THE WALK OF SPIRITUALITY IN ROME
THE SEVEN CHURCHES & THE MILLENNIUM CHURCH

History: Rome, February 25, 1552

Pope Julius II's guards are watching at San Sebastian's Gate, the majestic entrance to the Eternal City. Their attention is caught by a group of people coming along the Ancient Appian Way and singing a strange song: '' Vanity, vanity all the world is vanity…..''

They think it may have been some peasant coming back home after too many glasses of good wine, but that group is made by men and women of all ages, priests and children. Their leader is a little man and among them is the greatest composer of liturgical music of all time. Once the group arrives at the gate, the chief of guards says "Come in Father Philip have a good walk……."

That soldier had just seen the first of the innumerable walks that thousands of Christians would make following the example of the little man whose name would become Saint Philip Neri, the Apostle of Rome.

Philip's apostolate was a simple priest who grew up the heart of Rome. He understood clearly the needs of all the people. For everyone St. Philip was a guiding light. He also had the special ability for encouraging artists to place their talents at the service of God. Another of his creations was the visit to the Seven Churches.

This pilgrimage took St.Philip and his followers, people from all walks of life, on long treks to visit the ancient basilicas which dotted the countryside around Rome. The presence of St Philip guaranteed that these pilgrimages were not only times of reflections and prayer, but times of great fun as well, with plenty of music, games and picnics.

The visit to the Seven Churches was just born and suddenly became one of the most important events celebrated by the Christian community. Throughout the Middle Ages, pilgrims traced the Seven Churches. Through the years, however, pilgrims lost interest in all Seven Churches and only chose to visit the Four Basilicas of Rome. It was not until the Jubilee 2000, that Pope John Paul II encouraged Christian pilgrims to resume the visit of all Seven Churches as part of their spiritual journey. Christians now from all corners of earth come to Rome to follow in the steps of Saint Philip. Philipine itinerary takes pilgrims to the Seven Churches on their quest to discover the true sense of Christian spirituality.

The Seven Churches were all built under Emperor Constantine marking the presence of the first Christians in Rome. They comprise: Saint Peter's, Saint John in Lateran, Saint Mary Maggare, Saint Paul outside the walls, Saint Laurence outside the walls, the Holy Cross Church, and the Church of the Catacombs of Saint Sebastian. Fianally, it is fitting to visit the Millennium Church which was commissioned by Pope Paul II to celebrate Jubilee 2000