Yesterday we found ourselves back in St. Peter’s Square…along with thousands of other people. When we arrived around 12:30pm, a time which we thought would get us into St. Peter’s pretty quickly, we soon found out that getting in was going to take a long time. Providentially, Fr. Mariano was able to find a tour guide who was able to get us into both, St. Peter’s and the Vatican Museum without having to wait in the extremely long lines.
We first toured the Vatican Museum and the many treasured pieces of art that she holds.
We first toured the Vatican Museum and the many treasured pieces of art that she holds.
Our tour guide, Grant, was very informative and, on a tight schedule, was able to show us all the important works within the museum. We also toured part of the gardens and most importantly the Sistine Chapel. Seeing the Sistine Chapel can never get old. There are so many things that one can ponder as he gazes upon the ceiling and walls. Obviously one might think, “How on earth did one main paint that entire ceiling?” Personally, I don’t think there is any work of art greater than that done by Michelangelo in the Sistine Chapel. Also one can stand there and think about the many papal elections that have taken place there; even the most recent election of Pope Francis. One can imaging, “What is the atmosphere like?” The thought going through my mind was concerned the Last Judgment towering above the altar and how it is the only thing that the papal electors see as they promise to be faithful to their duty in electing the Pope. If only each of us had this image in all its glory to look at every morning! If we did so, I think what might choose differently, love differently, and live differently.
After visiting the Sistine Chapel we then said goodbye to our tour guide and continued on to St. Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica was also full of people, many of them in the line to pass in front of the tomb of the newly canonized saints, John Paul II and John XXIII. Once again, due to time restrictions we were not able to spend too much time in the Basilica, but Fr. Diego made sure to show us all the highlights. After praying before the tombs of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII we saw the baldaccino, the Holy Spirit window and cathedra of St. Peter, St. Peter’s venerated statue and the massive dome.
Saying goodbye to St. Peter’s we loaded the bus and headed to the SSVM General House a few minutes away for a dinner hosted by Mother Anima, the Superior General of the Servidoras, and all the sisters living in that community. Besides having a delicious meal, we also enjoyed some entertainment, which we provided ourselves. The guys sang “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Foriculi, Foricula”, while the ladies sang “I’ll Fly Away” and “I’m on the Battlefield for My Lord”. Needless to say, the sisters greatly appreciated the joy that we were able to bring with a few simple songs. Following a brief visit to the convent chapel were we saw a few relics of St. John Paul II, we again loaded the bus and returned to the majestic city of Segni to call it a day and get some rest for our last day in Rome and a long day of traveling.
Viva la Madonna!
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian
After visiting the Sistine Chapel we then said goodbye to our tour guide and continued on to St. Peter’s Basilica. The Basilica was also full of people, many of them in the line to pass in front of the tomb of the newly canonized saints, John Paul II and John XXIII. Once again, due to time restrictions we were not able to spend too much time in the Basilica, but Fr. Diego made sure to show us all the highlights. After praying before the tombs of St. John Paul II and St. John XXIII we saw the baldaccino, the Holy Spirit window and cathedra of St. Peter, St. Peter’s venerated statue and the massive dome.
Saying goodbye to St. Peter’s we loaded the bus and headed to the SSVM General House a few minutes away for a dinner hosted by Mother Anima, the Superior General of the Servidoras, and all the sisters living in that community. Besides having a delicious meal, we also enjoyed some entertainment, which we provided ourselves. The guys sang “Thank God I’m a Country Boy” and “Foriculi, Foricula”, while the ladies sang “I’ll Fly Away” and “I’m on the Battlefield for My Lord”. Needless to say, the sisters greatly appreciated the joy that we were able to bring with a few simple songs. Following a brief visit to the convent chapel were we saw a few relics of St. John Paul II, we again loaded the bus and returned to the majestic city of Segni to call it a day and get some rest for our last day in Rome and a long day of traveling.
Viva la Madonna!
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian