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.

Rome, now Assisi

We have done many exciting things so far in Rome. I have especially enjoyed seeing St. Peters, especially since we had learned about it before. I even climbed the 320 steps to the top of the copula yesterday. The catacombs were very interesting and very large! There is an unbelievable amount of beautiful churches everywhere, it is almost too much to take in. The Sistine chapel was beautiful and the Vatican museum contained so much that we only saw a small portion. There is so much to see!

Today we ventured to Sacro Speco and Santa Scholastica, and now we are in Assisi. It seems like a very interesting town and very hilly---like Duluth! Tomorrow we will travel to Florence. It has been fun to see some of the countryside and to not have to walk everywhere.

I enjoy observing the culture here, it is so different than the U.S. There are no real grocery stores and everyone eats delicious gelatti all the time.

Back to exploring Italy...
(Sandi)

Ciao from Assisi!!

We're having a blast here in Italy. We left Rome this morning and visited Subiaco and saw the Sacro Speco Santuary where St. Benedict was a hermit for 3 years. It was an absolutely amazing church built on the side of a mountain on top of the cave where St. Benedict stayed in the 500's. We also visited the St. Scholastica Abbey and had a wonderful tour of the church and the courtyards by Fr. Schulte. The view from both places was fantastic, though the bus ride up the mountain was a bit precarious. I had to close my eyes a few times.

Rome was magnificent as well. We visited so many places and rang in the new year in style, watching fireworks over Castel Sant' Angelo. We also made the trek up 320 stairs to the Copula at St. Peter's Basilica and took in the view over the city of Rome. Another highlight for me was visiting the Trevi Fountain and throwing a coin over my shoulder signifying that I will once again travel to Rome.

Hi to all back home. I hope you are having a great start to 2007!!!

On our fourth full day in Rome, we visited the Vatican Museums, with a guided tour by Fr. Graham. Although it was somewhat crowded (this is still the Italian holiday season, and there are lots of Italians who have come to Rome to see the sights!) we were able to spend time with Michelangelo's Pieta, and to be immersed in the richness of the Vatican collection.

Walking in Rome

Walking in Rome, originally uploaded by cssrome.

We have been having beautiful weather - a few mornings with drizzle, but then clear skies and warm temperatures.

Rome has hundreds of these tall trees -- they seem to be some type of evergreen -- with the greenery only at the very top, with the limbs making a variety of intricate designs.

I could not resist capturing the deep green against the blue sky yesterday. This is a gorgeous city!

St. Mary Major

Yesterday, Kelsey, her mom Kim, my mom, and myself went to St. Mary Major's church. This is the only one of the four basilicas that the class is not seeing, so we decided to see it on our own.

This church is absolutely huge! In relation to the other four basilicas it is about average. However, since the US and especially Minnesota, doesn't have many large churches, everything looks big! When you walk into the church you are just overcome with beauty. Everything is covered in gold and looks so ornate.

There is a baptisimal area off to the right of the main area. This to me was really interesting since it is so different than what we see for baptism today. People used to be submerged in water for their baptism and they didn't get baptised until later in thier lives as adults. The baptisms used to happen in large, ornately decorated pools that were in the churches. Now, most of the baptism areas have a smaller tub placed in the center to represent where baptisms used to be done.

The alter dedicated to Mary is absolutly breathtaking. There is a lot of gold around, making everything look very ornate and delicate. There were also lots of red and gold poinsettas around, decorating the alter area. This church had so much detail that talking does no justice. I'm very glad that we visited St. Mary Major to see to last of the 4 basilicas.

Kelsey M

view from the top

Today we spent the entire day at the Vatican. By 8:30 we were in line to get into the Vatican Museum, which ended up being quite an overwhelming yet still stunning experience with so many things to take in. From there we grabbed lunch from one of the vendor's stands and went to wait in line for St. Peter's security. Luckily we got through quickly and got to lounge for a while in the near 60 degree sunshine! Father Graham gave us a great tour of some of the highlights of St. Peter's, making that portion of the day significantly more digestable.

After all of that there was still more of the cathedral to experience, in fact the very worst and the very best parts of the day. We got into a reasonable-looking line to get up to the top of the dome, but ended up moving -- very slowly -- from one line to the next for well over an hour! We stood and waited and almost left.. but finally made it to the front of the line to find a shockingly high price of 7 euros just to get to the top. First came the cramped but fairly quick 3 floor elevator, then the less bearable narrow, slanted steps, and finally the tiny & winding stairs to the very tip top (320 steps total, to be exact). The view was unbeliveable! No photograph could ever do justice to the sight of a sunset over the city on one side, St. Peter's square by Bernini to the front, and the moon rising over the city and distant mountains to the other side. I promise to get my pictures up here as soon as I can, just to give a taste of the sights. As if that isn't enough, we also got a much closer look at the decorations on the inside of the dome, decorated by Michelangelo himself. We stood there for so long, just gazing at the spectacular pictures and listening to the evening mass as it happened below. I could not be happier that we chose to take the long journey to the top!

Losing Sight of the Big Picture and Looking at the Parts to Get it Back

There is so much to say but such a difficulty to express everything in words or even thoughts as opposed to feelings and understanding. Today we went to the Vatican Museum and the Sistene Chapel. It was so overwhelming that you begin to just waltz by magnificent objects and works of art not really caring as you did in the beginning. That is the way it is in the entire city of Rome and with this whole trip, you can only take in so much and as the day goes on things lose meaning and significance that they would have had in the morning or on another day. So I will talk of one thing at a time and hope that you will all hold the enthusiasm that you should have when thinking of what has to be said. When I got overwhelmed in the Vatican Museum, I just went to the Sistene Chapel, sat in the back and focused on two things, "The Last Judgement" and the painting of the Last Supper. It was just fascinating to actually take time and disect the paintings and see all they had to offer. I personally had not done in depth research about these paintings, so seeing the contrast of colors and objects in the paintings to make you think on their meanings was just a treat. When I noticed the little demon on Judas' shoulder in the last supper and the dark cloud behind the crucified Jesus in the window shown in the back right of the painting, made me look at the whole picture a lot differently, made me notice other things because of the connotation of the things I saw before. The Last Judgement is just overwhelming as a whole, it just never seems to stop. There seems to be paintings withing the painting, just too much to go over in such a place as this. Perhaps another blog, by another blogger.

St. Peter's and the Vatican Museum

Okay, so today we toured the Vatican Museum and St. Peter's. They were so big and overwhelming that my neck hurts from looking up. Nothing a goodnight's rest won't cure!
At the Vatican Museum, we left the hotel around 8:20. There was a line about 1/3 mile long just to get in the front door. It went fairly quickly (thank the Man Upstairs), and we got in after about 30 minutes. Then we booked it to the Sistine Chapel. It wasn't too packed when we arrived so we had time to look around. It said no pictures or talking...so of course there were pictures being taken and talking going on. Ah, we did our best to appreciate what we could get.
For our assignment, we were asked to find five representations of the Crucifixon, the Baptism, or the Last Supper. I picked the Baptism of Christ and found, on my own, a total of three representations (guess I picked the hardest, either that or I was looking through closed eyelids). One was on the wall while going down the stairs. It was very small and done in orange and blue. It was done in a geometric style. John the Baptist is pouring one single stream of water from is palm onto Jesus. It is stunning even though it is small in size. Another representation was in statue form. About a foot tall, it has just John and Jesus, John holding a small plate over Jesus's head. The third one I found was in the Sistine Chapel. It was at the left as soon as I walked in. It fit in with the depictions around it quite nicely.
At the Museum, we saw a painting with a man being crucified head down. At first we didn't know who it was. Later, at St. Peter's we found out from Father Graham that it was St. Peter. He didn't feel worthy enough to be crucified like Jesus. Sometimes, that's how I feel here. Some things I don't do because I don't feel like I am worthy enough. Some people say that is crazy, but now I can say, "Look at what St. Peter said! He didn't think he was worthy either!" It gives me a security blanket.
So, it was an exciting day. Tomorrow we depart for Subiaco, Assisi and Florence. Will write when we are back!
Nina

Another beautiful day in Rome

Buon girono!
Today is the first chance I've gotten to blog. Today we got up early to wait in line at the Vatican Museum. There was so much there! Too much to look at, in fact. Nina, Sunna, and I mainly looked at the Modern Art Exhibits, the Christian Art museum, the Ancient Egypt museum, and the Sistine Chapel. It is indescribable and the pictures that were taken can't do it justice. I myself didn't take any pictures, but plenty of people were ignoring the signs stating that there were to be no photos, no flash photography, or any talking. Sunna and I spent hours sitting, just taking in the beauty of the ceiling and the walls.

Next, we visited the Vatican. After a brief wait in the security check line, Nina, Sunna, and I found our way beside the Basillica of St. Peter. The basillica is amazing from ceiling to floor. There were so many things to look at, but the thing that caught my eye the most was a painting of a sister praying at a window; she can't see is that Jesus appears right before her. This doesn't sound extravaggant but light from a nearby window was falling on the mosaic, right onto Jesus' head and halo! It was one of the most beautiful things I've ever seen, and that means something after I have just seen the Peita and the Sistine Chapel!

Holy Year Door with a Small Child, St John Lateran

Holy Year Door with a Small Child, St John Lateran, originally uploaded by cssrome.

Nina took this amazing photo at the Cathedral of St. John Lateran. The small child lets you see just how immense these doors actually are.

This is one of five doors into the church. These particular doors are only opened during a Holy Year, such as the Jubilee Year 2000.

(Great work, Nina!)

Yay for Rome!

Hey everyone,

Internet time obviously hasn't been very high on my to-do list. I am having so much fun here! Rome has been an amazing experience so far. All the walking makes me feel less guilty about all the gelatos (ice cream) we've been buying. Usually we're so tired by the end of supper that we start nodding off before dessert.

It has been interesting with crossing the streets, Mao trying to learn Italian phrases, and getting lost in the tiny streets throughout the city. We have learned that window shopping is best for our bank accounts. However, those poor things will probably be drained by the time we compare prices and return to the stores for the fifth time.

All of the different churches and all of the history we're learning about the city is overwhelming at times. I am learning a lot, though, and I'm getting some great pictures. I am really excited to go home and get them all printed.

We saw the Pantheon a couple days ago. I am glad it hasn't rained much at all since we've been here. That could've gotten interesting.

We went to see the bones of 4,000 friars at one of the churches today. They didn't allow pictures, but I did get a postcard of it. It was kinda funny to see all the intricate work and name all the bones on the walls. The Caravaggios were amazing too. I really liked the Ecstasy of St. Teresa. Let me just say that pictures do not do that statue justice.

A few of us paid a little extra today to take a tour of the Colosseum, Paletine Hill, and the Roman Forum. It was very well worth the little extra. Being at the sites while learning their history makes it so much easier to remember. I think that has been the highlight of the trip so far for me. It doesn't come far behind the excellent plane ride sitting near Kayla, Mao, and Aaron. Sorry for waking you guys up so much...haha. I just hope that someone will be able to push me back onto the plane home. A flight over the ocean, I've discovered, is not my cup of tea. Anyway, I am really looking forward to Assisi and Florence!

Arrivederici!

Emily

Rome Day 4!!

Hello from Italy!! It is day 4 over here and so far it has been great!! It has been an interesting 4 days full of walking, looking around, and more walking

Today we went to see lots of art and bones. First we started off seeing 3 of Carravaggio's paintings of Saint Matthew. They were gorgeous.

Then it was on to see The Ectasy of St. Theresa sculpture by Bernini.

After that we went to The Crypt of the Capuchins. It is a church which has 6 crypts that contained art by the Capuchin Friars which they made from the bones of their deceased brothers. It was very interesting to say the least.

Then it was off to see the catacombs at San Callisto. We went down to the second level (which was far enough at 30ft down) and it was a very different and interesting experience.

Then we were dropped off at the Colosseum where we paid a little extra and got a tour of the Colosseum, the Palatine Hill, and the Forum. It was well worth the extra money to know what everything meant.

Then it was time for another gelato (so far I've had chocolate, Bacio, and now Raspberry :)), it was excellent!! So far we've had an awesome time even with the slight language barrier and narrow, similar looking streets :).
Until next time, Ciao! Kayla

Fourth Day in Rome!!!

Hello (Ciao) everyone!
Rome is a beautiful city, it is worth visiting. I like it here a lot. Besides the people, the structures, churches, and food are really good.
The Coliseum, skull church (Santa Maria della Concezione), and Catacombs are amazing to see. All I can say is that it has been a wonderful time here.
All the walking has tired me out, but it is worth it because there are so many beautiful things you can see here.
I can't wait to go to the Vatican and hopefully see the Pope one of these days. Well if I was rich I would buy everything here because they are so nice. Everything here is super duper great!!!!
Ciao Ciao! Mao

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus

Catacombs of Saint Callixtus, originally uploaded by cssrome.

We toured the Catacombs today. Photography is not permitted; this photo is from the web site of the Catacombs of Saint Calixtus.

Capuchin Crypts: Memento Mori

A previous group of students studying Christian Faith in Art asked that a trip to the Capuchin cyrpts be included in the tour. These crypts represent a spiritual work of art, designed for its impact on the emotions and the soul. Fr. Graham found these crypts to be a powerful experience of the connection between faith and art, and has included it in every trip since.

Capuchin friars, hundreds of years ago, desired to express the Christian belief that death is not the end of life, but its beginning - leaving behind the temporal (including our bodies) for the eternal. They also wanted to keep that reality foremost, to avoid any strong attachment to the things of this world.

They chose to work in a most unusual medium: the bones of the deceased members of their order. They received permission to unearth the remains of 4,000 of their confreres, and use them to create works of art.

These are truly artistic works. The monks had an eye for the natural curves of the human structure, and developed designs based on these curves: borders, patterns, and more. Each of the six rooms is different, filled with intricate patterns.

The primary purpose, though, is the spiritual impact. Several of the rooms include a skeleton, dressed in his Capuchin robes, standing as though to work, walk, or preach. In the last room, three skeletons stand to one side. A small sign, printed in several languages, reads:

"As you now are, we once were. As we now are, you will one day be."

Bernini - St. Theresa in Ecstasy

Students in TRS 2777 had read about Bernini's sculpture - how he tried to capture the richness and the sensuality of St. Theresa's mystical experience of Christ. Several had written short papers on the subject - but had never seen the sculpture itself.

Today, we were able to visit the church where this magnificent piece of art is housed. The church itself is not well known, nor does it house any other art works that are highly regarded. Yet it receives a steady stream of tourists, all come to see this one piece.

I have posted a small picture of the statue itself, but it simply cannot do justice to the experience of seeing it in person.

More information is available on Wikipedia .

Caravaggio

Next time I teach this class, here’s a new(er) book we’ll read: Caravaggio: Painter of Miracles, by Francine Prose (HarperCollins, 2005). We’ll go off tomorrow to the Church of San Luigi dei Francesi to see three paintings done by Caravaggio who was much reviled in his own time, the 1600s, and not discovered and appreciated until the 1950s.

We’ll see The Calling of St. Matthew¸ another depicting Matthew’s martyrdom, and a third entitled The Inspiration of St. Matthew. About this last one, Prose writes that the saint kneels at his desk, “writing, and turns to find an angel suspended in the air, hovering over his shoulder, distracting or reminding him of something that belongs in his gospel” (8). Prose had watched a tour guide speak about these paintings, suggesting that they notice that the gesture of Jesus in The Calling of St. Matthew recalls God’s gesture in Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam, but adds “There is nothing she is telling them that they need to hear, and the power of the paintings is drowning out her voice (9).

We’ll stand before those paintings in the morning and consider the power of art to teach, and the power of inspiration which enflames the human heart.

Look at the previous post about Pope Benedict speaking on art and the comment from the Catechism I appended to it. (fr wcg)

Enjoying Rome

We’re finally in Rome! It certainly seemed long enough in getting here, especially with the three necessary flights, but now I’m slowly adjusting to the Italian way of life.

Some things I’m finding very pleasant – gelato, spaghetti alla Carbonara – others, like the crosswalks, are taking a little more getting used to. There’s a bit of culture shock going around, what with a more holistic orientation toward time which means much more time spent at meals than we Americans are used. It’s definitely been a measure of patience as we try to decipher maps, figure out when stores and internet cafes are open (with Sunday and the Holy Day of New Year’s Day it’s been a bit dodgy to find open grocery stores and the like), and struggle with the language barriers.

We’ve done a fair bit of wandering around the city, exploring the many churches and other intricacies of the city. Today we had a chance to walk pass by the Coliseum and the Forum. As with our viewing of the Pantheon yesterday, I’m in awe of how old these things are. After reading so much Greek and Roman mythology when I was growing up, it’s hard to believe that places that honor the ancient gods still remain. One of the most interesting things of note in the city is the celebration of Epiphany, which has filled the Piazza Navona with a Christmas market.

There’s still so much to see and do though. The Spanish Steps definitely need to be visited, as does the Trevi Fountain. The Temple of the Vestal Virgins will certainly need to be inspected a little closer as well. But until then, arrivederci! Ada

Catching Up

Hello all! Finally, a time to sit down and fill you in. The plane ride, my first, was so much fun! The landing in Munich was a little sudden (and scary) because of the fog, but other than that, what a roller coaster! When we got to the Rome airport, I was so tired! I didn’t manage to sleep on the 8 hour 20 minute trans-Atlantic flight, so the nap was well needed.

The next day (Dec. 31) my friends and I traveled all the way to the Coliseum and Ancient Rome. It was so unreal. In the morning, we went to Mass in an English speaking church. It was very similar to Mass at home, but the view was undoubtedly better. Afterward, Father Graham and Father Hentges led us to the Pantheon and the Piazza Navona . The Piazza had their Christmas fair going on; it was so interesting to see all of the vendors and performers. Somehow we went south and ended up right at the steps of the monument of Victor Emmanuel. It was breathtaking. The contrast of the white stone and the red city is so obvious, the building just pops where ever you look. Despite all of the happenings during the day, night and the New Year’s celebration was spectacular. On the roof of the hotel, we could see fireworks from all directions. I could not think of a better way to bring in the New Year.

On the first day of 2007, we ran into some problems. Most of the areas we were scheduled to visit were closed! Sad day! But that didn’t stop us! We trekked over to the Botanical Gardens. They were closed too, but there was a path along side. We stood on our toes and hung our arms over the fence to get great shots of the trees. Coming out of the Gardens, we saw the Garibaldi Monument. Garibaldi fought for the free Republic of Rome. It was so interesting to see.

So, now that I am done checking in (I am okay Mom), I am going to go rest my feet until dinner tonight! Will write soon! Nina

Rome, Day 3

It’s day three in Rome! The jet lag has not completely disappeared but I have been able to explore the Eternal City a bit, sometimes with no particular destination. There is so much to see and do here, but many popular destinations have been closed today and last night for the holiday. Still, we’ve gotten to see the Pantheon, the Forum, and the Coliseum. We need to go back to the Forum and Coliseum for the official tour before leaving the city.

Last night I attended Vespers in St. Peter’s Basilica. It was packed! The basilica is enormous, and being in the presence of the Pope was an almost unreal experience. We have also ventured into various other churches, and the architecture and art has been astonishing. St. John Lateran was on our agenda for today, and we also saw the steps that, according to legend, came from Jerusalem. Pontius Pilot was said to have sentenced Jesus on those very steps.

The culture (and language barrier) has at times posed a problem. It took a while for us to get lunch yesterday – close to two hours for pasta – and we have yet to find a nearby internet café. I don’t remember the last time I’ve gone this long without using the internet! Another oddity of Rome is the lack of public toilets. For the most part, however, Rome has been fantastic. I can’t wait to see more! (Angie)

Group Photo Coliseum

Group Photo Coliseum, originally uploaded by cssrome.

We all visited the Colisseum today. Fr. Jim Hentges took a group photo so we could ALL be in it. Notice the huge smiles on our faces: we are having a great time. (Sr. Edith)

Blog Entry

Rome is a very entertaining place! I have found that many things here find you, even if you're wandering aimlessly. Yesterday, we stumbled upon the old Roman Forum, which was incredible. It's also very fun to walk down crowded streets that are still festively decorated for Christmas.

I'd have to say that the only thing here I don't like is all the street venders, forcibly hawking their overpriced wares wherever you go.

Today was fun. We went to St. John Lateran's Cathedral which was awe-inspiring. The ceilings and frescoes were immaculate. While we were in there, Mass was going on and a choir sang several times. Their voices sounded beautiful in the church; the marble and the high ceilings made the sound carry out in all directions. It really was a moving experience, and I think perhaps the people who built the church would have wanted visitors to feel as encompassed by the experience as I did. I'm just excited now to go to St. Peter's because I hear that it's even more amazing. Until then...Ciao! (Amy)

Day 3 - January 1st, 2007

Today is New Year's Day in Rome. For most of the morning, we toured places such as St. John Lateran and went to the steps they say Jesus walked on. It was really moving to see people going up the stairs one by one on their knees, praying. ù

The Cathedral of St John Lateran was amazing. Mass was going on as we entered and that only enhanced its majesty. With the singing of the choir and the breath-taking art, I was almost moved to tears.

We went down by the Colliseum, which was awe inspiring. It was very neat to see the place that I have heard so much about. Seeing it made it all more real that people had actually done everything we read about.

After the tour, we went off on our own and made our way back towards the hotel, it was an an hour's walk. We stopped along the way and did a little gift shopping. St. Peter's is really close, so after we grabbed a bit to eat, we went to the square and looked around. It made us very excited to go inside. Tonight we have dinner at a nearby restaurant, which should be fun.
(Samarah)

Crucifix in the Pantheon

Crucifix in the Pantheon, originally uploaded by cssrome.

We saw the Pantheon, originally built as a temple to the Roman gods, then taken over as a Christian church; one of the oldest buildings in Rome. This crucifix hangs in a niche beside the altar.

New Year's Eve Vespers

The Catholic faith has Liturgy of the Hours, which has two main "hinges" of prayer, morning and evening. Morning prayer is called lauds and evening prayer is called vespers. Both of these prayers are done on a daily basis becuase they are felt to be important. Basil the Great said that we celebrate evening prayer so that "we may give thanks for what has been given to us or what we have done well during the day."

On New Year's Eve, St. Peter's in the Vatican was having vespers facilitated by Pope Benedict. Along with a couple other people, I attended in hopes to catch a glimpse of the Pope. It was interesting to be present there, since everything is done in Latin. It lasted about an hour and consisted of mostly prayers and singing. On his procession out, the Pope fixated on a small girl about two people away from me. He went up and blessed the child and was within an arms reach of me! It was unbelievable! The little girls parents were so moved that they were crying. I feel so honored to at least have been that close to the Pope. This is definatly an experience I will never forget!

Kelsey M

Arrived! And Learning in Rome

We arrived yesterday, and are well settled into our rooms at Domus Carmelletani. So far, we have not had good luck gaining Internet access. This computer - the only one in the house - will not let us upload our photos. So you will have to make do with our descriptions.

The Illume agent met us at the airport, and we sailed through customs. The weather here is amazingly warm, and we saw date palms everywhere. The Domus is near the Vatican (walking distance) and the Tiber. A religious house of Carmelites, it is now run as a simple hotel. The rooms are clean, comfortable, each with its own bathroom and TV - but clearly remade cells, none very large. Mine has an excellent view of Castel Sant'Angelo, about one block away.

We were served a "simple" Italian supper: an appetizer course of cheese, an eggplant salad, and toast with an asparagus pate spread. This was followed by a pasta course - beautiful al dente rigatone with a delicate tomato sauce. The main course, veal lightly breaded with cauliflower, was accompanied by a salad. Dessert (!) was fruit. If this is simple, imagine a complex meal!

Today, we went to the only English-language Mass in Rome, in a 17th century Jesuit chapel. Fr. Jim Hentges, CSC, gave us a brief tour of the chapel, then took us to the Church of St.Catherine over Minerva (the church of St. Catherine of Siena, where she is buried, was built over a temple to the goddess Minerva), the Pantheon, and a glorious public piazza filled with food and trinket and gift stands.

In Italy, the season from December 8 until Epiphany on January 6 is celebrated as one long holiday. Tonight, the New Year will be greeted. Already, the streets are being closed off as the restaurants set out tables for the feasts that will take place.

We wish you all the best and happiest in the year 2007!
(Sister Edith)