Santa Scala

Greetings:
Today we celebrate the feast of St. Leo the Great, a Doctor of the Church. Instead of writing about this great feast though and saint of the Catholic Church I am going to continue a brief trip down memory lane.

While in Rome, both times, I had the amazing experience of climbing the Santa Scala (the Holy Stairs) these stairs are next to San Giovanni Laterano, the Basilica of St. John Lateran the church who's dedication we celebrated yesterday. While thinking about my visit to San Giovanni Laterano, I could not help but think about my visit to the Santa Scala.

The Santa Scala are said to be the same stairs that are Savior Jesus Christ walked up at the hour of his condemnation by Pontious Pilate. These marble stairs are covered by wood, with open holes indicating where Christ's blood is. The 28 steps are traveled by pilgrims daily, on the knees. You cannot walk up the steps you can only journey up them on your knees. For this that do not wish to do that and when one goes down, their are two separate sets of stairs one on each side.

As you journey up the stairs you are encourage to pray, medicate, and contemplate on the crucifixion of Our Lord and Savior. The prayer below is one prayer that has been put together by Rome as a useful meditative tool for pilgrims.

O merciful Jesus!
For the salvation of mankind,
You did submit to the suffering of the scourging
and crowning with thorns;
You did allow Yourself to be dragged
by impious hands on these stairs
to be led before Pilate.
I desire to venerate with deep respect
the bloodstained traces of Your Divine feet,
and I humbly beg You,
by the merits of Your Passion,
to grant, that I may one day
ascend to the Throne of Glory,
where You live and reign
with the Father and the Holy Ghost
forever and ever.
Amen.
Blessings,
Joy