MERCY TOURS

                                             Your Catholic pilgrimage resource

                                             A Spiritual and Cultural experience

                                               Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Walls

                                                         

                                  

                                             Mercy Tours Inc.                    6504 28th Street S.E.  Suite Q              Grand Rapids, Michigan  49546

                                                                        Tel:       1-877-404-4240        616-942-4773          fax 616-808-3794  

                      

This is the second largest church in Rome after St. Peter’s. Here you will find the tomb of St. Paul under the main altar. The chains that were used to bind him as a prisoner in Rome are displayed in a gold reliquary in a small chapel near the cloister. This basilica also houses many magnificent statues, paintings and mosaics. 

Most noteworthy are the mosaic portraits of all the popes from St. Peter down to John Paul II, seen from the middle of this vast basilica. This unique feature sets it apart from all other churches in the world. Also notable is the crucifix above the Tabernacle in the Blessed Sacrament Chapel, sculpted by Pierre Cavallini. St. Bridget of Sweden lay prostrate in prayer before this crucifix when Christ’s head turned toward her and gave her the famous “15 Prayers of St. Bridget.”  Many pilgrims have devotion to these prayers, which are outlined in the well-known blue “Pieta” prayer book.