The Statue was cared by Sir Jacob-Epstein during 1934-5 from a block of Subiaco marble. It was given to Coventry Cathedral at the wish of Lady Epstein and dedicated on 22 March 1969.

ECCE HOMO represents Christ before Pilate with his hands bound and a crown of thorns upon his head. *

*quoted from a plaque beneath the statue

This 2009 interpretation of The Last Supper is by contemporary artist Lorna May Wadsworth. Featuring the Jamacan-born model Tafari Hinds as Christ.

It hit the headlines in the summer of 2020 when the artist heard it had been shot while in situ behind the altar of a church in Gloucestershire. The damage occurred on Christ’s right side, the same place a Roman soldier pierced the body of Jesus with his spear as he hung from the cross. (Gospel of St John 19.34)

For many centuries, the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major was called Saint Mary of the Manger or The Bethlehem of the West, owing to preservation in the Basilica, sine the 7th Century, of the precious relic of the Manger of the Child Jesus (today at the relquary crypt below the Main Altar. Originally, it was venerated at the Oratory of the Manger, built during the Pntificate of Theodore I (642 – 649). Arnolfo di Cambio, a key figure of mediaeval art in Italy, sculptured in 1291 for the ancient Oratory the first marble Nativity scen in the history of art. With that masterwork, his employer, the Franciscan Pope Nicholas IV (1288 – 1292), renewed the connection to the founder of his order, Saint Francis of Assisi, who established at Greccion the spiritual tradition of Nativity scenes.

The group consists of five Carrara marble statues: Saint Joseph, the heads of the ox and the donkey, one kneeling Magi and two stanidng Magi, carved from a single block. The sculpture of the seated Mary with Child is probably a version of the late 16th century that replaced a lost original one by Arnolfo.

The Nativity scene serves as an invitation to the faithful and visitors alike to rest, to pary and to meditate on the mystery of Life and Christ present. The Holy Father Francis advises: “As we contemplate the Christmas story, we are invited to set out on a spiritual journey, drawn by the humility of the God who became man in order to encounter every man and woman.“*

* Quoted from an information board next to the Nativity scene

Eduardo Galeano

We chose to have breakfast in the fresh air looking towards St Peter’s Basilica in the distance. Our food attracted a lone wasp so we distracted it by leaving a few scraps of food on a separate plate which kept it entertained and away from my food.

Today was Mr C’s significant birthday and he chose to visit the Papal Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Before entering the Basilica, we enjoyed a refreshing drink overlooking the Basilica and the column of peace in the Basilica’s piazza.

The Basilica was peaceful with services regularly taking place in its various side chapels. I especially enjoyed the peace and tranquillity in the Pauline Chapel. I later found out from the guide book that Pope Francis places his apostolic journeys under the protection of an icon entitled ‘Salus Populi Romani’. He visits the icon before and after embarking on each of these journeys.

Within the church a special altar has been installed to house, amongst other things, five sticks of sycamore that were part of the manger that the infant Jesus was said to have been placed into. The wood has been scientifically dated to the time of Jesus’ birth.

We also visited the museum beneath the church and regretted not going on the tour of the archaeological area beneath the Basilica.

We had lunch facing the square. I chose focaccia filled with pistachio mortadella. It was the day for flying insects and my food attracted a hornet which pestered me. Again, I had to distract it by putting a small portion of food on a nearby table.

After lunch we caught the bus to the nearby Roman Circus Maximus which looked rather dusty in the afternoon heat. We then walked the short distance to Bocca Della Verita (The Mouth of Truth) which is a stone mask representing a river god.

After that we returned to the hotel to freshen up and cool off before having a celebratory glass of prosecco on the roof top garden terrace. We then walked the short distance to La Pentolaccia for our evening meal. The food was tasty, lemon chicken in my case, but the service was somewhat chaotic. We got chatting to a German couple who were also celebrating their wedding anniversary and his birthday. We got by with Mr C’s limited German and the lady’s limited English. This more than made up for the chaotic service.

We returned to the hotel’s roof top garden for a nightcap where we found the temperature had cooled to a much more comfortable level.

This day saw the beginning of a sequence of rapidly-unfolding events that would lead to Jesus’ crucfixion. On this day, Jesus gathered with his disciples to celebrate the Jewish festival of Passover. During this celebration, commonly called the Last Supper because it was Jesus’ final meal before his arrest and death, Jesus established the practice of communion which churches around the world continue to celebrate today.

Matthew 26:17-46 New International Version (NIV)

The Last Supper

17 On the first day of the Festival of Unleavened Bread, the disciples came to Jesus and asked, “Where do you want us to make preparations for you to eat the Passover?”

18 He replied, “Go into the city to a certain man and tell him, ‘The Teacher says: My appointed time is near. I am going to celebrate the Passover with my disciples at your house.’” 19 So the disciples did as Jesus had directed them and prepared the Passover.

20 When evening came, Jesus was reclining at the table with the Twelve. 21 And while they were eating, he said, “Truly I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

22 They were very sad and began to say to him one after the other, “Surely you don’t mean me, Lord?”

23 Jesus replied, “The one who has dipped his hand into the bowl with me will betray me. 24 The Son of Man will go just as it is written about him. But woe to that man who betrays the Son of Man! It would be better for him if he had not been born.”

25 Then Judas, the one who would betray him, said, “Surely you don’t mean me, Rabbi?”

Jesus answered, “You have said so.”

26 While they were eating, Jesus took bread, and when he had given thanks, he broke it and gave it to his disciples, saying, “Take and eat; this is my body.”

27 Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, saying, “Drink from it, all of you. 28 This is my blood of the[a] covenant, which is poured out for many for the forgiveness of sins. 29 I tell you, I will not drink from this fruit of the vine from now on until that day when I drink it new with you in my Father’s kingdom.”

30 When they had sung a hymn, they went out to the Mount of Olives.

Jesus Predicts Peter’s Denial

31 Then Jesus told them, “This very night you will all fall away on account of me, for it is written:

“‘I will strike the shepherd,
and the sheep of the flock will be scattered.’[b]
32 But after I have risen, I will go ahead of you into Galilee.”

33 Peter replied, “Even if all fall away on account of you, I never will.”

34 “Truly I tell you,” Jesus answered, “this very night, before the rooster crows, you will disown me three times.”

35 But Peter declared, “Even if I have to die with you, I will never disown you.” And all the other disciples said the same.

36 Then Jesus went with his disciples to a place called Gethsemane, and he said to them, “Sit here while I go over there and pray.” 37 He took Peter and the two sons of Zebedee along with him, and he began to be sorrowful and troubled. 38 Then he said to them, “My soul is overwhelmed with sorrow to the point of death. Stay here and keep watch with me.”

39 Going a little farther, he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”

40 Then he returned to his disciples and found them sleeping. “Couldn’t you men keep watch with me for one hour?” he asked Peter. 41 “Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak.”

42 He went away a second time and prayed, “My Father, if it is not possible for this cup to be taken away unless I drink it, may your will be done.”

43 When he came back, he again found them sleeping, because their eyes were heavy. 44 So he left them and went away once more and prayed the third time, saying the same thing.

45 Then he returned to the disciples and said to them, “Are you still sleeping and resting? Look, the hour has come, and the Son of Man is delivered into the hands of sinners.

46 Rise! Let us go! Here comes my betrayer!”

On these two days, Jesus made a number of appearances and addresses, most famously to “cleanse” the temple of money changers and merchants who had set up business in God’s house. Jesus also appeared at the temple courts to debate the priests and community leaders.

Matthew 21:12-25:13 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus at the Temple
12 Jesus entered the temple courts and drove out all who were buying and selling there. He overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves. 13 “It is written,” he said to them, “‘My house will be called a house of prayer,’[a] but you are making it ‘a den of robbers.’[b]”

14 The blind and the lame came to him at the temple, and he healed them. 15 But when the chief priests and the teachers of the law saw the wonderful things he did and the children shouting in the temple courts, “Hosanna to the Son of David,” they were indignant.

16 “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked him.

“Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read,

“‘From the lips of children and infants
you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?”
17 And he left them and went out of the city to Bethany, where he spent the night.

The Bible Gateway shares an informative infographic of Holy Week.  The chart displays the people and events that form the Easter Story.

On Palm Sunday, Jesus arrived at Jerusalem riding on a donkey, where he was welcomed by cheering crowds. (The “Palm” in “Palm Sunday” refers to the tree branches that the crowds used to make a path for Jesus.) His arrival—often called the Triumphal Entry—fulfilled a prophecy by the Old Testament prophet Zechariah about the Messiah’s appearance in Jerusalem.

Matthew 21:1-11 New International Version (NIV)

Jesus Comes to Jerusalem as King
21 As they approached Jerusalem and came to Bethphage on the Mount of Olives, Jesus sent two disciples, 2 saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and at once you will find a donkey tied there, with her colt by her. Untie them and bring them to me. 3 If anyone says anything to you, say that the Lord needs them, and he will send them right away.”

4 This took place to fulfill what was spoken through the prophet:

5 “Say to Daughter Zion,
‘See, your king comes to you,
gentle and riding on a donkey,
and on a colt, the foal of a donkey.’”
6 The disciples went and did as Jesus had instructed them. 7 They brought the donkey and the colt and placed their cloaks on them for Jesus to sit on. 8 A very large crowd spread their cloaks on the road, while others cut branches from the trees and spread them on the road. 9 The crowds that went ahead of him and those that followed shouted,

“Hosanna[b] to the Son of David!”
“Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!”
“Hosanna[d] in the highest heaven!”
10 When Jesus entered Jerusalem, the whole city was stirred and asked, “Who is this?”

11 The crowds answered, “This is Jesus, the prophet from Nazareth in Galilee.”

*My sources for the series of posts are; The Gospel of Matthew, Andy Rau (from the Bible Gateway blog) and images from ‘Our Christian Heritage’ (Universal Text Books)

The church was consecrated in 1735 and is the only one of its kind in the country; its late baroque style is more usually found in southern Germany and Italy. It is believed to be to a design by James Gibbs. The exterior was originally plain brick but was later clad with limestone ashlar and Italianate balaustrades and finials were added. It has a clock tower surmounted by a cupola with a gilded dome, topped off with an orb and a golden cross. There are two bells, to chime out the time and to ring for weddings and funerals. It has a crypt with vaults, still occupied by lead coffins, and has a coffin chute accessed from the inner porch.