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How the Rome Mamertine Prison That Once Held Sts. Peter and Paul in Captivity Became a Holy Site

By Melissa Butz

These written words, “The Mamertine Prison of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul,” signal where Saints Peter and Paul were arrested and held while evangelizing in the Eternal City. 

In 7th century B.C., Mamertine Prison was the main jail in Rome, located in the center of the city on Capitoline Hill. Today its memory is sacred, especially two ancient jail cells built right on top of one other.

Carcer is the upper area, where Roman guards kept watch over the prisoners below. Roman expert Carlo Munns says it was reserved for the worst “enemies of Rome.” Criminals were thrown down this hole into the dungeon, before stairs were built to connect the two levels. 

In 67 AD, Peter and Paul were among those arrested. Statues and relics of the saints recall their presence, along with other markings on the wall. 

“At the beginning of the stairs, we see a place which is a memory of the passage of Peter,” Carlo said. “Just bringing him down to the jail, he hit his head on the marble and there was a memory here, made for memory of this place.” 

But its Tullianum, the cell below, where Peter and Paul were imprisoned during Nero’s persecution of Christians. This small area held 49 people while the Apostles were here, and is said to be the site of a miracle. 

“What’s important for Christians is in this water, which sprung out for the intervention of Peter and Paul,” Carlo says. “Forty-seven people were baptized here. Two of them were the jailers, also martyred after their conversion.”

While water flowed centuries before, it had dried up in the previous 900 years. That’s why at the beginning of the 4th century, the cell was transformed into a place of worship. This sacred transformation allowed it to be preserved, instead of destroyed like other monuments.

An altar was installed, the water source protected and the column which bound Peter and Paul was guarded. They all have since been removed and can now be found in the museum just above the cement cells, leaving the prison in its original condition when the apostles were awaiting their death nearly 2,000 years ago. 

This prison, while Saints Peter and Paul were inside, actually resembled a sewage tank, since prisoners were often forgotten and starved as it was the final step before their execution. However, we know that for St. Peter, he was crucified upside down in Rome, while St. Paul was beheaded because he could not be crucified as a Roman citizen. 

Little Sisters of the Poor – Begging

Every Tuesday morning in San Pedro, California, Sister Agnes of Little Sisters of the Poor leads a group to collect food for the poor donated by two local produce companies. Joe Estevez joins in to meet those who donate food and learn more about this remarkable act of service.

Hurricane Laura Makes U.S. Landfall With Heavy Winds, Rain and Flooding

Currents News Staff

Under the cover of darkness, Hurricane Laura stormed central Louisiana with heavy rain and wind gusts over 120 miles per hou — for more than an hour — in Lake Charles.

The storm damaged buildings and sent debris flying.

In the daylight,  the destruction could be seen widespread. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards says the damage was extensive.

“We have hurricane strength winds still associated with this storm as it moves north and still causing damage, power outage and so forth,” said Gov. Edwards. “I will tell you that the damage is extensive.”

Laura hit the area as a Category 4 storm. Mandatory evacuations were in place for central Louisiana residents, but that didn’t stop some from riding out the storm. Louisiana’s Lieutenant Gov. Billy Nungesser says he hopes no lives were lost.

“One family I talked to at 3:30, 50 miles from the coast, as they felt their roof being lifted up, said they’ll never ride out another storm,” Gov. Nungesser said, “and hopefully they’re safe as well. So we know some people stayed and we hope no one lost their life.”

FEMA says it will quickly get on the ground to start assessing damage. In the meantime, they have a message for residents.

“Keep your family safe,” said FEMA Administrator Pete Gaynor. “If you’re in a safe place, don’t go outside until you hear the all-clear from your local officials. Stay out of the water. Stay away from downed power lines. This is going to be a dangerous part of the storm, even after it passes.”

Hurricane Laura will continue to weaken as it moves inland, but will be a flood threat through the weekend before exiting the east coast.

Two Religious Sisters, Two Conventions

By Currents News Staff and The Tablet Staff

During the past two weeks, two prominent Catholic women religious appeared at the conventions the two major parties held.

Wednesday night, Sr. Deirdre “Dede” Byrne, POSC, spoke at the Republican Convention. She is a member of the community of the Little Workers of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary. She is an active missionary and the superior of her community in Washington, D.C. Sister Dede, as she is known, is a retired colonel of the U.S. Army. 

She attended Georgetown University, where she completed a surgical residency. During that time, she joined the Army, where she served for 29 years as a doctor and surgeon.

In her speech, Sister “Dede” talked about her personal journey and her service to the poor and refugees in different countries. She said that the largest marginalized group is the unborn and called Trump the “most pro-life president.”

During the Democratic National Convention, Sr. Simone Campbell, SSS, said a prayer. She had previously spoken at the 2012 and 2016 Democratic National Conventions.  Sister Simone is a member of the Sisters of Social Service institute and a lawyer. In 1978, she founded the Community Law Center in Oakland, California, and was the group’s lead attorney for 18 years. From 1995 to 2000, she was the General Director of Sisters of Social Service. In 2012, she led the Nuns on the Bus initiative, created after the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith issued a critical assessment of the Leadership Conference of Women Religious in the United States. Currently, she is the executive director of NETWORK, a social justice lobby headquartered in Washington D.C..

During her invocation, she talked about the care for the planet and the dignity of human beings.

Currents News full broadcast for Wed, 8/26/20

Currents News reports secular and religious news from the Catholic perspective.

Some of the top stories on this newscast:

An outpouring of love to save a devastated city – a special prayer service is held for Beirut.

Gunfire in Kenosha, Wisconsin leaves two people are dead as protests rage on in the city.

Melania Trump headlining the Republican National Convention – where other speakers have declared that all life is sacred.

Disaster is facing Texas and Louisiana as Hurricane Laura is barreling toward them.

Bayside Church Attracts New Member of Its Flock From Oregon Thanks to YouTube

By Emily Drooby

Monsignor Thomas Machalski, who ministers in Queens, was surprised to receive this letter all the way from Eugene, Oregon.

The pastor of Sacred Heart of Jesus Church in Bayside was amazed that a Catholic woman from across the country was watching his parish’s Masses online.

Monsignor Machalski explained, “she found us by chance on YouTube and she liked my homily on the Feast of Corpus Christi.”

The parish started posting their Masses to YouTube because of the pandemic. Mary Arendt found them while searching Google.

“I’m certainly not really conversant in computer things and I just was really lucky to stumble across Sacred Heart Parish in Bayside, NY,” said Arendt.

Mary’s church wasn’t online. Instead, she watched a Mass from California but it ended when the churches reopened. She went on the hunt for a new parish and discovered Monsignor Machalski talking about healing divisiveness and accepting diversity.

Arendt said, “It was just such a great message, and his sermon was so well put together, sometimes sermons go on and on and wonder all over the place, his does not.”

The next Sunday, Arendt went back to Sacred Heart of Jesus’s YouTube page and liked the homily about the pandemic delivered by the parochial vicar, Father Alex Lee.

Monsignor Machalski said, “You never know how the Holy Spirit is going to use what you say and it’s just what somebody else needs to hear. And in this case, it was somebody way on the other side of the country who found us through the modern wonders of technology.”

Mary was inspired to send a donation and write this letter. It was intended as a thank you, but it became much more.

Monsignor Machalski called it, “…a good morale booster,” adding, “What we are doing really makes a difference in people’s lives. As she said, ‘please know you reach people far across the country who are very grateful’.”

Monsignor Machalski wrote back to Arendt, and thanked her for watching.

Arendt said, “I did not expect to get really any type of acknowledgement and to get a hand-written one was incredible.”

Two letters leading to one beautiful new friendship and a Catholic connection spanning the country.

Pro-Life, Religious Freedom Take Central Stage at RNC

Currents News Staff

The Aug. 25 Republican National Convention theme was “land of opportunity” and religious freedom was a big part of that.

“To all houses of worship and to all people of faith, stripped of our religious freedoms and religious liberties – my father will fight for you,” said Eric Trump, son of President Donald Trump.

Cissie Graham Lynch, Reverend Billy Graham’s granddaughter, claimed that the left has tried to silence the religious.

“Even during the pandemic, we saw how quickly life could change,” Cissie said. “Some Democrat leaders banned church services while marijuana shops and abortion clinics were declared “essential.”

Abortion was a big topic of the night. Former Planned Parenthood employee – turned anti-abortion activist Abby Johnson – rallied voters to get behind President Trump.

“He has done more for the unborn than any other president … during his first month in office, he banned federal funds for global health groups that promote abortion,” Abby said.

Nicholas Sandmann, the Covington Catholic teen who attended the March For Life rally in Washington D.C. in 2019 and was caught on video during an encounter with protesters on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, spoke out about “cancel culture.” 

“Cancelled is what’s happening to people around this country who refuse to be silenced by the far left,” Nicholas said. “Many are being fired, humiliated or even threatened.”

First Lady Melania Trump spoke from the Rose Garden and reached out to women voters while making a case for her husband.

“Just as you are fighting for your families, my husband, our family, and the people in this administration are here fighting for you,” Melania said.

The president’s daughter Tiffany Trump graduated from law school during the pandemic. She made an appeal to young voters.

“My father built a thriving economy once, and believe me, he will do it again,” Tiffany said.

Maronite Catholic Community Gathers in Prayer in Wake of Beirut Explosion

By Paula Katinas and Jessica Easthope

The power of prayer is needed to help heal Lebanon, according to religious leaders who gathered at Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral on Aug. 25 for a prayer service that doubled as a fundraising event for the victims of the Beirut explosion.

“We are all coming together in the spirit of cooperation to help the good people of Lebanon,” said Bishop Gregory Mansour of the Eparchy of St. Maron of Brooklyn.

The Eparchy had already embarked on a major fundraising drive to help Lebanon rebuild and Bishop Mansour said he was hopeful the prayer service, which included a collection, could add to the nearly $800,000 in funds that have already been pledged, including $250,000 from the Knights of Columbus.

The prayer service attracted a wide variety of religious leaders of different Christian denominations.

Cardinal Timothy Dolan of the Archdiocese of New York was among those who spoke at the service. Lebanon, which gained a reputation over the years as a country where people of different religions can live side-by-side peacefully, is a special place, he said.

“Lebanon is more than a word. Lebanon is an icon. Lebanon is a dream,” Cardinal Dolan told the congregation.

Also in attendance was Abir Taha Audi, the consul general of Lebanon.

“We are here to pray together as one,” she told The Tablet. “We’re still mourning. We’re still sad. We’re still angry.”

But Audi added that the service reveals the positive side of people and that “today, you’re going to see the best of Lebanon.”

Vivian Akel, a parishioner of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral, told The Tablet she felt she needed to come to the prayer service because “Lebanon represents the best of us. It’s important to support them.”

The blast took place in a building in the port of Beirut on Aug. 4, killing 181 people, injuring thousands, and leaving 300,000 displaced from their homes. The force of the explosion flattened buildings, destroyed cars, and left shattered glass all over the area. The cause of the explosion is still under investigation by the Lebanese government but the building where the blast took place contained 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate.

The two recurring themes throughout the prayer service were the resiliency of the Lebanese people and the power of prayer.

“It will take more than 2,700 tons of ammonium nitrate to destroy Lebanon,” said Father Dominique Hanna, the rector of Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Cathedral.

Archbishop Joseph Zahlawi, the Metropolitan of the Antiochian Orthodox Christian Archdiocese of North America, who delivered the homily, said “letting the light of Christ shine through us,” is what will save Lebanon.

“Beirut is crying for our help and calling on us to be united,” he said.

Covington High School Teen, Nick Sandmann, Speaks at RNC

by Bill Miller

MANHATTAN — Nick Sandmann returned to the Lincoln Memorial Tuesday to decry media reports of his encounter at the same spot last year with a drum-playing demonstrator for Native American rights.

Sandmann’s comments were made in a pre-recorded message played at the Republican National Convention.

Sandmann told the RNC audience that the “full war machine of the mainstream media revved up into attack mode” against him without knowing all the facts.

Sandmann on Tuesday said he believes news outlets were driven by “anti-Christian, anti-conservative, anti-Donald Trump” bias while reporting about him. “But I would not be canceled,” said Sandmann, as he donned his MAGA cap. “I fought back hard to expose the media for what they did to me and I won a personal victory.”

The Kentucky teenager made national headlines when video footage of his face-to-face moments with demonstrator Nathan Phillips showed him smiling at Phillips, a Native American elder, which some commentators described as mocking and racist.

In January 2019, Sandmann came to Washington, D.C. to attend the March for Life. During the incident on the steps of the memorial, Sandmann and some of his Covington Catholic High School classmates wore red “Make America Great Again” (MAGA) hats.

The teenager and Phillips said later in separate interviews that they were trying to defuse tensions at the memorial. Sandmann said he smiled to show he was not being aggressive or confrontational. Video footage that came out after the initial reports confirmed Sandmann’s version of the incident.

He sued CNN and the Washington Post, claiming the news outlets were biased and their reporting fueled a campaign of harassment against him. Both cases were later settled for undisclosed amounts.