Monday, December 21, 2009

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 21

Gates, lift high your heads,
raise high the ancient gateways,
and the king of glory shall enter.
Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Porta San Giovanni

The Porta San Giovanni is a gate in the Aurelian Wall named after the nearby Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano. It is made up of a single grand arch built in 1574 by Giacomo della Porta for Pope Gregory XIII. The story is told that della Porta died at this gate in 1602 when he was coming back from Frascati in a coach with his patron, Cardinal Aldobrandini. His death was a result of violent indigestion brought on by melons and watermelons he ate while in the Casteli Romani.

Introit: Advent Four

Father, all-powerful God,
your eternal Word took flesh on our earth
when the Virgin Mary placed her life
at the service of your plan.
Lift our minds in watchful hope
to hear the voice which announces his glory
and open our minds to receive the Spirit
who prepares us for his coming.
We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen

From the Companion Missal

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