Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 7

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Garden Gate on Via di Porta San Sebastiano

The Via Porta San Sebastiano is a quiet tree-shaded road, leading from the Baths of Caracalla to the "Appian Gate." The road itself was originally part of the Via Appia Antica and outside of the earliest Roman walls. In the 3rd century, the Aurelian Walls were built which incorporated this area into the city.

Porta San Sebastiano, also known as the Porta Appia

Collect for the 2nd Sunday of Advent

Stir up our hearts, O Lord,
to prepare the paths of thine Only-begotten Son:
that we may worthily serve thee
with hearts purified by His coming:
Who livest and reignest with God the Father
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
ever one God, world without end. Amen.

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 6

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Porta Ardeatina

The Porta Ardeatina is one of the gates in the Aurelian Walls of Rome. It is between the Porta San Sebastiano (known originally as the Porta Appia) and the Porta San Paolo. By the 8th century this gate was closed. Today it is little more than a "window," with the portals of the Via Cristoforo Colombo nearby.

You can see the opening of the Porta Adreatina to the left of the four arches in the ancient wall that were opened for the traffic of the Via Cristoforo Colombo, a highway built by Mussolini from the Circus Maximus to the sea.

Anglican Collect for The Second Sunday of Advent

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to
preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation:
Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins,
that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our
Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen..
1979 Book of Common Prayer

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 5

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Porta del Popolo

The Porta del Popolo has been the main entrance to Rome for centuries. It is also called Porta Flaminia because it is the beginning of the ancient Via Flaminia that goes to the north. The outer part of this monumental gate was erected by Vignola in 1561. It is said that he worked on an original design by Michelangelo. This picture is of the inner gate which was designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1655 to celebrate the arrival of Queen Christina of Sweden.

Advent Prayer

God our Father,
you loved the world so much
you gave your only Son to free us
from the ancient power of sin and death.
Help us who wait for his coming
and lead us to true liberty.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen


Liturgy of the Hours, Saturdays in Advent

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 4

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Entrance Gate to Bioparco

The Bioparco, Rome's zoo in the Villa Borghese, is one of the oldest zoos in Europe, founded in 1911

Advent Prayer for Hope in Christ's Coming

All-powerful God,
help us to look forward in hope
to the coming of our Savior.
May we live as he taught,
ready to welcome him with burning love and faith.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen

Liturgy of the Hours, Fridays in Advent

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 3

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 Sant' Anna, Saint Ann's Gate

This is the main working entrance to Vatican City, watched over by the Swiss Guards. Thinking of it as the "working entrance" I am reminded about a quip attributed to Pope John XXIII. When asked how many people worked in the Vatican, he is supposed to have said, "Oh, about half of them."

Advent Evening Hymn

Come, Sun and Savior, to embrace Our gloomy world,
its weary race,
As groom to bride, as bride to groom:
The wedding chamber, Mary's womb.

At your great Name, O Jesus, now
All knees must bend, all hearts must bow;
All things on earth with one accord,
Like those in heaven, shall call you Lord.

Come in your holy might, we pray,
Redeem us for eternal day;
Defend us while we dwell below,
From all assaults of our dread foe.

(8th Century)

Advent Calendar: Roman Gate 2

Gates, lift high your heads,

raise high the ancient gateways,

and the king of glory shall enter.

Psalm 24: 7 (New Jerusalem Bible)

Rear courtyard gate and fountain of the Palazzo delle Rovere. The palazzo was originally built in the 15th century. Since 1943, the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem has had their headquarters in one wing of the palazzo. (These Knights trace their origins to the First Crusade in the 11th century.) Since 1950, the Columbus Hotel has also occupied part of the palazzo.

Introit: Advent One
Father in heaven,
our hearts desire the warmth of your love
and our minds are searching for the light of your Word.
Increase our longing for Christ our Savior
and give us the strength to grow in love,
that the dawn of his coming
may find us rejoicing in his presence
and welcoming the light of his truth.
We ask this in the name of Jesus the Lord.

From the Companion Missal

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.