Today we began our Roman adventure!
As we walked to Mass we could see the sun coming up over the horizon slowly illuminating all the cities and villages in the valley below. If it couldn’t get any more picturesque, we then preceded to have Mass in a church that dates back to the 13th century: San Pietro (Segni). In his homily, Fr. Mariano prepared us for what we will see in the next couple of days. He said that Rome is well known for her architecture and art, but what makes this so important is the reality of salvation in Christ and personal sanctity. We will especially encounter this tomorrow, he said, as we take part in the Canonization Mass. Infallibly, the Holy Father will announce that two men have reached heaven and they are valid witnesses to the Christian way of life.
As we walked to Mass we could see the sun coming up over the horizon slowly illuminating all the cities and villages in the valley below. If it couldn’t get any more picturesque, we then preceded to have Mass in a church that dates back to the 13th century: San Pietro (Segni). In his homily, Fr. Mariano prepared us for what we will see in the next couple of days. He said that Rome is well known for her architecture and art, but what makes this so important is the reality of salvation in Christ and personal sanctity. We will especially encounter this tomorrow, he said, as we take part in the Canonization Mass. Infallibly, the Holy Father will announce that two men have reached heaven and they are valid witnesses to the Christian way of life.
After Mass we headed to Rome for the first day this new adventure. When we arrived, we suddenly realized that tomorrow’s canonization is going to be packed. The number of pilgrims visiting the churches and Basilica are evidence enough.
We first visited the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. Fr. Diego prepared us in an excellent way before we visited the Churches, by explaining the history behind them and the most important sacred items that they guard. At St. Mary Major we were able to pray before the relic of Christ’s manger that rests in a crypt below then main altar and before the icon of Our Lady which tradition says was painted by St. Luke. Upon leaving St. Mary Major we walked to St. John Lateran a couple of blocks away. There we were blessed with the chance to also pray before the table of the Last Supper and the reliquary holding the heads of the great Apostles Peter and Paul.
Our next stop was Santa Croce for lunch and a chance to visting the Basilica which houses the relics of Christ’s Passion. Santa Croce is the guardian of pieces of the True Cross, thorns from the crown, one of the nails, the title of condemnation that was fixed to Christ’s cross, and part of the beam of the “Good Thief”, St. Dismas. Besides praying before these sacred relics acquired by St. Helena, we were also able to visit the chapel of Servant of God Antoinetta Meo, the youngest Catholic on her way to canonization.
Following the visit to Santa Croce our bus dropped us off near the Roman Forum. Before seeing the Forum we headed straight for the Colosseum. Of course we had to take a group picture with the “Roman Icon” and then Fr. Diego told us about the history of the Colosseum and the many martyrdoms that took place within her walls. See the Colosseum only from the outside we then walked along the Roman Forum and made our way to the Mammertine Prison. This prison, thanks to its most famous prisoners, Peter and Paul, is not only a site for historic visitors but for pilgrims as well. Sts. Peter and Paul spent roughly eight months together in the Mammertine, which was the only prison for political prisoners in Rome. From the Mammertine we moved on to the Pallotine Hill and St. Maria della Ara Caeli. Ara Caeli was originally an important pagan temple, but due to the conversion of the Emperor to Catholicism became a beautiful Catholic Church. The Church is also important because it houses some of the relics of St. Helena.
After a great first day in Rome we returned to Segni for a nicely prepared dinner by some of the local parishoners. They treated us to spaghetti and grilled chicken. (There’s nothing like spaghetti prepared by the hands of a true Italian!) Now most are in bed getting some much needed rest. We are getting up at 3:30am in order to make it to St. Peter’s early enough to find a decent spot. As much as I am enjoying keeping all of you up-to-date, I too must hit the sack!...I just hope that I can sleep because tomorrow is going to be an incredible day!
No kid can sleep on Christmas Eve. It’s not Christmas, but for me the excitement is the same. Tomorrow we are going to be witnesses of JPII’s Canonization. This is the day we have finally been waiting for!
“John Paul II, we love you!”
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian
We first visited the Basilicas of St. Mary Major and St. John Lateran. Fr. Diego prepared us in an excellent way before we visited the Churches, by explaining the history behind them and the most important sacred items that they guard. At St. Mary Major we were able to pray before the relic of Christ’s manger that rests in a crypt below then main altar and before the icon of Our Lady which tradition says was painted by St. Luke. Upon leaving St. Mary Major we walked to St. John Lateran a couple of blocks away. There we were blessed with the chance to also pray before the table of the Last Supper and the reliquary holding the heads of the great Apostles Peter and Paul.
Our next stop was Santa Croce for lunch and a chance to visting the Basilica which houses the relics of Christ’s Passion. Santa Croce is the guardian of pieces of the True Cross, thorns from the crown, one of the nails, the title of condemnation that was fixed to Christ’s cross, and part of the beam of the “Good Thief”, St. Dismas. Besides praying before these sacred relics acquired by St. Helena, we were also able to visit the chapel of Servant of God Antoinetta Meo, the youngest Catholic on her way to canonization.
Following the visit to Santa Croce our bus dropped us off near the Roman Forum. Before seeing the Forum we headed straight for the Colosseum. Of course we had to take a group picture with the “Roman Icon” and then Fr. Diego told us about the history of the Colosseum and the many martyrdoms that took place within her walls. See the Colosseum only from the outside we then walked along the Roman Forum and made our way to the Mammertine Prison. This prison, thanks to its most famous prisoners, Peter and Paul, is not only a site for historic visitors but for pilgrims as well. Sts. Peter and Paul spent roughly eight months together in the Mammertine, which was the only prison for political prisoners in Rome. From the Mammertine we moved on to the Pallotine Hill and St. Maria della Ara Caeli. Ara Caeli was originally an important pagan temple, but due to the conversion of the Emperor to Catholicism became a beautiful Catholic Church. The Church is also important because it houses some of the relics of St. Helena.
After a great first day in Rome we returned to Segni for a nicely prepared dinner by some of the local parishoners. They treated us to spaghetti and grilled chicken. (There’s nothing like spaghetti prepared by the hands of a true Italian!) Now most are in bed getting some much needed rest. We are getting up at 3:30am in order to make it to St. Peter’s early enough to find a decent spot. As much as I am enjoying keeping all of you up-to-date, I too must hit the sack!...I just hope that I can sleep because tomorrow is going to be an incredible day!
No kid can sleep on Christmas Eve. It’s not Christmas, but for me the excitement is the same. Tomorrow we are going to be witnesses of JPII’s Canonization. This is the day we have finally been waiting for!
“John Paul II, we love you!”
Br. Christopher Etheridge
IVE Seminarian