Inside the Franciscan Monastery ...
Chapels of Martyrs
(Gallery Has Four Pictures)
This is the Chapel of Saint Cecilia, who is regarded as the patron saint of musicians. This chapel is typical of those inside the catacombs.
This saint suffered martyrdom in the second century. Her body was disinterred in 1599, and it was found to be still incorrupt, seeming to be only asleep, a characteristic of some martyrs of pure spirit. The recumbent statue in this chapel is a re-creation of one by Stefano Maderno. That statue was commissioned at the disinterment, and the original statue is in the Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere.
This is the Chapel of Saint Sebastian, who is regarded as the patron saint of athletes. He is usually portrayed, as in this case, pierced with arrows, because of an incident in his life, from which he was rescued and healed; he was later martyred.
This is the Chapel of Saint Innocent, who was a young boy of six or seven when he was martyred by Roman soldiers in the second century CE. His remains were found in the Roman catacombs, and are now displayed here (shown on the right, in a case below the picture of his image); his mummified hands and legs are visible, but his skull is protected by a wax mask and wig. The jar at his feet contains his blood: an early custom when burying martyrs. Roman Catholics find their faith strengthened by the most immediate presence of this saint who died so young for his beliefs.
