Current Position: Earth Sector, U.S.A. Outpost, Breakroom Module 3
Mission Subjects: Saturday, Week 2 of Lent - Roman Station Church is Ss. Marcellino e Pietro, Michelangelus font
A totally bullet‑point historical listing of Ss. Marcellino e Pietro al Laterano, the Lenten Station Church for Saturday of the Second Week of Lent, grounded in the most authoritative sources available. (according to Microsoft Copilot):
• Founded in the 4th century, traditionally attributed to Pope Siricius, near the catacombs of Marcellinus and Peter, where the martyrs were buried.
• Originally accompanied by an adjoining hospice, which became an important pilgrim center in Late Antiquity.
• Restored in the 8th century by Pope Gregory III, confirming its early prominence among Rome’s ancient tituli.
• Already established by this period as the Lenten Station Church for the Saturday of the Second Week of Lent, a role it has maintained continuously.
• In the 9th century, relics of the martyrs were reportedly transferred to Seligenstadt, Germany, though the Roman cult continued.
• Completely rebuilt in 1256 by Pope Alexander IV, who transferred the martyrs’ relics back to the church and placed an image of the saints on the first left column with an inscription recording the restoration.
• The adjoining hospice was transferred in 1276 to the Ospedale del Salvatore, marking a shift in the church’s charitable administration.
• The church was again transformed in 1751, when Pope Benedict XIV commissioned a major reconstruction, giving the basilica its present Baroque–Neoclassical appearance.
• The façade was designed by Girolamo Theodoli, featuring a cube‑shaped exterior with pilaster strips and a dome influenced by Borromini’s architectural style.
• After the 1751 restoration, the church was entrusted to the Discalced Carmelite nuns from 1767 to 1906, who maintained the liturgical life of the basilica.
• The high altar today contains relics of St. Marcia, while the main altarpiece by Gaetano Lapis depicts the martyrdom of Ss. Marcellinus and Peter.
• Continues as a titular church of the Roman clergy and remains a significant stop in the traditional Roman Lenten stational liturgy.
Daily Links:
- VPS Writings
https://vaticanstamps.org/lent/lview.php?id=12&ldate=2025-03-22
- The Pontifical North American College
https://www.pnac.org/station-churches/week-2/saturday-santi-marcellino-e-pietro/
- Hidden Churches of Rome (UTUBE)
https://ondemand.ewtn.com/Home/Play/en/RHC09921
If you thought that Vatican stamps were the only thing we wait on for delivery, here is an update on the Vatican developed font being released for Microsoft Word:
The Michelangelus font is a newly released digital typeface created through a collaboration between the Vatican and Microsoft to mark the 400th anniversary of the consecration of St. Peter’s Basilica. It is based directly on the handwriting of Michelangelo Buonarroti, reconstructed from his letters, architectural notes, and sketches preserved in the Vatican archives. The typeface captures the elongated strokes and rhythmic calligraphy characteristic of Michelangelo’s hand, and even the numerals were treated as miniature works of art. This project reflects a broader effort to bring Renaissance heritage into the digital age by allowing modern users to write in the style of one of history’s greatest artists.
The font’s availability is unique: Michelangelus is not offered as a standalone download. It is exclusively integrated into the latest versions of Microsoft Office, beginning with specific Current Channel builds released in early 2026. Microsoft has not published a precise build number or schedule for when each device receives it, and the rollout is occurring in staged waves, meaning some users see it earlier than others even within the same update channel. Because of this, a system can be fully “up to date” yet still be a few builds behind the group that includes the font. The only way to receive Michelangelus is through a future Office update—once your device reaches the required build, the font will appear automatically in Word’s font list without any manual installation.
We will keep VPS readers updated and report progress as new information is received. Yes, we have also written a few emails about this also!
Reference:
https://www.ncregister.com/cna/vatican-microsoft-launch-digital-font-inspired-by-michelangelo-s-handwriting
— VPSrobot
📓 Daily Album Page — Stardate 2026-03-07
