The Holy Stairs – Scala Sancta

The Holy Stairs, known in Italian as the Scala Santa, are a set of 28 white marble steps located in Rome, near the Archbasilica of Saint John in Laterano. They are housed in a building that forms part of the old Papal Lateran Palace.

History:
Catholic tradition holds that these are the very steps that Jesus Christ ascended to the praetorium of Pontius Pilate in Jerusalem on the day he was condemned to death. According to this tradition, Saint Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, brought the stairs to Rome around 326 AD. In the Middle Ages, they were known as the Scala Pilati (Stairs of Pilate).

Over the centuries, the Holy Stairs have become a significant pilgrimage site for Christians who wish to honor the Passion of Jesus Christ. To protect the marble from wear due to the countless pilgrims, they were covered with wooden planks in 1724. These wooden coverings were temporarily removed for restoration work in 2019, allowing pilgrims to once again ascend the original marble on their knees for a limited time.

Location:
The Pontifical Sanctuary of the Holy Stairs (Pontificio Santuario della Scala Santa) is located at Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 14, 00185 Roma RM, Italy, near the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Relevance to the Catholic Faith:
The Holy Stairs are a powerful symbol of Jesus’ Passion and suffering. For centuries, devout pilgrims have climbed these steps on their knees as an act of piety, penance, and prayer, meditating on the final hours of Christ’s life. This devotion allows the faithful to participate in a tangible way with the memory of Jesus’ sacrifice.

The act of ascending the stairs on one’s knees is a physical expression of humility and solidarity with Christ’s journey to his crucifixion. The Catholic Church has historically granted indulgences to those who climb the Holy Stairs in this devotional manner, further emphasizing their spiritual significance.

At the top of the Holy Stairs is the Sancta Sanctorum (Holy of Holies), which was the private chapel of the early Popes and houses significant relics. This connection further enhances the sacredness of the Holy Stairs as a pathway to a particularly holy place within the Catholic tradition.

Even for those who may question the historical authenticity of the stairs themselves, the centuries of tradition and the profound spiritual experiences of countless pilgrims imbue the Holy Stairs with deep religious meaning and make them a vital site of devotion within the Catholic Faith.