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

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 16

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Porta Latina

The Porta Latina is the best preserved gate of the 3rd Century Aurelian Walls. The Via Latina was the ancient Roman road that started from this gate and went to central and southern Italy.

People of hope

In this season of Advent, inspire us to be a people of hope.

Encourage us not to be greedy for material possessions, but for justice and truth.

Enflame us with a love for others, which crosses boundaries of race, religion and nationality.

Stir within us a desire to fight for the integrity of creation and appreciate the immense beauty of the earth.

Be with us, Lord, at this time, that we may be a people of hope. Amen.

© Susy Brouard/CAFOD

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 1

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

The Porta San Paolo is one of the southern gates in the 3rd-century Aurelian Walls of Rome. The original name of the gate was the Latin name Porta Ostiensis because it was located at the beginning of Via Ostiense, the road that connected Rome with Ostia and the sea. Later it was renamed to the Italian Porta San Paolo because it was the gate that led out to the Basilica of San Paolo, "outside the walls."

Catholic Collect for the 1st Sunday in Advent

Stir up thy power, O Lord, and come,
that by thy protection we may be rescued
from the dangers that beset us through our sins;
and be a Redeemer to deliver us;
Who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end.