To Rome Again - May 2007

We have the possibility of another trip to Italy. TRS 2120 Christian Faith in Art is on the schedule for Spring Semester. If enough students register, we will blog weekly about sites we anticipate visiting, and then take off in mid-May for another 10 days of enrichment and spiritual growth.

Coming home

We've now been home from Italy for over a week. We're back at school, and life is so busy already that it's sometimes easy to forget that it wasn't so long ago that I was in Rome, walking along The Tiber with my friends or staring at the gorgeous mosaic on the dome of St. Paul's Basilica. But--despite the hustle and bustle of college life at St. Scholastica, my last semester before graduation--I will never forget my trip to Rome over winter break.

For the first time in my life, I was immersed in a foreign culture. And I saw works of art that I never expected to have the opportunity to see, certainly not this early in my life, and maybe not ever. I will never forget seeing Michelangelo's Sistine Chapel at the Vatican Museum in Rome, or his statue of David in Florence. I stood for the longest time staring at Leonardo da Vinci's "Gift of the Magi." I could have looked at these works of art all day without getting tired of them.

All of the churches we visited were rich in history. Almost every inch told a story. It is difficult to imagine all the people who have walked before us on our journey, but I know that many will follow us to Rome, in many ways the center of Christianity.

Our trip to Rome was about much more than simply exploring and studying art and architecture. As great as that part of it was, it was a chance for me to build memories that will last a lifetime. It was a chance for me to see a part of the world beyond my little niche in Duluth, Minnesota.

While in Rome, I hope I did as the Romans do. I ate four course meals at supper at 7:30 p.m. I got used there not being a Target just down the road. And I saw some amazing things: boaters on The Tiber, worshippers on the Holy Steps, and the unforgettable Assisi landscape in the morning. These are experiences that will stick with me as I continue my "regular" life in Duluth. These are the memories I will take with me. And I know that one day I will feel compelled to go back. I already do.

Angie

Saints in Rome Poster

Saints in Rome Poster, originally uploaded by cssrome.

I was taken with a phrase in Kayla's post: it sounded like an excellent slogan for one of those motivator posters for our journey. So I created one on Flickr. Anyone who wants to get a print of this, you can download it and have it printed any place that makes digital photos.

Final Thoughts

As strange as it seems, I'm not in Rome any more! Since we spent so many days there, coming back from our side-trips it honestly felt like we were going "home" as we crowded back into the Domus Carmelitana. Now we are all truly at home again and we can only look back at this trip; luckily, the memories are good! I loved this trip: the way it was structured, the people on it, the cities we were in... pretty much everything about it. It was truly a pilgrimage, and there were many moments where I felt that we had an edge on all of the other tourists there. It was a learning experience as well, because as I go through my pictures it becomes clear that I have a lot to say about each one. All of the people were so wonderful that I think some sort of picture-sharing reunion may be necessary. May we all carry the new knowledge with us and maintain the new relationships between us!


Ciao,

Kelsey

Home Again

Hello everyone! As you know we are now back in the United States!! It feels good to be home again but I'll miss the excitement of seeing new places and all the fun times we shared. Our journey home started at 4:30am with a wake-up call (about 9:30pm in MN) from there we left for the airport at 5:30am. Once there we had plenty of time to get through security to our gate. But once we arrived in Munich it was a little more rushed but not bad. Then there was the long flight to Chicago. At Chicago things got a little more hectic what with the different customs we had to go through, getting our luggage and rechecking it, then traveling to the other side of the airport, and another security checkpoint. By that time we all just wanted to be in Minnesota. But other then that the flights went well and we arrived in MN at about 6:45pm ( about 1:45am in Rome).

Overall it was a trip full of new places, ideas, and friendships and I wouldn't trade a second of it for anything. We began the journey just short of two weeks ago and have now made it full circle. We stood in places that people have stood in for thousands of years, we visited churches that people have prayed in for thousands of years and we've come away from that with a new outlook. We were presented with new ideas and ways to look at both art and faith. We met new people and each had our own unique experience that we were able to share with a group of great people. It was an amazing experience I'm sure none of us will soon forget.
~Kayla~

Comments Now Open: In Rome Together

A lot of folks greeted me today with, "Thanks for the blog" - it seems that quite a few people shared our journey to Rome with us. The map shows 1770 direct hits on the blog, and we know others who are reading via news aggregators.

This blog was experimental. We wanted to see its effect on students' experience of their journey and its meaning for them. We also wanted to explore this method of building community within CSS -- could we find a way to offer a shared experience? We think it has been successful at this too.

We turned off the COMMENTS feature of the blog while we were in Italy as a safety precaution: our photos and travel plans were posted. Now that we are home, we are turning on the COMMENTS feature - feel free to leave us a note here (publicly) or by e-mail if you have thoughts or questions.

(Sister Edith)
ebogue@css.edu

Travel Home

Wednesday was our day for traveling home. It began with wake-up calls for all at 4:30 a.m., and a departure by bus - one more trip with Eduardo, who had been so effective at getting us from one place to another. We arrived at Rome's airport with plenty of time for check-in. There we separated, and others will have to tell you about the trip from Rome via Munich and Chicago to Minneapolis. My travels took me to Frankfurt (and a real adventure, where I got to do what OJ Simpson did in the old commercials and run the length of the airport - but made it in just before they closed the door of the aircraft).

Our travels are over, so now begins the opportunity to reflect, pull out the important details and learning experiences. It was a wonderful trip; everyone said they were glad to have gone.
(Sister Edith)

The Great Journey FROM Rome ... and Back Again

It's not the walking that kills you, it's standing still. When you walk here, whether it is in Rome, Assisi or Florence, you are constantly thinking of something else, the street name, where you are going, how much time you have, etc. etc. But when you have to pause, even for a moment, for a speaker or a rest, that is when it comes creeping upon you like a shadow in the night, a slow agonizing account of all your aches and pains. Your feet, your arms, your thighs, your back, name a body part and I swear, it aches.

And you know when your grandparents (or parents) always reply to your complaints with "Well, I had to walk to school uphill both ways," and you scoffed? Obviously you've never been to Assisi.

Don't get me wrong , Assisi is a wonderful place. It was there and in the surrounding area that we were able to see the very roots of our St. Scholastican Heritage. But the HILLS! You DO end up going uphill both ways to go anywhere. The city streets seem to wind this way and that, up and down, sideways, zigzag, and upside down and backwards. But the view was worth all of it, and seeing where St. Francis did much of his life's work.

We saw a few of the churches and he rebuilt with his own hands. When we saw where St. Benedict stayed for three years and the back of the actual cave he stayed in, it was like looking through a window into history. There is so much about CSS and the story behind the sisters that we don't know that I don't even know where to begin and I've had the intro here!

Florence in general was ok, but I prefer Rome. I thought it was awesome to see David in the Academia, but they do not allow pictures and are really strict about it, to the point of making sure that your cameras are out of sight. The Uffizi Museum was a nice place to visit. It was in the Uffizi Museum that I saw my first portrayal of Christ being taken off the cross. It was kind of interesting and somewhat of a shock, as I had never seen one before. I liked the presentation of the baptism of Christ that was there. There are so many little details you see when you look long enough. That and the painting of the annunciation were worth the trip to Uffizi, not to mention Boticelli's Birth of Venus!

Once again art and history overload fried my senses so that I was glad to return to Rome and begin more adventures in a city that is more well known to me.
(Sunnah Maki)

Saying "Goodbye" to Rome

Well, this will be my last blog.

Yesterday we toured a few churches and saw many cool things. We started in Sant' Anselmo with Fr. Gregory and went around to a few others. We learned about the shape and style of a basilica and what each part is used for.

I had read in Heaven in Stone and Glass about how churches are shaped in the form of a crucifix. The heart of the church, where the priest often presides over Mass, is the area where the crucifix crosses. This is, for me, an indication that the church intends to offer Mass at the place where the heart of Christ would be positioned on the cross. It makes the word of God much more personal.

It will be so hard to say goodbye to a place that has been so extraordinary. As this is my first experience out of States, I have to say: it was a good place to start. I love the people, I love the food, I love the scenery. This was definitely a good idea. I hope everyone in their lifetime has a chance to have as good as an experience in a different culture as I have had.

Thanks to everyone who has followed us in our pilgrimage. Special shout out to Cedar girls and my family (all of whom I know have been on this page almost everyday). Thanks for reading!
Nina

(Nina is the last person on the right in the photo from Sant'Anselmo)

Saying Goodbye to Roma

Buon Giorno!

Today is our final full day in Rome. Tomorrow, the bus is going to be here at an early 5:30am to whisk us away to Munich! There are so many things I'm going to miss here: hearing the Italian language everywhere, watching German television, walking almost everywhere, and crossing the street knowing no one will hit you! It is going to be sad when I go home and can't say, "Let's run over to the Colloseum quick!" or "What kind of gelato are we going to get next?". I'm going to find limited opportunities to say the small Italian phrases I have learned through the course of this trip, too. It is going to be quite an adjustment going back to the US, but I am excited to see my family and friends again. This experience has been a once in a lifetime opportunity and I have to thank Father Graham and CSS for making it possible. What a great way to take a religion course! Going abroad for a course is a choice that needs a lot of consideration and effort, but it is worth it.

Ciao!
Amanda Barras

Group Photo: House Where St. Benedict Lived as a Student

We began the day at Sant'Anselmo, the university operated in Rome by Benedictines, with a lively and interesting presentation by Fr Gregory Collins, OSB, who teaches there.

His presentation had us trooping through the streets of Rome, visiting many early churches and learning about the stational aspects of liturgy.

One of our stops was at the house where St. Benedict is reputed to have lived - briefly - as a student in Rome. He became disgusted with the licentiousness of student life, and fled from this house to the cave in Subiaco that we visited earlier.

Fr Gregory is visible in the photo, standing beside Fr. William Graham.

(Sister Edith(

And finally...the Colosseum!

Finally, on our second to last day in Rome, we toured the Colosseum, one of the oldest buildings in Rome. We actually paid for a tour guide this time, and it was worth the extra Euro. Nothing inside was labeled, so it helped for the guide to point out some of the things we otherwise would have missed. For instance, she told us where the emperor sat and where the gladiators entered the arena. Afterward, after hiding in a cafe during a downpour, we toured the Forum.

Tomorrow is our last day in Rome, and we have it free to spend however we choose. We've seen everything on our high priority list, so it will be nice to relax a little bit and just see where we end up. The trip has been exhausting but extremely enjoyable and educational. I'm also very grateful that we were able to see Florence and Assisi. This trip has truly been an experience of a lifetime!

Angie

Ancient Rome!

We've spent quite a bit of time exploring the origins of the Christian church, discussing Constantine and the like. So today, after doing our final sweep of churches this morning with the wonderful Irish priest Fr. Collins, five of us decided a visit to the city that predates Christianity was in order. Although we'd been in the vicinity of the Colosseum and the ancient Forum, we hadn't taken the time to thoroughly explored the area. Today, braving the raindrops that oscillated between "sparkling" and "downpour" we got to take in Rome the way the ancient Romans would have.

We began our journey at the Collosseum. Although a bit suspicious of the people standing outside the ancient arena, offering tours, we decided to take them up on their offer and I'm very glad we did! The guide pointed out things I never would have noticed, such as the holes in the walls which were created by people pilfering iron for other buildings. Much of the building's marble is missing as well, but can still be viewed in the town's churches and palaces.

Included in our guided tour was a tour of the Forum. Due to the day's rain, we witnessed not one, but two accidents on the road along which we were walking to the Forum. What the cobblestone streets have in longevity, they certainly lack in safety!

I was very excited to stroll through the Forum, which was made possible through an irrigation system the ancient Romans devised that, according to our guide, translates into the "asshole of the world." We took lots of pictures, especially around the Temple of the Vestal Virgins. Nothing like headless statues to really make you feel good about yourself!

One day left in Rome. We're not sure what we're going to do in our final hours here, but I'm sure we'll find something spectacular as we have every other day. Ciao!

One Day Left

We're back in Rome after our trips to Assisi and Florence, and we've already seen a lot more of Rome we hadn't seen before. Today we toured a bunch of basilicas with Fr. Collins and learned about the history of the Catholic basilica. He gave very interesting talks on the different aspects of the churches we visited. We saw a lot of historically signficant things, like the doors that are believed to be the oldest carved-wood doors in the world, which were absolutely amazing. We also saw an orange garden believed to be the same plants as those originally planted by St. Francis and St. Dominic. All the churches we visited today were a welcome change from the palace-like churches we've seen thus far. They were much more simplistic, though still filled with beautiful symbolism and architecture.

Then, our small group decided to visit the Coloseum. We withstood a downpour of rain (actually we hid inside a cafe) after taking a guided tour of the coloseum. Then we took a tour of the Roman Forum, which was incredibly interesting, as we learned a lot about the history of ancient Rome from our tour guide, a gentlemen from New Zealand, who had a wonderful sense of humor! It finally dried up for our walk back to the hotel, but outside the internet cafe right now, it is once again pouring rain. We can't complain too much, as the weather for the rest of our trip has been impeccable.

We have a free day tomorrow, so we hope to get a little more shopping done, and see any last minute things before we head back to the States. It's been a fabulous trip and I've learned a ton about the Catholic faith and Italian culture as well.

Ciao!

Donna :-)

The Colosseum, Vespers, and David

Today I toured the Colosseum. A lot of the ruins (such as the marble seating) has been removed over time to rebuild other structures. The floor no longer reamains and it is difficult to imagine 50,000 people sitting there watching gladiators, wild animals, and public execuations. Beneath the floor there are still structures where animals where kept and could be raised by use of an elevator unto the floor of the arena above. It is mind boggling to imagine how old these structures are!

Last night we attended Vespers at St. Paul's outside the walls. Vespers, evening praise of the liturgy of the hours, is song and praise in Latin. This act allows Christians to participate in a holy experience which connects them with God. It is considered an act of homage and praise. Christians partake in Vespers to praise God for everything He has created and to gain intimacy with Him, while they can feel the presence of God and grow in their love for Him.

On Saturday while we were in Florence we went to see the David (by Michelangelo) at the Academy. There was also a fake David outside the Uffizi, but it did not do the real one justice at all. The true David was breathtaking, standing 13 feet tall and chiseled with more detail than thought imaginable. It looked like a real person trapped in stone. Veins stood out in his hands and arms, muscles were visibly flexed, and the furrowed brow and distinction between the iris and pupil gave David a truthfully worried appearance. It is the best piece of art I have ever seen.

Ciao!
Sandi

Good - Bye Italy.

Unfortunately today it is raining. However, we did get to start off with a great morning with a wonderful tour of San Maria and a couple others. We saw some great mosaics, it is just amazing how much work that must have been put into those. The pieces are so tiny and works are so very large. In St. Peters Basilica everything that appears to be a painting is actually a mosaic, except for in the small chapel, there is one painting in there. It is just so awesome, we see all these paintings and wonder how long they must have taken, but to see all those mosaics everywhere, on the floor, the domes, and the walls, its quite amazing, as many things here are.

As the day carried on we got a good amount of rain, which led a lot of us to a nap. I wish it would not have, but a lot of us needed the sleep. Tonight we will be going out as one large group for the last time. When we first got here I thought this trip was going to go slow because of all the things we were doing, but it is surprising how fast it went. I am excited to be home, but this has been a great experience. I feel like I have made a couple of truly good friends and I have created many memories which I will never forget. Tomorrow will be our last day and hopefully a great one, if the weather permits. But all in all this has been a great experience and I am extremely thankful that I had this oppurtunity. ( Brynn )

A Reflection on the Christian Artwork

On the close of our trip I would like to reflect back on the experiences that have moved me the most. The point of this class was to explore the idea of art as a tool in the Christian faith and I feel that I've learned so much by being immersed in the fabulous churches here in Rome. A particular experience that sticks out in my mind is our visit to St. John Lateran's. This basilica/cathedral was immaculately decorated with extravagant frescoes and mosaics accompanied by an elegant baldacchino. Upon entering the church, I was overwhelmed at the intricacy of the artwork as well as by its omnipresence. Even more moving, though, was when a choir began singing during mass. It made me feel as if the church itself was encompassing me and it was a very moving experience for me. It put into perspective how I think the creators of the church would have wanted one to feel while standing in it. The intricacy of their artwork astounds me because I cannot begin to fathom how much time, effort, and most importantly, love for God that was needed to create this atmosphere. It still strikes me to think that someone could be so moved by their religion that they want to elicit this same faith in the people that see their work. It is no wonder to me why the people here in Rome seem to care so much about their churches and their faith. I will be truly sad when this trip is over because I've enjoyed seeing these churches and sites and gotten quite used to the extravagance of the churches here. Oh, well. I guess all good things must come to an end.

Ciao!

Amy

A peaceful moment.

While standing in St. Pauls Basilica yesterday, I got a ture feeling of how large and wonderful all these churchs are. Even though St. Peters Baslica is quite larger than St. Pauls Basilica i felt its magnitude much more. We went to St. Pauls later in the evening to watch vespers, being there late like that we got to experience a much quieter church. Without so many people, as there is in St. Peters, you really understand how large and powerful all these places are. When I was standing up on the alter I could look out and see this huge empty church, there something about it when there are no people. Without tourists standing everywhere it feels much more peaceful and I get a greater sence of what it would have felt like to stand in one of these massive churches hundereds of years ago. I would love to have to oppurtunity to walk in to an empty St. Peters, that would be a truly powerful experience. ( Brynn )

Rain, Rain Go Away!

On this rainy day in Rome we managed to do some pretty neat stuff. This morning we meet up with Father Gregory Collins, and Irish man. He was very interesting. Father took us to three different churches around the area and was very entertaining. He had the most interesting information about the little churches such as one church has the oldest wooden carved doors in the world! Also, he taught us things about old traditions and little things here and there. It was a really nice tour he gave us this morning. After we left him I went down in to the tombs under St. Peters Basilica. All of the Popes are buried down there and it was really moving to see them and the people that go to see them. It seems that right now Pope John Paul II is the most popular grave sight. After we has been throught down there we escaped from the rain in our hotel for awhile! Hopefully it will not rain for the remainder of our trip! We have had such beautiful weather up until now.

Yesterday we went to mass and then vespers at St. Pauls church. During the day a big group of us went to the trevi fountain and then the Hard Rock Cafe: Rome. It was really great to have a little bit of a taste of America! I have seen so much on this trip and it is almost overwhelming to think about the gravity of some of the things I have seen here. It is going to be a trip that I will think about and remember for the rest of my life. I probably wont stop talking about it! Bravo to Father Graham for putting his all together for us! and also Sister Edith for this blog for everyone to see!

Samarah

Basillica

The word basillica has been used in many different contexts throughout history. Today during our tour, we were informed about it's meaning and given a brief history.

In the past, basillica has meant a meeting place. Most of the architecture of the ancient churches were based on the Roman courts, which were large enough for a gathering of people. Before Christian churches, the Pagens would have gather places of worship, but they worshipped differently. The pagens would come to the church and give their offering to the priest. Christians wanted a place for people to gather and worship together, so they needed something larger than the Pagen churches. This is why most of the historical churches have a large center aisle with two aisles on either side.

In Rome, there are only four papal basillicas: St. Peter's, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran (which is also the Pope's main cathedral), and St. Paul's Outside the Walls (which is the only papal basillica outside the old Rome city limits). Being a papal basillica means the Pope does mass there at least once a year.

I hope I have been able to tell you a little about basillicas and their history.

Kelsey M

SHOP

Throughout this entire trip I have spent most of my afternoons with the same people: the other Kelsey and both of our moms. Other people join us sometimes, yes, but the four of us are together through it all. More than anything else since we've been in Italy, we've shopped. There have been plenty of churches, don't get me wrong, but we don't seem to be able to just walk past all of those cute little stores. Each city has had something different to offer, so for those of you back home wondering where all the money is going, here's an overview.

Assisi was a great place. It was quaint, clean, and peaceful. There were no shortage of small shops there, offering Assisi's special embroidered cloths, Rose liquour and cheeses, and pottery. The stores were all small and there was a lot of variety, but this was better shopping for the moms than it was for the Kelseys.

Florence was bustling, much bigger and busier than we had anticipated. Its main offering in the shopping department was its outdoor market with street vendors stretching for blocks and blocks from just outside our hotel. The stuff here was very inexpensive, but I think everyone bought tons of stuff to make up for the low prices, so tons of money still got spent. The main purchases were scarves and leather items.

Then there's Rome, which is in a league of its own. They have it all here, from the vendors on the street to the Gucci and Fendi stores by the spanish steps. And we've shopped it all, although we didn't let ourselves go into the extremely expensive places. The thing that Kelsey and I are really excited for is our free day, when we can explore all of the great clothing stores near the Barberini Plaza.

Happy spending to all the other travelers, those at home just be excited for the gifts :) Tomorrow's the last day...


Kelsey

Pickpocketing in Florence

Buon Giorno!
As Nina mentioned earlier in one of her blogs, somebody from our group got pickpocketed. That was me! I can just sense my family having a heart attack right now. Don't worry! Nothing was stolen and I caught them. What happened was this. Nina, Sunnah, and I were on our way to see the statue of David in Florence. I noticed a young Italian couple behind me, but I didn't think they were theives. To be cautious, I put my hand on my camera in my pocket. They were still with us after a few blocks so I got suspicious. I turned to look and they were right behind me. I kept walking and I tried to call Sunnah and Nina's attention, but they were too far ahead of me to hear, as usual. We were walking on the sidewalk next to a bunch of parked cars so looked in the reflection of the cars and I could see the young woman behind me going through my bag! I turned and confronted her and put my bad in front of me. I called out to Nina and Sunnah and only Sunnah heard me. The couple was still following me! Finally, I glared in their direction and called them theives. They crossed the street, but still followed us until Nina's glare frightened them away. Thankfully, I had nothing of value in my bag and my money is carried in a little passport protector. I'm glad having that thing finally paid off because I look like such a dork with it around my neck! Hopefully, that is the only encounter our group has with pickpockets while we are in Italy!
Amanda

I'm loving it!

Today started off with a pretty cool headstart, went to breakfast, then we went to St. Susanna for mass and after that we went to the Trevi Fountain. During mass today there were a lot of people there because of Epiphany. It was pretty cool to see that many people there and just hearing at the end about St. Susanna.

Trevi Fountain is such a cool place. We got there and took a couple of pictures then after that instead of going back to the hotel, we decided to stay behind and shop a little but we all got hungry so then we decided to go eat at Hard Rock Cafe. This is my first time ever going to Hard Rock Cafe and that being my first time and in Rome was a plus plus. Being able to eat American Food like cheesburger and french fries and drinking pepsi tasted so good. I mean Italian dish are really good to but you know, just being able to taste a little American food made my day a good day. After eating at Cafe, went back to the hotel so that we can catch the bus and go to Vesper. After a long long long walk we finally made it back to the hotel, rest a little and then went to Vesper.

Vesper tonight was at St. Paul outside the of the wall. Even though I didn't understand it the cool thing about Vesper was that it was in Latin. After Vesper we went walking around the church and we found that there are 17 spaces left for 17 Pope before Jesus comes down. I felt better after knowing that! hahaha. But yeah anyways, I have to get going to take care everyone and see you guys soon!!! Ciao

mao

2 days left :(

Well here we are, we knew it would come, sadly the end is only a couple days away. It's so hard to imagine that we only have 2 more days before we have to head off to the airport again. It's been such an amazing journey and I know we'll end it with a bang.

Today we started off with mass at St. Susanna, another gorgeous church, that luckily for us is the American church here in Rome. It was a good service and the people were fun to talk to afterwards.

We then headed for the Trevi Fountain, which is spectacular! It's so big and it's always fun to throw a coin in and hope that one day you'll come back to Rome. Some of us then headed out for the Hard Rock café. It was a bit of a walk and we became distracted by more than a few clothing stores, but we made it there in good time and it was awesome and a bit comforting to have American food in an American atmosphere, if only for a little bit. By the time we got back to the hotel it was time to go to Vespers at St. Paul's outside the Walls.

It is an amazing church. I know we have seen a lot of beautiful churches by now but this has to be one of my favorites so far. It was a little bit simpler then most of the other ones which was its greatest appeal to me. I'm still not used to all the brilliance of the cathedrals here, they still overwhelm me, but St. Paul's was simpler compared to the others yet still gorgeous. We got there and Vespers had already started so we went and joined them right away. It was a very interesting experience especially since it was all in Latin. It made it a little harder to follow along but it was so beautiful to hear that it was easy to just go along with it. It was a great experience.
So far this has been an amazing trip full of amazing and new experiences. I can't wait to see what the last 2 days have in store for us :-)
(Kayla)

Back in Rome...

Well, we made it back to Rome and the bus ride was very nice, in my opinion, just because we could nap. When I was awake I did catch some amazing hillsides and scenery. Even the tunnels we went through were pretty neat...too long to hold my breath through, though.

Today was spent at mass and then a trip to the Trevi fountain. Father Greg at St. Susanna was humorous. His tour was short and to the point which was good. The Trevi did get one of my coins today, I will admit.

Again, we went shopping after our wonderful meal at the Hard Rock Cafe. I think it was unanimous that the flashback to American food was much needed. The walk back is always interesting and today, that meant the map was brough out several times and we walked past many more stores that we probably would've needed to. "I really want to come back here," is one of the most common phrases during these times of the day.

I was ready to sleep after our so so so long walking journey but it was off to St. Paul's Basilica. It looked like any church we've seen so far, beautiful columns outside and many statues surrounding, but I was really impressed with the inside. The pictures of all the popes circles much of the walls with some empty spots. I learned today that it is said that the end of the world will come and Christ will return when all the spots are filled with pictures of the popes (we counted 17 spots left so we figure the next few generations don't have to worry about themselves). Listening to the vespers in Latin was very interesting. It felt very peaceful and I took some time to sit and reflect. Faith is a powerful thing and my belief has taken on new meanings after learning some history of Catholoicism, even though I am a Lutheran. I am really enjoying our time spent here and am very glad I got the opportunity to come.

Emily

Santa Susanna

Today, we were able to worship at the American parish in Rome: following the U.S. ordo (so today was Epiphany again!) and using familiar prayers and language.

Santa Susanna is one of the oldest churches in Rome; people have been worshipping on this site for 1700 years, since the martyrdom of Susanna herself. The current church is built over the ruins of the original church (which was itself restored more than once).

After Mass, we were give a tour by Fr. Greg Apparcel, rector of the church.

After studying the story of St. Susanna in the paintings, we were allowed to descend below the altar into the ancient church, and see the site where the first prayer and worship occurred on this site.

(Sr Edith)

Sunnah's Photos

Sunnah shared some of her photos.

Check out the set "Sunnah's Photos" on our account at Flickr.

To go to our Flickr photos: click on the link or the photo box at the right to get to our photo account.

Notes on Our Journey

SUBIACO

We were privileged to visit the birthplace of western monasticism in the company of a good guide, a Benedictine of St. John's Abbey on loan to the Monastery of St. Scholastica: Fr. Franciso Schulte. Check out the photo of our group gathered in the monastery courtyard around the statue of our patron, St. Scholastica.

FLORENCE

Here's a good read for the art and architecture crowd: Brunelleschi's Dome: How a Renaissance Genius Reinvented Architecture, by Ross King (Penguin Books, 2000). This is the story of the construction of the world's largest dome over the Cathedral Church in Florence. It's a great story and an excellent book.

MODELING WHAT WE READ

Our dinner table reveals that students may have already read King's book. Like the Florentines, our students seem to have "placed great faith in the wholesome properties of wine. Drunk in moderation, it was said to improve the blood, hasten digestion, calm the intellect, enliven the spirit, and expel wind" (page 52).

A DEPORTMENT REPORT

Ours is an extraordinary group. They are intrepid pilgrims with adventuresome spirits and are excellent ambassadors for CSS abroad. Not only that, it is great fun to travel in their good company.

fr wcg

Carravagio

Today we met at 9:30 and went to a couple of churches and saw Carrivaggio paintings of St. Matthew. We went to another church and saw the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. They were both beautiful, however, my favorite thing was the catacombs of St. Sebastian. It was amazing being in there, they are so old with so much history behind them. They contained 500,000 buried Christians. during the fall of the Roman empire the bodies were moved and people dug threw everything looking for "buried treasure". after they hadn't found anything the catacombs were forgotten about for hundreds of years. It was just crazy being underground near these catacombs that had been created thousands of years ago.
We ended the day and the Coliseum, which was also quite amazing. We ended the day with a nice long walk back to the hotel.
(Brynn)

St John Lateran

(From early in our journey, posted now)
Today I saw many beautiful things including the Basilica of St. John the Latern and the Roman Forum. Both places were absolutely beautiful, so full of history.
I think it is amazing when I am standing in these old places that thousands of years ago the people were seeing or building some of the same things. Everything feels so full of life, I just wish my camera could capture what I see.
The best thing about being here is every time I turn down a different road there is something new to see. I can only imagine what the rest of the trip will bring.
(Brynn)

Florence, Assisi, Subiaco, and more...

Well, this is the first chance I have gotten to sit down and blog after the three day trip to Subiaco, Assisi and Florence. It has been beautiful. In Subiaco, we had the chance to see where the Benedictine branch of Catholicism started. It was cool to see the foundations of our school. Following that, we went to the Santa Scolastica Abbey to see and hear about Scholastica. Lunch was fun; all of us sat together and ate some simple sandwiches and chocolate and drank some wine.

Assisi was indescribable. The sun was setting as we got there and it created a great photo op from our deck. Visiting the town was great. Fr. Schulte led us around and pointed out things that were made before the time of Christ. Now that is old! Some of the highlights of the trip was visiting both St. Francis and St. Claire. After watching Brother Sun, Sister Moon, it was too cool to actually see where all of this took place. It was amazing to see how many people were praying to St. Francis at his tomb; it seemed so personal that I felt like I was somehow invading, but yet I was invited to stay. Later, we traveled to see the small church withing a church that St. Francis rebuilt after hearing a plea from God. Again, there was so much feeling that I was overwhelmed with awe. Watching people pray in the miniature church was so personal, it was almost comforting.

Florence was busy, full of people, and absolutely the best place to shop ever! After heading over to the Uffizi to see many religious artwork, we went to the Baptistry to see the golden doors on the east side. There are ten panels on the doors, each of them depicting a different story from the Bible. Next we went to the Academy to see David; he is SO TALL. It made me wonder how Michelangelo did it. Then we went shopping! (Those of you who are reading this and know you are getting gifts, Florence is where I got them!) It was very fun until one of my friends was pickpocketed! She caught them, nothing was taken. SCARY! We departed for Rome that night.
Today, we went to Mass in Santa Susanna. After Mass we headed over to the Spanish Steps and the Trevi Fountain. After a breif visit to both, we headed back to the hotel. Sunnah has been kind enough to pass her illness to me and Amanda seems to have hurt her foot on the trek to the Trevi. So we are all under the weather. I am not sad or disappointed; I have been fortunate enough to see all that I wanted to see while here. If I can make it two more days before getting deathly ill (like Sunnah is now), I will be utterly greatful to those above! Will blog soon!
Nina

On the Menu

Since we've been in Italy, I don't think that anyone has taken the time to write specifically about the food. Everyone knows at least a little about Italian food and most people like the familiar items: pizza and pasta! But really, it has not been anywhere near that simple. Food is very important to the Italians and to everyone really, so who better to hear from than the pickiest eater of them all: ME.

Breakfast is probably the least frightening meal of the day. Our hotels so far have always had breads and pastries as well as yogurt and juice. In Rome breakfast gets a little strange when you put milk on your cereal only to find out that it is not straight-outta-the fridge like at home but at room temperature instead. They had some decent pieces of fruit which helped to make up for this slight problem. Other than that you can usually find something to eat and people tend also to stash packs of crackers in their pockets for later.

Lunch is different because you really have some options available. This is the meal that we eat on our own, outside of the hotel which means freedom to not only choose a restaurant but also see a menu first! There are more than enough options available here, anything from a sandwich right from a street vendor, to a pizzaria with tables out in the piazza, to whatever type of sitdown restaurant you can find. The group I've been eating with has tried all of these, with the most interesting probably being the Argentinian restaurant we happened into. Lunch has definitely been fun.

Then there's dinner, which for us has been a very long, elegant experience. The restaurants we've gone to have been very nice places with multiple courses brought out one-by-one. This, most of the class was not prepared for. If we are getting a full meal -- as we did at the Roman hotel -- dinner starts with an appetizer-type course, something very small usually such as cheese, lunch meat, or a petite sandwich. The next part -- first course -- is usually a pasta, in smaller portions than we are used to getting at the Olive Garden. Still, after this, most people are full because we are used to pasta being the meal! But the second/main course is the next to appear, the meat and usually a vegetable as well. These have tended to surprise us, being prepared in ways that may look unusual but end up being delicious. The odd thing is that the salad comes next, rather than being prior to the meal as we would expect. And finally, the grand finale, what we've all been waiting for: desert! Our meals always came with something sweet at the end, in the form of fruit the first few days until they realized our overwhelming desire for chocolate. An example: provalone and bread with spinich pesto and a cold onion(?) salad on the side; rigatoni with marinara sauce; breaded pork with a vegetable of some green sort; salad with vinegar and oil; and peach halves and pineapple.

Each of the courses has brought at some point a completely unfamiliar food, but being brave has been key; trying it shouldn't kill me, whether I end up liking it or not. I ended up making many of my table-mates happy with the foods I rejected but they enjoyed! In the end it has all worked out and no one on this trip is malnourished by any means. Whatever happens with the meal, there's usually a gelatto place to be found just around the corner.


- Kelsey

Some thoughts on Assisi, Rome, and Florence

Today we're in Florence and I didn't realize how cold it is up in the mountains. This morning we got up really early and went to the Uffizi Gallery. We saw some famous artworks like "The Birth of Venus" which was incredible. Then we looked at the Duomo from outside (it's a Holy Day of Obligation so we can't go inside). The Duomo is the fourth largest dome in Europe. It's beautifully decorated on the outside. It was quite a sight! I'm very excited for tonight, though, when we return to Rome because it oddly feels like home to me. I can navigate quite well there and there aer so many beautiful and historical sites to see there. I've missed it since we've been in Assisi and Florence. I found Assisi to be a gorgeous city with some crabby people in it. Store owners do not like it when you touch their items before paying for them. It was very strange when compared to the niceness of the people in Rome. Assisi did, though, have a rich variety of historical churches that St. Francis built himself or was buried at. The people there are very fond of him, and with good reason, too. Hopefully when I return to Rome I will be able to finally see the Trevi Fountain and the Spanish Steps. Until then, ciao everyone!

Amy

Hello Florence!

Greetings from Florence! We have been traveling for the last two days and we will be returning to Rome this afternoon! Oddly it kinda feeld like we will be gong home because we have already spent so much of out time in Rome! We were in Assisi yesterday and it is a truly beautiful place! There were amazinf views everywhere you looked! After some time we were able to just wander around and we went shopping! We ran into a really cranky Italian, but that is the first time that has happened so far! We are in Florence today and we went to see the Uffizi gallery! There are all kinds of Leonardo Da Vinci works there and it was amazing ot see them! I have found that in Florence way more people speak english than in Rome! I thought it would be nice to hear more english, but it is kinda odd because then you get the people who yell things at you! Anyway, Italy has been really great to me so far! We have done so much walking, but it is really good for us! Everyone thinks they have lost weight between the walking and different meals! Last night was had a really great dinner, it was the first time I have felt full since we got here. I have seen so many amazinf things in this country. Words can not describe how fantastic it was to see the little church where St. Benedict lived in a cave or three years and his order was founded! Hard to believe there is so much still to see!

Samarah

La Befana - January 6

When we arrived in Rome, we encountered little dolls of witches on sale everywhere, and were told she is La Befana, and is celebrated at Christmas. Many of the dolls look more like American decorations for Halloween, so it was hard to understand why she is so beloved. Today, I found out. Today, the Feast of the Epiphany, and the journey of the Magi, is the day of Le Befana. I had the good fortune to meet La Befana on the street, distributing sweets to children. (I will post her picture later.) Here is the story of La Befana:

As legend has it the three Wise Men were in search of the Christ child when they decided to stop at a small house to ask for directions. Upon knocking, an old woman holding a broom opened the door slightly to see who was there. Standing at her doorstep were three colorfully dressed men who were in need of directions to find the Christ child. The old woman was unaware of who these three men were looking for and could not point them in the right direction. Prior to the three men leaving they kindly asked the old woman to join them on their journey. She declined because she had much housework to do.

After they left she felt as though she had made a mistake and decided to go and catch up with the kind men. After many hours of searching she could not find them. Thinking of the opportunity she had missed the old woman stopped every child to give them a small treat in hopes that one was the Christ child. Each year on the eve of the Epiphany she sets out looking for the baby Jesus. She stops at each child's house to leave those who were good treats in their stockings and those who were bad a lump of coal.

May we each search for the Christ child this year, carrying joy and celebration with us as we go. Buona Festa!

Sister Edith

Oh my goodness!

Well, I have been enjoying Assisi and when we got into Florence I was feeling pretty good. All the scenery is amazing and I am kinda disappointed that I can't get the pictures to show what it looks like in person.

We visited a lot of historic religious sites today and it's an experience to be in the place where a lot of important events took place. The walking today included many hills and I have learned to wear comfy shoes. I actually bought some shoes today at one of the shops and I am really excited to wear them.

Walking around is still an adventure because the cars do not slow down for you, even if the streets are the length of two small cars. I really like that about these towns. They are so pretty with the small cobblestone alleys and tiny sidewalks with all the little cars zooming past. They don't even stop for ambulances, which amazed me. Everyone seems very laid back and I like that atmosphere. I definitely do not like the fact that everyone smokes, though. It seems like a way of life here and I can't understand the desire for it I guess. We went to a cute pub in Rome and it was really nice because there wasn't smoking allowed inside. As soon as we stepped outside, however, with all the tables outside, it was like a cloud of smoke seeping into your pores and our jackets all smelled of smoke. I have aired out in the past few days though :) haha. Anyway, I will write again soon. I am really looking forward to the shopping here in Florence!

Emily

Assissi and Florence!

Oh my gosh Assissi and Florence are so pretty. I am in love with the two cities. Being able to explore and see where St. Scholastica started was so cool.

So far we've seen places where St. Francis decided to dedicate himself to God and where he died and churches that was dedicated to him or he made from scratch and let me tell you it is pretty interesting what I've seen so far.

I've also enjoyed the place where St. Benedict put himself in for three years, which was a cave in Subiaco.

After seeing place of both Saints including St. Claire, we then came to Florence which is a beautiful city. Our hotel is called "Hotel Corona" and it is on a street with so many cool shops. I just can't wait to go shopping and explore more of Florence. Although we only have one day to spend in Florence, it will be worth it. Seeing all the places where the Saints come from makes me wonder about religion. Well I have to go explore now so take care everyone and see you guys soon!!! Ciao

mao

Group Photo Saint Scholastica Abbey

Group Photo Saint Scholastica Abbey, originally uploaded by cssrome.

Here we are in front of the statue of Saint Scholastica, in the cloister (courtyard) of the only one of Benedict's original monasteries that is still standing. Thanks to Fr Francesco Schulte for doing the photography so we can all be in the picture.
(Sr Edith)

Assisi!

While yesterday was dedicated to the Benedictine tradition, last night we rolled in the hilly town of Assisi to investigate the life of St. Francis, the patron saint of Italy. The town itself is a lovely break from Rome; finally, a bit of calm! Our first impression of the town was watching the sun set behind the mountains in the distance in a raspberry-colored sky -- definitely not a bad way to begin!

Assisi definitely lends itself a little better to window shopping than Rome does. This can largely be attributed to the fact that you needn't worry quite so much about being run over, backed over, broadsided, etc., by passing traffic, as you have to in Rome. It's a fun mix of religious souvenir shops, bottegas, and speciality stores in Assisi. My favorite store we stumbled upon was an art store selling bright rendering of Assisi and nature, where the artist quietly sat in the back, working at her bench. It's always nice to be able to see exactly where your money is going, and as I placed my euro in her paint-splattered hands, I certainly felt that I was helping someone else do what they love in life.

This morning Fr. Schulte gave us a tour of the churchs and sites in the city significant to the lives of St. Francis and his female counterpart St. Clare. It was fascinating to see churches St. Francis repaired with his own hands, as well as the place where he died so symbolically. Especially intresting to hear was the story of how St. Clare defended the town of invading Muslims by standing on the balcony of her church and holding the Holy Sacrament over her head.

Now we've arrived in Florence, which seems to filled to the brim with English speakers. It will be fun to see what stories we will hear here. I'm excited for the Uffizi and Duomo tomorrow!

Now in Florence!

Today we explored Assisi and saw the church St. Francis rebuilt, where he was born, where he died, and the church that was built to honor him (and where his remains are). We also were able to see the church built for St. Claire.

Before going on this journey we watched a video about St. Francis which enabled us to be more well informed of his doings and let us better visualize what he did in Assisi and how God told him to try to fix the corruption in Christianity. This tour through the town is one of the most interesting aspects of this pilgrimage so far. Assisi was a lot easier to naviate through than Rome and it had many interesting shops to visit.

After a couple hour bus ride we have arrived in Florence! We have not been able to explore the city yet, but did have the opportunity to try some lasagna and meet people from Wisconsin. We will wake up early tomorrow and go to the Uffizi (and hopefully get into it!), see the Cathedral Duomo, and the convent of San Marco. Afterwards we will head back to Rome for our last 3 days!

Ciao!
Sandi

A piece of CSS history

Yesterday we got a little bit of a break from all the walking and took a bus to Assisi, a smaller town north of Rome. It was fun to see some of the Italian countryside - green hills, steep mountains, and even some small vineyards along the road. Life outside of Rome is so much calmer and quieter!

On our way to Assisi, we went to Subiaco, where St. Benedict founded his order, Fr. Francisco Schulte led a very interesting tour and we all saw how the Benedictine tradition began. The chapel there is built right into the side of the mountain, and we prayed in the same cave that St. Benedict lived in for three years while he was pondering God's plan for his life.

Our traditions at the College of St. Scholastica have their roots right at this very place, as St. Scholastica was St. Benedict's sister. The history of the Benedictine tradition would not be complete without both of these influential religious figures.

Visiting the santuary made that tradition come alive; it made these saints seem like real people for maybe the first time since I've been attending St. Scholastica.

Afterward, we traveled to Santa Scholastica Abbey, which has a beautiful church and statue of St. Scholastica in one of the courtyards. There, we had a group photo taken.

Last night was spent roaming the streets and visiting the shops of Assisi. It is a quiet and beautiful city, and we were able to see the sun set against the pink and blue sky from the balcony of our hotel. It was gorgeous.

A few hours ago, we arrived in one of the places I've been most anticipating - Florence. Some of the world's most famous works of art rest in the Uffizi Gallery where we will go Saturday before returning to Rome. The days just keep flying by here in Italy. Ciao!

Angie

Firenze

HELLO!! We just arrived in Florence, dropped off our luggage at the hotel and headed out for some dinner on the town. We stopped at a lovely little pizzeria and had some delicious lasagna and Coca-Cola. We met some people from Wisconsin while eating...they had overheard us talking about the restaurant Culver's, of all things, and had to stop and say hi. We also met a couple from England who said the trek to the top of the dome here in Florence was quite the experience...even longer than in Rome.

Earlier today we were in Assisi learning all about the extraordinary life of St. Francis of Assisi. We visited several churches dedicated to him, including two that St. Francis himself built. We also visited the church dedicated to one of St. Francis' followers, St. Clare. Then we moved on to the church that contains St. Francis' tomb. It was a beautiful church and full of visiting pilgrims. Assisi was a welcome retreat from bustling Rome. It was much more peaceful, less crowded, and full of quaint little shops which we made sure to stop in!

I'm now looking forward to our day in Florence. We plan to visit the Uffizi Gallery and get as much of a taste of the city as we can in our short time here.

Ciao from Firenze :-)
Donna

Sacro Speco, Assisi

We had a wonderfully spiritual tour of Sacro Speco, the churches with St. Benedict's holy cave -- with wonderful photos -- but (unfortunately) no uploading possibilities in this Internet cafe.

Yesterday (Thursday) we spent exploring Benedict's spirituality, both his attention to an ordered way of life and the way of love in community. Today we are in Assisi, experiencing another of the great charisms of the church: that of St. Francis and St. Clare. Their lives of poverty, and of joy in all of creation, are evident everyewhere in this medieval town. We visited San Damiano, the church which St. Francis rebuilt stone by stone, and the Cathedral of St. Clare. Like Subiaco, there is too much here to see (or take in)in one day. We will have much to chew on for months to come.

(As soon as I can get better access, the photos from Subiaco will be posted on Flickr with a linke here)

(Sister Edith)

Getting Back to Benedict

After experiencing a bit of sensory overload in the bustling city of Rome, we packed our bags yesterday and boarded the bus to head for the Italian countryside and the town of Subiaco. It wasn't long after rolling out of Rome until we were greeted by mountains topped with little townships. Although it's winter here, the grass is still so green and the trees so exquisite that it's easy to overlook this fact.

While I suppose I've been a part of the Benedictine community for the past four years, ever since beginning at the College of St. Scholastica, never before have I felt so connected with the Benedictine tradtion as I did yesterday at Subiaco. While studying abroad in Ireland with CSS in 2005, I had the opportunity to visit Kylemore Abbey, run by Benedictine sisters in the Connemara region of Ireland. There, I not only had my eyes opened to the truly global connections St. Scholastica has due to its Catholic faith, but also purchased a copy of Benedict's Rule, ironically enough published in Collegeville, MN!

The stories of St. Benedict and his twin sister, St. Scholastica, are always in the air at our Duluth campus, but for me, it wasn't until we visited Subiaco that I realized how truly amazing and influential these two people were. This town hosts the cave where Benedict spent three years contemplating his faith, eventually emerging to form his order. Looking at the height and treacherous nature of the mountain on which the cave rests, I could only wonder how anyone would be able to find the dedication to remain in such a remote place. To think that a lowly cave could lead to the founding of a religious order that has spread across the world, from Subiaco, to Ireland, to Duluth, is simply astounding, displaying the power of individual faith in a way I had never before considered it.