Today the Irish Dominicans in Rome celebrate the Feast of our Patron St. Clement, Pope and Martyr (97 AD). Clement according to tradition was the third successor of St. Peter after Linus and Cletus. St. Irenaeus says of him in 202 that "Clement had seen the Apostles, he had been conversant with them, and might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing in his ears and their traditions before his eyes." His lasting gift to the Church is his famous letter to the Corinthians which encourages the early church at Corinth to remain steadfast to the faith amidst trails and sufferings and remain faithful to the tradition handed on by the Apostles. According to tradition the forth pope was banished to the Crimea in the reign of Trajan and was forced to work in the mines. There his missionary work among the soldiers and fellow prisoners met with such success that the Romans had him bound to an anchor and thrown in the black sea. 
Today the Irish Dominicans in Rome celebrate the Feast of our Patron St. Clement, Pope and Martyr (97 AD). Clement according to tradition was the third successor of St. Peter after Linus and Cletus. St. Irenaeus says of him in 202 that "Clement had seen the Apostles, he had been conversant with them, and might be said to have the preaching of the apostles still echoing in his ears and their traditions before his eyes." His lasting gift to the Church is his famous letter to the Corinthians which encourages the early church at Corinth to remain steadfast to the faith amidst trails and sufferings and remain faithful to the tradition handed on by the Apostles. According to tradition the forth pope was banished to the Crimea in the reign of Trajan and was forced to work in the mines. There his missionary work among the soldiers and fellow prisoners met with such success that the Romans had him bound to an anchor and thrown in the black sea. His remains were brought back to Rome by St. Cyril and St Methodius in 867 and were laid beneath the Altar of the Church of St. Clement, where they lie today alongside St. Ignatius of Antioch. This evening we carry the relics of St Clemente through our local streets to the sound of music and the bells of the Basilica. Cardinal Mauro Piacenza, who currently serves in the Roman Curia as Prefect of the Congregation for Clergy, will be the main celebrant of the High Mass at 6.30pm and the evening celebrations conclude with a might display of fireworks in honour of the Martyr Pope The Irish Dominicans have been the custodians of the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome since 1677 and our community is comprised of teachers and students who study, pray and preach in the Eternal City. We have a wonderful website if you would like to know more about the Basilica, the Excavations and the Irish Dominican Community. http://www.basilicasanclemente.com Wishing you a Happy Feast Day of Pope St. Clement and remembering you in our prayers. The Prayer of St Clemente, Pope and Martyr. We shall pray without ceasing to the Creator of all things, and beg him to preserve the number of his elect throughout the whole world, through his beloved son Jesus Christ, and not let a single one of them fall away. Through him you called us from darkness into light and gave us the knowledge of the glory of your name. He taught us to hope in you, from whom all creation has its being. He opened our eyes so that we would recognise you, most high among the highest, holy and surrounded by holiness. You put an end to the pride of the arrogant, you frustrate the plans of the gentiles, you raise up the lowly and bring down those who are exalted. You give riches and give poverty, you dispense both death and life. You succour every spirit, you are the God of all flesh. You behold what is hidden in the depths, you see all that men do. You give help to those in peril and rescue to those without hope. You create all that has breath and watch over it; you multiply the peoples of the earth, and from among them you choose those who love you through Jesus Christ your beloved Son, through whom you give us wisdom, holiness, and honour. We beg you, Lord, to be our help and our support. Free us from our troubles; take pity on the lowly; raise up those who have fallen; give help to the poor, health to the sick, and bring home those who have wandered away. Feed the hungry, ransom captives, give strength to the weak and courage to the faint-hearted. Let all peoples come to know that you alone are God, that Jesus Christ is your son, and that we are your people and the sheep of your flock. For by your acts you made visible the everlasting structure of the Universe and set the Earth on its foundations. For all generations you have been faithful and just in your judgments, and wonderful in your power and majesty. Wisely you have created, and wisely you have kept things in being. All that we see shows your goodness; to all who trust in you, you are faithful, kind, and merciful. Forgive us our wickedness’s and injustices, our sins and our transgressions. Do not weigh down your servants with the burden of their sins, but purify us and direct the paths we take so that we go forward in purity and innocence of heart, so that all that we do is good and acceptable to you and to those who lead us. Come, Lord, let your face shine upon us so that we may peacefully enjoy all good things. May your powerful hand be a roof over our heads and may your strength preserve us from all wrongdoing. Free us, Lord, from those who hate us without cause. Give peace and harmony to us and to all the inhabitants of the Earth, as you gave them to our fathers who called on you with trust and faith. You alone can give us these gifts and confer these favours on us. We put our trust in you through Jesus Christ, our high priest, the guardian of our souls. Through him be glory and majesty to you now and through all generations until the end of time. Amen


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