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)

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(

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.

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

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 .

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)