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OLM
Parish Reporter IN Rome
School Continues IN St. Peter Basilica
(click on tiny picture to view original)
One of the sections of our sabbatical program includes
different lectures on the art and architecture of Roman and especially
the Vatican. Sister Jean Rae, a Sister of the Sacred Heart, inagurated
us into the beauty and finer points of St. Peter's. Approaching the Basilica
this day, I had a chance to stand in the place on which the Pope has his
chair for a general audience held outside on Wednesdays. This is the shot
on the left below. It gives a vantage point for his view of those viewing
him. The next photo is one of the doors to St. Peters in detail. This panel
happens to depict the martyrdom of St. Peter on the left and Pope John
XXIII kneeling on the right. A contemporary image on ancient doors.
Another door, the central door which is the most ancient is interesting
in many details. The photo on the left shows the surrounding frame-like
part of the door which includes plants, animals, images from history. It
is an informative and playful part of this door which in its main images
has Jesus Christ, The Blessed Virgin, Sts. Peter and Paul as their major
themes.
Inside the Basilica there are many and varied sculptures
and features to be viewed. The right two panels above show the coat of
arms of the Bernini Family of the main sculptor of St. Peters. His family
crest contained three bees and so these are evident on the bases of the
main pillars of the baldacchino as well as throughtout various sculptures
and images in the Basilica.
The Sculpture and window at the back of the Apse of St. Peter's show
another example of Bernini's work. Although most certainly not the actual
chair Peter say in, this indication of the importance and honor given to
Peter, first Bishop of Rome is grand. Another detail pictured in the center
panel is of the Validation of the Order of Hospitalers of St. John of God.
I chose to photograph this since St. John of God is the patron of one of
my previous assignments in San Francisco.
Bernini's Last Sculpture is pictured above. It is a monument
to Pope Alexander VII. This is truly an example of both his greatness and
the treatment of marble in such a way as to mirror the events and characteristics
of the scene. Notably on the left, the grand portrayal of cloth at the
base. On the right is a detail of the hand of death reaching out to the
Pope in the magnificent skeleton holding up the hourglass of time.
Sunday at Santa Susanna
In the church of Santa Susanna, the Paulist English-Speaking
church in Rome, there are many interesting facets of both the historical
church and modern day innovations! This is the church where we celebrated
the Feast of St. Francis with Archbishop Levada, Bishop Wester, Frs. Tom
Merson and Michael Padazinski, and seminarian Steve Lopes, as well as others
from the Archdiocese and California.
Pictured above on the left are two photos from
the church. First is pictured the chapel in the Confessio, the place at
the foot of the altar underground where in many churches like St. Peter's
there are the relics and burial places of the Saint. In this church this
chapel appears to be dedicated to the Blessed Sacrament. Next to that is
a photo of the ceiling of the church. Like most ceilings in Rome in the
churches, I photographed this to give some minimal idea of the why of our
church ceiling, decorated by Fr. Ryan, in imitation of these great ceilings
which were just painted, they were sculpted and decorated profusely.
The final photo above is of one of the many street
fountains in Rome dispensing drinkable water. This is one of the more ornate
ones both in depicting one of the God's dispensing the water as well as
the intricate foliage rendered in the marble. The fountain is on the street
going from Santa Susanna to the Quirinal Palace which is now the official
residence of the President of Italy. At one time this was the summer residence
of the Popes at the time of Gregory XIII - 1500's.
Another church of interest near the main train station,
Termini, in Rome is Santa Maria des Angelis. This church done by Michaelangelo
is situated in an Old Roman Bath. Interesting use of buildings in ancient
times. This is also an added thought provoker to those of us who have trouble
seeing church buildings as only one style of architecture. These baths
were a gigantic architectural space that was vacant. Michaelangelo was
commissioned to make the interior function for Worship. the Entrance facade
above is not really "churchy". As you walk into the building the first
huge room was once the ante-room to the baths. Then as you proceed through
an arch you come into the second room of the baths, the Hot Room. In this
space, he added an apse where presently the altar is situated and is used
for Liturgy as the third picture shows. The interest in this structure
is how the church in past times made use of available space and turned
it into a place of worship for the people. This is a truly grand structure
and the remainder of the baths are also a Roman Historical and Archaelogical
Building.
 .Background
is taken from Benini Bees on Baldacino pillars - crest of artists family
& signature.
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