Buckle up, because this package is the gift that keeps on giving. Did you know that the basilica we see here today is only a newly-reconstructed version of its historical predecessor? This earlier basilica was built at the order of Roman emperor Constantine nearly four centuries ago between 326 and 333 AD, and dedicated to St. Peter, one of Christ’s 12 disciples and closest followers.
This basilica was designed with an emphasis on tradition, but in 1506 Pope Julius II decided tradition needed a bigger and better space for religious practice. So, out with the old and in with the new! Thanks to indulgence funds (a form of patronage involving public donations to the church for the forgiveness of sins and reduced purgatory time) and a lot of controversy surrounding the structure’s proposed designs, St. Peter’s Basilica Part Two was up and running.
Fun Fact… these indulgence systems are what triggered Martin Luther’s resentment of the Catholic Church, and later on the publishing of his 95 Theses and the Protestant Reformation of the 15th century.
About the blueprints…the new basilica went through multiple design phases. Proposals began at the hands of Bramante, an Italian architect and painter who envisioned the shape of the space as a massive Greek Cross. In came Raphael with a new plan and fresh ideas like extending the church’s nave. After his death, Michelangelo took over 40 years into the basilica’s construction, combining ideas of those before him with his revolutionary dome. These were their floor plan proposals, and below is Michelangelo's architectural work: the dome.
St. Peter’s Basilica today is an example of Roman Catholic grandeur, preaching tradition like its ancestor four centuries earlier. It has been regarded with the belief that “God’s presence can be felt in the material world” as the massive structure is recognized by its congregants as “heaven on Earth”. Completed in 1626, the structure promotes universality and is intended to open its doors to all those who practice. Its most notable features are four pillars emulating those in Solomon’s Temple, the first temple built in Jerusalem. Inside we find four precious relics, including the cross of St. Helena, Constantine’s mother, pieces of St. Andrew’s Cross, and Longinus’ sword… yes, the one that's thought to have pierced Christ’s side! Beautiful pillars of colorful marble and geometric flooring line the surface of the basilica’s interior. Classical Roman style can be found on the ceiling with frivolous gold accent patterns… and a bunch of cherubs.
Mass and services are still held here, and St. Peter’s Basilica will forever be a place of pilgrimage. It even features a Pilgrimage door, giving it the rightful place as one of seven Pilgrim churches of Rome. This little trademark of the basilica has proved a safe haven for hundreds of years for those looking to be blessed and cleansed of sin (Pic 1). Many also say St. Peter is actually buried in the necropolis under the basilica and possibly haunts it to this day, pretty spooky right (His remains in a silver box under the basilica's altar, Pic 2). The burial of St. Peter is an attribution to the foundation he quite literally and metaphorically provided for the establishment of a divine institution such as this one. The dome’s construction by Michelangelo only strengthened this inspiring spiritual affirmation that “on this rock I build my church, on Peter I build my church” (Statue of St. Peter, Pic 3).
After the tour of St. Peter’s crib, we all had the optional choice of climbing the basilica’s dome, or exploring the exhibits of the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel. This day is one for the books; one that proves good things can, in fact, come in very… very large packages. Ciao!
Disclaimer: This blog post is not sponsored by MTV, but it totally should be.
Also hi Mom!
- Julia Morrissey :)
great post! tell paige hi from home
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