Rome Pilgrimage, Part II

(At a grotto in the Vatican Gardens - Miss Abigail was in a bit of a snit)


As pilgrimage gifts we all received red sweatshirts that say "cool to be catholic" on the front. On the back is a big "1" surrounded by "one bread "one body", "one holy, catholic, apostolic", "one flock", "one shepherd". And at the bottom it says "so that they may be one, as we are one." - Jesus (John 17:22) These were a very cool gift! Abby and Anna's ended up being misplaced on the bus before I even saw them, so they didn't get their's until we got home. Hence, they look like misfits in all the pictures.

(The altar from Lourdes)

One of the paths that wends its way around the basilica grounds ends at a Marian grotto. It was build as a memorial to Lourdes and has the most beautiful, vibrant flowers planted around it. Inside the grotto is the original altar from Lourdes, which we thought was pretty cool. Lourdes is also on our list of places to visit before leaving Europe; and having part of our extended family relocating to halfway between here and there will be very convenient towards that end. ;)
Very few people were walking the back paths, so our walk had a private, secluded feel to it. A spirit of peace and 'rightness' permeated Vatican City. Despite the constant crush and chaos of people from literally all over the world, the Holy Spirit's presence was tangible. Not in an "Oooooohhh....I'm covered in God-bumps!" sort of way, but in a very real, very peaceful *knowing*, for lack of a better word. It's hard to articulate. It wasn't at all an emotionally hyped-up experience, but God's presence was powerful. I could almost hear Jesus saying "Let him who has ears, hear." Or let him who has eyes, see. So many people walking the halls, climbing the stairs, buying trinkets, and taking pictures. So many souls. How many of them know Him? Do they hear Him whispering in their ear that He loves them? That He left this Church to guide us to Him through His Holy Spirit? Do they hear? Or are their ears stopped up with what they think they know, filling them with fear or pride that prevents them from receiving everything He longs to give them? Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.

(The cupola of St. Peter's from the path leading to the Marian grotto)


On our second day, as we were walking to a pizza stand for lunch, Andrew mentioned that just being there made him feel 'religious'. Not the empty-ritual 'religious', but a very real, everything's focused on God kind of 'religious'. I 'got' that! He walked into Vatican City a teenager struggling with wanting to compartmentalize some his Christianity, and left 3 days later a young man openly proud of the spiritual heritage he's been grafted into. Isn't that the prayer of every mother's heart?


(Andrew and Josh at the Holy Door outside the Basilica of St. Mary Major)

We were able to visit all four of the basilicas in Rome and celebrated Mass in St. Mary Major. Josh and Michael were alter servers, while I served as a Lector. I love reading God's Word and I love the Mass, so the two together are a great combination for me! My favorite way to serve, though, is an a Eucharistic Minister. Nothing compares with literally sharing our risen Lord with others. Often, when I'm waiting beside the altar to begin distributing, the reality of Christ's presence is so strong I physically struggle to remain upright. I've never experienced anything like it and the first time I served it left me feeling both shell-shocked and elated. Without exception, when I stand near the altar during the Consecration my body seems to have a mind of its own and I feel an almost overwhelming urge to prostrate myself. A conscious choice to maintain social decorum is the only thing that keeps me upright; although I do admit to daydreaming about being in a setting in which I'm free to worship with complete abandon.

While we were at St. Mary Major we went upstairs to visit Cardinal Law, who lives in an apartment in the basilica. The Pope had called all the local Cardinals into a silent Lenten retreat, so he wasn't able to meet with us, but he left instructions for his adorable little Mexican housekeeping nun to invite us in and serve us coffee. Fr. Mitch was flabbergasted, since he's been friends with Cardinal Law for years and has never been invited into the Cardinal's home before. We were served coffee and snacks and had fun checking out his library and music collection. Out of respect for his privacy I won't post any pictures from his home, but it was very nice. I was so inspired by the little nun. She must have only been in her late twenties or early thirties, but I've never seen such love shine from anyone's eyes like it did from hers. She exuded a joy that absolutely filled up the room. She served each one of us like it was her greatest pleasure to meet our needs and make us comfortable. I was so convicted of my own selfishness. Do I ever make anyone feel as genuinely loved as she did us?

(Papal portraits in the Basilica of St. Paul Outside the Wall)

We were able to make confessions at St. Paul Outside the Wall. (So named because it was built just outside the original city walls.) The multi-lingual priests that were hearing confessions were wonderful! Everyone left with a lighter spring in their step. This basilica is lined with portraits of each on of the Popes since St. Peter, which I found fascinating. The portrait of Pope Benedict XVI has a spotlight on it, which saved us hours of hunting for him. It really is astounding to stand in the middle of this huge basilica and see face after face of the men who have been charged with leading Christ's flock for the last 2000+ years. Of course, the earliest portraits are merely artists renderings, since actual likenesses weren't made until much later; that didn't diminish the power of personally seeing the line of succession from St. Peter to the present. Having read about the bad Popes and the anti-Popes and seeing some of their faces up there, really brought home for me the reality of Christ's promise to protect His Church against the gates of Hell. God has so faithfully guarded the integrity of the dogmas of the Church despite the best efforts of some wicked men sitting in Peter's chair over the years. No religion would stand a chance of surviving the attacks, both from within and without, that the Roman Church has if Jesus Christ himself wasn't its ultimate Head. How humbling to be called to be a part of this!

(The Holy Steps)
Across the street from the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains are the Holy Steps. Tradition holds that St. Helena, the mother of Constantine, went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and brought back, among other things, the steps that Jesus is believed to have climbed on his way to and from both meetings with Pilot before his crucifixion. Since being set up in Rome, pilgrims have been climbing the set of 28 stairs on their knees while praying a specific prayer on each step. It's a painful and humbling thing to do. The steps are so deep that they require you to literally crawl on your hands and knees up to the next step. The prayers consist of asking Jesus to help us better understand how much he suffered for us. The greater our understanding of His suffering, the deeper our love for him will grow, which, in turn, leads to a greater desire to pursue personal holiness and eschew sin. The prayers are prayed silently, and just watching others work their way up the stairs can be very moving.

(Pope Benedict - giving the Sunday Papal blessing)
Never in a million years did I imagine I would one day stand in St. Peter's Square and receive a Papal blessing from the Pope. Never in a million years would I have imagined I would have wanted to! But God's plans for us are so much bigger and better than any we have for ourselves. I have come to the conclusion that this amazing man has one of the greatest theological minds ever. His deep understanding of scripture and theology is on par with that of Saints Jerome and Thomas Aquinas. It was an exciting thing to be standing beneath his apartment window and see his smiling face appear. The Vicar of Christ personally acknowledged those of us on pilgrimage from our specific military base! And He prayed for God's blessings to be on us as we continue in our faith journey. After greeting different groups in 5 different languages he prayed for and blessed all of us, then those that could prayed together in Latin to conclude our time with him. Walking across the square, I was struck by the universality of Christ's Church. Knowing there are fellow believers all over the world and actually standing shoulder to shoulder with them are two different things. Seeing so many nations represented and hearing everyone's voices raised together in prayer was awe inspiring. And fun! As we left the square for lunch we walked past a group of people playing guitars and tambourines and singing and swaying as they praised God and I wanted to run over and join them! Such a feeling of unity and singleness of purpose permeated the air, and I know God was smiling. So were we.