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OLM
Parish Reporter In Rome
Roma Roma
The Tiber River running through the city of Rome.
Not a very pretty river but one with much history and importance in the
city of Rome as well as in Literature and History. there are many bridges
over the river. This one of the more plain variety. The river is just at
the bottom of the hill where we live so I cross it daily amid traffice
and peril. Roman streets have very few pedestrian lights and so you cross
at your own peril. They do have cross walks but they are only useful if
you are not faint of heart and show more determination than the drivers.
I am still typing and composing so you know that at this time I have made
it across the streets for another day!
These two shots are of interest since they were
taken on a usual Saturday trek to St. Peter's Square. The church is also
at the bottom of our hill. this was a wedding which was letting out and
the bride was getting into the Mercedes in the picture on the left. The
picture on the right shows the wedding party leaving amidst the imfamous
84 bus in Rome and mucho traffic. Not at all like the sedate exists at
OLM to the parking lot and a casual leaving of the church. Just some interesting
shots of people, vehicles and the streets of Rome on an ordinary Saturday.
Tuesday Scavi Trip
On Tuesday after a full morning of classes, Mass and
a sack lunch the group took off on another EDUCATIONAL tour of the Ruins
under St. Peter's Basilica. Again on the way to the tour, I noticed another
indication of the City of Rome preparing for the year 2000. There is much
restoration going on in the city as well as inside the churches. The above
photo isn't renovation but a covering over the scaffolding of a building
being cleaned. I found it extremely interesting that this company wanted
to continue the fascination with art even while restoring. The mural like
rendition is colorful, nice looking and adds a little flair to the street
leading up to the Basilica rather than just some drap netting.
The excavations of the early site of St. Peter's
is a relatively recent phenomenon begun by Pius XII. In the process of
digging the place for the burial of Pius XI, they found indications of
ruins and areas under the main altar of St. Peters. Pius XII authrized
the excavations even at the time of the Nazis and all when there was real
fear that if sometihng valuable were discovered it might be taken away.
So with much secrecy, these excavations took place. There are no cameras
allowed in the ruins so you will have to come to Rome itself to see the
burial places they found and walk through the area under the Papal Altar
of St. Peter's to see the place where they truly believe they have found
the bones of St. Peter. There are many archaelogical factors involved and
too much to write here. However, it was so convincing that Pius XII requested
that he be buried very near this place and also Pope John Paul II after
he was shot requested that some part of these bones be brought to him in
the hospital which he still has in the Papal Chapel in the Vatican. An
awesome sight to behold. The picture above indicates some of the remains
of the original first basilica which are on display in the public area
as you leave the crypt of St. Peters. On an earlier page, I told of our
celebrating Liturgy in the crypt and that was at an altar just to the left
of the grave.
MORE TO COME with FATHER JOHN in Rome.