The Station is at the sanctuary where the body of the illustrious Roman virgin St. Cecilia rests. It was there she lived and died a martyr. In the fifth century this church was mentioned as one of the most celebrated parochial or titular churches of Rome. It is situated in Trastevere. It was customary to read in this church, the Gospel in which Jesus tells to a woman it is necessary to drink His chalice, if one is to participate in His glory.
We read at the Epistle the prayer of Mardochai in favour of the Jewish people whom the impious Aman had determined to destroy. He implored the Lord to turn their sadness into joy. The Christian people in the same way are mourning in their Lenten penance and are looking forward to the holy Paschal joys. But to deserve them, a. the Gospel tells us, we must first drink the chalice of the One who came to shed His blood to redeem us and who will make us sharers in His resurrection, if we die to our sins: Let us abstain from the food which sustains our bodies, and from the vices which poison our souls (Collect).
Forsake me not, O Lord, my God, do not Thou depart from me: attend unto my help, O Lord, the power of my salvation. * Rebuke me not, O Lord, in Thy indignation; nor chastise me in Thy wrath.
(Psalm 37:22-23,2 from the Introit of Mass)
Populum tuum, quaesumus, Domine, propitius respice: et quos ab escis carnalibus praecipis abstinere, a noxiis quoque vitiis cessare concede.
Mercifully regard Thy people, we beseech Thee, O Lord, and grant that we, whom Thou commandest to abstain from carnal food, may also refrain from hurtful vices.
(Collect)
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