Ok, so starting with Rome:
(Really though, we've done so much, my head is spinning....I am sure there are things I've forgotten already!)
We arrived in Rome on Wednesday (8/10) evening and had supper at our hotel (there is a dining hall that serves seated meals for supper and has a buffet for breakfast). Some people from our group went out to see the Trevi fountain, but I was too tired so I just stayed back at the hotel, washed some clothes in the sink, and got settled in :)
On Thursday (8/11) morning, we had breakfast at the hotel then boarded our touring bus (same one that brought us to Assisi) and headed to the Vatican. As we pulled up, we could see the tall Vatican walls, then the pillars of St. Peter's Square, then, we were let off the bus and could see St. Peter's Basilica in all it's glory. Words really cannot describe! The Holy Father is at his summer residence which is about 25 kilometers out of the city, so he was not in his apartment at the time, but to just consider the millions of pilgrims who have tread those holy grounds was just overwhelming.
We were able to have Mass with Fr. Mike in the Irish Chapel in the crypt of St. Peter's...and we were running late, so we did not have much time to really take everything in right away as we rushed to the Sacristy, then into the lower church, then to our small chapel. As we walked, we saw the Pieta, tombs of Popes and Saint Popes, and the main altar of St. Peter's, which I'd seen on so many EWTN broadcasts before :)
The chapel we had Mass in was very small....the 26 of us in my group just barely fit! But, it was BEAUTIFUL! (You can take photos upstairs at St. Peter's but you cannot take photos in the crypt, so I don't have a photo of it, but you could probably Google it).
Again, we were blessed with a great homily on this Feast of St. Clare, reminding us to live our lives in such a way that it would not make sense without Christ. Like St. Francis and St. Clare, they dedicated each and every day to spreading the Gospel, much to the chagrin of their family. To live in love with God and His creation, with that constant hope of eternity...so focused and dedicated to their calling that others just couldn't understand....this was such a great reminder for my life situation right now!
During Mass, my priest asked me to help distribute the Precious Blood at Communion...honestly, my first thought was, "Am I allowed as an Extraordinary Minister in this diocese?!" But, again, overcome....in the neighboring chapels, we could hear Mass being celebrated in several other languages, all coming together to worship God and receive his whole being. Could I help bring Jesus (Body, Blood, Soul, & Divinity) to those traveling with me?! Umm, yes! As I returned to my spot to kneel in praise and adoration, I felt like I needed to be pinched to wake up :)
Following Mass, we hurried back out of St. Peter's to tour the Vatican Museum. I am not sure of this, but I am pretty sure the portion we had time to see was just a tiny part of what the Museum had to offer! We saw statues that were as old as a few thousand years, mosaics laid by the masters, tapestries bigger than my whole living room, and then....
We entered the Sistine Chapel!
Oh....
Man....
Again, words cannot describe! (And photos aren't allowed!)
A friend warned me that it was not as big as I was probably expecting....and, it was not as huge as many of the other churches we'd seen, but it was incredible! There, in front of my very eyes, was the Creation of Adam! There was the Last Judgement! Here, in this inexplicably beautiful church were the greatest frescoes the world has and will ever contain. I could have stayed there for a week....or a month....but we only had about 20 minutes.
After the Sistine Chapel, we returned to St. Peter's Basilica to explore the nooks and crannies we were too rushed to see earlier. I got right up to the railing at the Pieta. I was overcome with tears standing before the tomb of Blessed John Paul II. I waiting in line to visit the Blessed Sacrament chapel, which was filled with Sisters of many different orders, Brothers and Priests, and lay faithful from all around the world; it was a great few moments!
We went back into the crypt and I was able to pray before the tomb of Pope Pius VI (both he and Blessed JPII in the same day?! Culture of Life overload!)
So, on Thursday afternoon, we had a break to do some shopping and get lunch right near the Vatican. I had pizza....it was delish! And followed it with a gelato. So far, I've had at least one gelato every day...they have all been a variation of chocolate.
I got some more souvenirs for my family, then we boarded the bus for the Trevi Fountain, Spanish Steps, and Piazza Popoulo. We walked all afternoon. By the time we got back to the hotel around 4, I was ready to rest! Some of the group returned to St. Peter's, but I just rested, went through all my goodies, and got ready for the next day :)
No comments:
Post a Comment