The Start of Our Pilgrimage

Monday was the official start of our Prayer and Art Pilgrimage in Italy. We woke up early and had a delicious Italian breakfast of meat and cheese, croisants, yougurt, etc. Our group then made it's way to Santa Maria della Vitoria which houses Bernini's controversial statue of swooning St. Teresa in Ecstasy. Next was Santa Susanna for a tour and to celebrate the Eucharist. Santa Susanna is the official American church in Rome and is built on the site of Susanna's home. Christians have been celebrating the Eucharist there for 1700 years. Compare that to our churches in the US! During World War II, Nazi headquarters were just around the corner and nuns hid Jewish families in the church.

The later part of the afternnon was leisure time and Steph and Angie and I walked to the Spanish Steps and then walked down the street at the bottom of the steps that is home to all of the famous fashion designers such as Gucci and Prada. We then had more gelato, as it was HOT outside, and climbed back up the steps and went to the Cappuccin Crypt that is decorated with the bones of 4000 monks. It was weird. We were extremely tired when we got back to our hotel and slept for a few hours before having a 3 course Italian meal for dinner consisting of ravioli, veal and potatoes, salad, and finally a delicious dessert kinda like cheese cake but lighter and not as rich. It was delicious.

On Tuesday morning our first stop was the Catacombs of St. Priscilla and we had mass right above the catacombs. Afterwards we had a tour of the catacombs, where 40,000 Christians were burried, 100 of them martyrs and 6 of them popes. There painted on the walls we saw the first images of Mary and baby Jesus and the three wisemen. There are 63 catacombs in Rome, with 4 million 'graves', and only 5 catacombs open to the public.

After the Catacombs we went on a bus tour of Rome and then had another delicious lunch. After lunch Angie, Steph, and I, along with F.J. (a really cool priest from Philly) went to San Giovanni in Laterano Basillica, the first Christian Church in Rome. Across the street is a building that houses the Holy Stairs, 28 marble steps of Pilate's residence. Jesus walked up these steps before he was sentenced to death. Emperor Constantine's mother, Saint Helena brought the steps to room in 326. Next we went to the National Museum of Rome and I saw several people walking around with Rick Steves' book and we chatted with each other.

Some things I've noticed about Rome - the people, both men and women, are beautiful and very stylish with fashion and hair, and especially shoes!! They are very chic. Also, Rome is a really big city, with graffiti and all. However, the orange trees lining busy streets makes you temporaril forget tha ugly parts (trash and graffiti). It's simply beautiful with orange and pink paint on the buildings, shuttered windows, and statues everywhere! Tomorrow we go to the Vatican!