BLESSED SACRAMENT CHAPEL

In the left transept are two very interesting side chapels. One is dedicated to St. Stephen, the first martyr, whose stoning was witnessed by Paul before his conversion. The one next to it, the Blessed Sacrament Chapel designed by Carlo Maderno, was the only one not destroyed in the great fire. On the altar here is the 14th century crucifix which is said to have spoken to St. Bridget of Sweden when she came to Rome for the second Holy Year in 1350. . It has been attributed to Pietro Cavallini.

A 17th century kneeling statue of the saint by Stephano Maderno is nearby, shown speaking with Christ. St. Bridget has always been regarded along with St. James as a patron saint of pilgrims. St. Bridget’s prayers of the passion of Jesus were given to her by Jesus. They are very moving and are printed in the booklet “Pieta”. Dawn and I stayed here quite a while.

The mosaic of the Blessed Virgin Mary is from the 12th or 13th century. It was before this icon that St Ignatius of Loyola and his companions made their first public vows on August 22nd 1541.

On the right is a wooden statue of St Paul, damaged in the fire, from the 14th or 15th century. The scratches are made by pilgrims wishing to take splinters away as relics.

The 13th century painter Pietro Cavallini is buried in the chapel.