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Parish Reporter IN Rome

 For all of you map buffs here is a little indication of where the North American College is in relation to the Vatican and also the worldwide McDonalds - Haven't been to MD yet even though we have to thank them for a free map of the city which gives you an idea of how close the college is to St. Peters.
Swiss Guards & Vatican Museum Entrance
 

 Saturday Morning Checking Things Out - Usual Sites.

   Saturday was a semi-free day before the work of the Institute begins. I ventured forth into the streets of the Vatican to check out some places of interest. As you can see the Swiss guards are on duty and the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel are continual items of interest and photographic intent.
  The afternoon saw the beginning of our formal program with a time of reflection, sharing and then Saturday Vigil Mass for Sunday. It will be interesting to see what it feels like to wake up on Sunday morning and not have to rush off to church. I say that this is an interesting way to begin the institute which is meant to give us a "different" time than normal and what could be more different than having Liturgy on Saturday Evening and Sunday Free. Wow!!
 

Morning Reflections on a quiet Sunday!!!!

   A quiet Sunday indeed. Last night we had another thunderstorm and I know that I must be an adjusted Bay Area native since it woke me a couple of times. The thunder was cracking and lightning bright as day. This is interesting since I thought I was used to it coming from the Midwest but not so, not so. As all of you in the Bay Area know a thunderstorm is much more disconcerting than an earthquake in some ways. But rest did come and now I am out and about for the day. Waking on a sunrise that is beautiful and cool is amazing and refreshing. To strive to become a real "sabbatical" person means waking with ease and ability to reflect and prayer and all that good stuff. After a morning of adventure the afternoon will be one of investigation with our teacher looking at churches for what they may tell us of the history of our church and its worship.
   From both my visits to Rome, I found it extremely moving to visit the crypt where the popes are buried. From St. Peter buried beneath the Papal Altar through John XXIII, Paul VI and John Paul I shown in order below, it is an inspiring and sobering site. The difference and decoration as well as the devotion surrounding these places of burial is inspiring. After watching the beginning of the Sunday Morning 10:30 AM Mass and seeing and hearing the choir chanting "Gloria in Excelsis Deo" - I moved on to the crypt and then out into the Piazza to another rainstorm.
 

  My afternoon with Fr. Paul Cioffi who will be talking with us about Liturgy in our program was also an inspiring way to spend a Sunday afternoon - quite different than NFL football and a nap as was usual at the parish. He took us on a guided, prayerful tour of St. Paul Outside the Wall and Santa Sabina. In origin, these are both 4th Century churches with impact on both Faith and Liturgy. Without boring you with details, one of the plusses of his leadership is the combination of facts with insight that should provide further help in visiting other landmarks with the eye of a tourist and an eye of faith.
  I say this because he pointed out that contrary to popular belief, early Christians were usually martyred outside the walls of the city of Rome - it would not have been right to do so inside the walls. Also, St. Paul must be buried at the church indicated because there is no logical reason for its placement away from the intensity of central Rome and St. Peters. Also, with the reverence of St. Paul this is the last place where his Basilica should be except also that it is in fact in the locale where there are burial places surrounding his which makes logical sense.

  Santa Sabina is classic - on the Aventine Hill - amidst luxurious homes and hotels today, it is a faithful showing of just how the church worshipped and believed in the early days. In fact, on the entrance door to the church there is found in small relief the earliest depiction of the Crucifixion - in the early days of the church the depiction of Christ in the worship space was ALWAYS the risen, glorified Lord and not as we think, the Crucified Lord.
  Also of interest is the fact that the decoration in this church is simple, centered around the Eucharist "Bread and Cup" and in the style of the day. the photos are not clear enough to tell but this church in its "primitiveness" has a beauty and story to tell all of us about what should be a concern for decoration of our worhsip spaces. Also, as you can see from the labeled photo of the church, the Paschal Candle stand is near the Pulpit because the central pattern of Mass is the Easter Vigil and even though there is no candle in it NOW, it is always present even when the candle is in the Baptismal area of the church.  This is important because it reinforces that each Mass is a time when we as church AWAIT the coming of the Lord. Listen to the prayers next time you are at Mass. The "Christ will come again" in our acclamation is why we gather to pray - not simply to be inspired to live another day - if we are honest we are gathering to welcome the return of the Lord, i.e. THE END OF THE WORLD!  Wow!!!!!!
 
Watch these pages for more intrigue on the LIFE AND STUDIES IN ROME of FATHER JOHN.
 
 
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