Lenten Station Church
Thursday of the First Week in Lent
St. Lawrence in Panisperna
(San Lorenzo in Panisperna)

The church of St Lawrence in Panisperna is a Roman Catholic church on Via Panisperna, Rome, Italy. It was previously known as "San Lorenzo in Formoso". It was erected on the site of St Lawrence's martyrdom and is one of several churches in Rome dedicated to him. Tradition states that the first edifice on the site was constructed during the reign of Emperor Constantine I, only 100 years after the martyrdom of St. Lawrence. The first written evidence of an ecclesiastical edifice on the site is from 1300, when Pope Boniface VIII rebuilt the church and annexed an abbey to it. That abbey was given to the Benedictines in 1451 and later hosted the Poor Clares. They were removed in February 1872 as part of the confiscations of the new Italian government but were restored in 1896. The Franciscans presently serve the church. The present church is the result of a rebuilding in1575-6 under Pope Gregory XIII. At this time, it became denominated "in Panisperna", rather than "in Formoso", and its present facade was constructed. A new, outer portico was added in the 17th century, then restored and decorated with images of St Lawrence and St Francis of Assisi in 1893 by Pope Leo XIII. Pope Leo XIII also constructed a steep flight of steps in front of the church that led to a tree-lined courtyard. The church has a single nave with three chapels on each side. St Lawrence in Panisperna Exterior Views St Lawrence in Panisperna Interior Views At the beginning of 258, the emperor Valerian issued an edict that all bishops, priests, and deacons should immediately be put to death. Lawrence worked swiftly to distribute as much Church property to the indigent as possible to prevent it from being seized by the prefect. When ordered by the prefect to deliver the treasures of the Church, he presented the indigent, crippled, blind, and suffering, and declared that these were the true treasures of the Church. One account recorded him declaring to the prefect, "The Church is truly rich, far richer than your emperor." This act of defiance resulted in Lawrence, the last of the seven deacons, and therefore the ranking Church official, to suffer a martyr's death. A late 16th-century fresco of the Martyrdom of St Lawrence serves as the reredos of the high altar and was painted by Pasquale Cati, a pupil of Michelangelo. The crucifix of the high altar is from the 14th century. The outer portico, added in the 17th century, then restored and decorated with images of St Lawrence and St Francis of Assisi. A modern, bronze statue of St. Bridget of Sweden adorns the courtyard of the church. Reference: 'San Lorenzo in Panisperna' on WikiPedia.org 'Saint Lawrence' on WikiPedia.org All Photographs are from Commons.WikiMedia.org Pope Sixtus II Confers Deaconate on St Lawrence 196 (1955) St Lawrence - Valerianus Persecutions of 258AD and 259AD 256 (1959) Art Masterpieces by Beato Angelico - Consecration of St Lawrence 1241 (2003) Jubilee Popes 1300-1525 - Pope Boniface VIII 1065 (1998) Jubilee Popes 1550-1725 - Pope Gregory XIII 1096 (1999) Jubilee Popes 1750-2000 - Pope Leo XIII 1145 (2000) St Bridget 600th Anniversary Canonization - St Briget with Virgin Mary 888 (1991) St Bridget 600th Anniversary Canonization - St Briget with Jesus 889 (1991)