

The Church also contains one of the very first images of the Divine Mercy. “Every Friday at 5:30 a mixture of local  people and pilgrims gather to pray in front of the image and we’re hoping for an expanded programme of events like this, with a particular emphasis on the English language,” says Francis Murphy of the Archdiocese of Southwark. “I think this is particularly important, because the Holy Father has asked us to think of mercy as the word which reveals the very mystery of the Trinity.” 

There is a connection between the Church of  San Giovanni and the Venerable English College, going back for many centuries. “Saint Phillip Neri, who founded the community of the Oratorians was Parish Priest at San Giovanni,” Explains David Irwin from the Diocese of Shrewsbury. “It’s well known that when he saw the first students of the English college he would greet them with the phrase ‘Salvete Flores Martyrem! Hail Flowers of the Martyrs! And many of the students went to him for a blessing before beginning their journey back to England’”

All three men see their work at the Church as being important, not only of their training for the Priesthood, but also for those arriving for the Year of Mercy.

“Pope Francis has told us to go out and get the ‘smell of the sheep’” says David Irwin, “and here in Rome there are so many who seem like lost sheep, visiting these beautiful churches and looking around. It’s a wonderful opportunity to be inspired by our Lord’s presence and hopefully come back to the Sacrament of Confession as well.”

“I’m reminded of the Psalm ‘Seek the Lord’s face.’” Continues Michael Vian Clark, “It’s particularly fitting that Eucharistic adoration is also going to be a big part of our work in the Church, helping people to come into the presence of God and to really contemplate his mercy.”

 “We also hope to continue our own college’s tradition of hospitality,” explains Francis Murphy, “being a friendly face for the many pilgrims visiting the Church and helping them to travel on this path which the Holy Father has set out for us.” 

Thousands of pilgrims are expected to visit Rome for the Jubilee year. Michael Vian Clark quips “Of course, Dante was a pilgrim on the first Jubilee year in the year 1300 and noted that the traffic across the bridges was so hellish that he was convinced it would be repeated in the circles of Hell! But we’re confident the situation is much better for pilgrims now!”

(John Waters)