Gedeelte artikel van Jacob Stein - EWTN Vatican
The Holy Lance, also known as the Lance of Longinus, holds a significant place in Christian tradition as the weapon believed to have pierced the side of Jesus during his crucifixion. Tradition holds that the Vatican Basilica has the jealous custody of a relic that is part of the Holy Lance.
The Gospel of John provides the sole biblical reference to this event, recounting that a Roman soldier named Longinus, on the eve of the Sabbath, ensured Jesus' death by piercing him in the side with a lance. This act, as described in John 19:34, has sparked centuries of reverence and fascination across Europe and inside the Vatican.
The diverse narratives surrounding Saint Longinus highlight the widespread devotion and the impact of his acts recorded in the Gospel of St. John and in legends that go beyond the scriptural tradition.
The statue of Saint Longinus, sculpted by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and housed in Saint Peter's Basilica, stands as a testament to his role in Christian history. The statue is one of four statues standing in the pillars' niches supporting Michelangelo's dome.
In the Vatican, a special ceremony takes place in St. Peter's Basilica during the first week of Lent. On the eve of the second Sunday of Lent, the canons of St. Peter's Basilica gather with the Archpriest of the Basilica, presently Mons. Mauro Gambetti, and with concelebrating priests and the other ministers. They process to the High Altar, presently under restoration, which marks the tomb of St. Peter. They meet the faithful at the foot of the altar, who are waiting for the liturgy to begin.
The celebrant begins with the opening prayer and incenses the procession cross, which bears the corpus of Christ. The choir sings the litany of the Saints until the intonation of "Saint Peter, pray for us," which is sung three times in honor of the "station," which is kept on this day in Lent. Each day during Lent, the local Church of Rome pilgrimages to a different tomb of a martyr. This pilgrimage is called the Roman Station Church pilgrim itinerary.
