Inside Saint Peter's Basilica

The atrium of Saint Peter's Basilica is larger than most churches. The vault is decorated with golden stuccos. It narrates the history of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Thirty-one statues depicting the first martyred popes line each side of the lower ceiling. Overlooking the main entrance door is a mosaic titled the "Little Boat" telling the biblical account of Jesus walking on the water and Peter reaching out to Him when he falters. To the right end of the long atrium is a statue of Constatine riding a horse and on the opposite end is Charlemagne astride a horse.

There are no words to describe walking into the nave of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The beauty is overpowering. There is so much to see and it is hard to know where to begin. Entering the Basilica around 5:00 p.m. you are able to witness sunbeams streaming through the dome overtop the baldachin. The baldachin is seven stories high and topped with a golden cross. It has four columns ornamented by olive branches and cherubim. Walking around the baldachin four columns you will see a maternity sequence on the four marble pedestals. . The bees represent the Barberini family from which Pope Urban VIII sprang.

The baldachin is over the “Altar of Confession”. This altar is built over the sepulcher of Saint Peter. It is used only when the pope himself says Mass.

Before the altar is a balustrade where 89 flames in gilt bronze cornucopia permanently burn. Two flights of stairs lead down to a room richly decorated in marble with statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul. This is a votive chapel that contains a bronze case of pallums in its niche. The pallums are made of lambs wool and embroidered with a black cross. On the feast of Saint Agnes they are blessed and the pope makes gifts of them each year to a few metropolitan archbishops.

To be continued…

Saint Peter's Square

Saint Peter's Square was commissioned by Pope Alexander VII so larger numbers of pilgrims could participate in functions.  He commissioned Gian Lorenzo Bernini to design the colonades.  Bernini's design is an elliptical plan that wrapped the piazza in an embrace as if Holy Mother Church was drawing her children in and embracing them.  The collonades measure approximately 394 feet in length and 56 feet in heighth. The arm of the left is called Charlemegne and the one on the right is Constantine  Atop the colonade are 140 ten feet statues depicting various saints who were defenders of the faith, the founders of religious orders, popes, bishops and Doctors of the Church.

The obelisk is 90 feet of solid granite weighing over 300 tons.  It was transported by the emperor Caligula from Heliopolis Egypt, and set down in his circus, which later became Nero's  In 1586 Sixtus V had it placed where it is today.  There are two fountains that set on each side of the obelisk.  They are almost identical.  The statues atop Saint Peter's Basilica are of Jesus, John the Baptist and eleven of the apostles.

Two large statues of Saint Peter and Saint Paul are situated near each side of the steps leading up to the Basilica.

It is definitely a site to behold.  Walking into Saint Pete's Square give pilgrims a sense of awe and wonderment and brings tears to many eyes.