The Rome of Peter and Paul: A Pilgrim's Handbook to New Testament Sites in the Eternal City

This handbook is a short guide for those who are interested in Roman sites that have something to do with the New Testament and in particular with Peter and Paul. For more than ten years Dr. Schmisek has led graduate ministry programs in the Eternal City. This book is informed by the questions insights and comments from students over those years. While not addressing each and every claimed New Testament artifact in the city of Rome the handbook focuses on the more significant churches and locales that have a connection to Petrine and Pauline legends: places such as St. Peters at the Vatican and St. Pauls outside the Walls are included but also St. Peters at Montorio and Tre Fontane. There are two primary parts to this book: the first is a brief survey of what is known (and not known) regarding Peter and Pauls time in Rome. The various sources of Pauline and Petrine legends are included in this survey as those legends are key to interpreting many sites and their significance. The second part of the book is more akin to a tour book laid out in four subsections generally corresponding to geographical areas of the city. This brief handbook will be a valuable guide to those who seek a greater understanding of the historical and legendary background to Petrine and Pauline sites in Rome. In Italian we would say It is worth its weight in gold. This idiomatic expression seems to me particularly apt to translate into words what I think of this book which is the perfect guide for the readers/travelers who want to rediscover their roots in the Roman Christian history. Tolle et lege - and enjoy your journey! --Edmondo F Lupieri Professor of New Testament and Early Christianity John Cardinal Cody Endowed Chair in Theology Loyola University Chicago President of ItalCultura The author draws on his intimate knowledge of ancient Rome from having taught summer courses in the city for many years. Blending information from many sources into a continuous narrative he compares biblical medieval and scientific material for a many-layered treatment of names places and dates. A perfect remembrance of Catholic Rome for students and other serious travelers it is a book to read twice--once before traveling to Rome and again in Rome itself. --Joseph Martos Aquinas Institute of Theology St. Louis Missouri author of Doors to the Sacred: A Historical Introduction to Sacraments in the Catholic Church Brian Schmisek draws upon his years of leading scholarly pilgrimages to Rome to offer his readers a view of the city through the eyes of its most important Saints. This useful introduction to the city is both accessible and scholarly and makes a wonderful companion for any visit to the Eternal City. --Theodore James Whapham Dean Ann and Joe O. Neuhoff School of Ministry University of Dallas Brian Schmiseks delightful guide to the Rome of New Testament times (especially that of St. Peter and St. Paul) offers a perfect mix of history biblical interpretation spirituality and faith. Intriguing stories up-to-date scholarship and literary and archeological background are spun out in Schmiseks easy-to-read narrative voice. A great book for new visitors to Rome or for Christians interested in their past. --John M. Norris Associate Professor of Theology University of Dallas Brian Schmisek is the Dean of the Pastoral Studies Institute at Loyola University Chicago where he often teaches in the summer program at the John Felice Rome Center. Prior to that he was the Founding Dean of the School of Ministry at the University of Dallas where he regularly taught summer courses at their Rome campus.