CMSWR Rome Summer Renewal Program 2017

Day 22 Our Last Day of Pilgrimage in Rome Our final day in the Eternal City provided us the opportunity for the unique privilege of a visit to the Sistine Chapel and a tour of part of the Papal Palace.  Our guide for the tour was Sister Melanie, a Felician Franciscan Sister, who works for the Secretary of State of the Holy See. A last gaze at St. Peter's Basilica Arrivederci, San Pietro! Hmmm ...what are they looking at? Wa-lah! An astonishing view! Another view from a Terrazza overlooking the Piazza Raphael's Loggia depicting Salvation History From the Loggia of the Maps : A depiction of the 40 years in the desert for the People of Israel The Scala Regia, or Royal Stairs. This magnificent stairway was designed by Bernini. In past centuries, dignitaries would ascend these stairs in order to meet the Holy Father. Loggia depicting the grandeur of Creation. How many animals can you find in the vines painted on the ceiling?  There we

Day 21 Nothing like putting in two spectacular things in one day! We spent the morning literally let loose in the Vatican Gardens. Sister Mary Angela (temporarily) traded in her passport and received an official Vatican Gardens badge, so we could pretty much go anywhere. Beautiful trees, hedges, paths, flowers, statues, grottoes...and after an entire morning there, we were only about halfway through it! Sister Mary Angela with her badge Taking a break and enjoying the scenery In front of bamboo! A typical view in the garden--almost everywhere we went we could see the dome of St. Peter's A beautiful fountain with a statue of an eagle on top (and behind it is the monastery where Pope Benedict XVI lives) After a quick bite to eat in a nearby pizzeria, we returned once more to the Vatican, this time for the scavi tour. Our tour guide led us down to the excavation site below St. Peter's Basilica, dramatically recounting the discovery of St. Peter's b

Trevi Fountain Day 20 We started the day at Trevi Fountain to meet Fr. Ehli who shared some history on the fountain and then headed to Casa Santa Maria to join him for Mass.  The Casa is a home for American priests who are studying in Rome. After a beautiful Mass, we journeyed to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples for a talk and tour.  It was a joy to hear about how the Congregation works with these young Churches all over the world providing support as they grow.  It rekindled in our hearts a greater zeal to spread the Gospel, pray and support the missionary activity of the Church. We also visited the Chapel there, dedicated to the Holy Magi where they have a habit from St. Therese of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face underneath a painting of St. Francis Xavier both of whom are patrons for the Missions. Habit of St. Therese A close-up of St. Therese's Habit We then visited Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, the site o

Today is Sister Mary Hanah's birthday, so we celebrated first by going to Mass at the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls. The statue of Pope Pius XII commemorates the day he drove out to pray with the people of this neighborhood who had suffered from a bombing during the war (aimed at the railway, but damaging homes and part of the Basilica too). Statue of Pope Pius XII The Sisters prepare for Mass and the visit to the Basilica It is difficult to give a sense of the Basilica, as each photo only shows one or two elements. From the lower level looking up The Main Altar as seen from the main level The tomb of Blessed Pope Pius IX is in the lower level. As we left the Basilica, our first wish was to go to Saint Peter's for the Angelus  and receive the Holy Father's blessing. After waiting a long time for the bus, we were informed by a young woman that a tram could take us there, although by a very long route. We thought we had nothing to l

We began the day by visiting old places in a new way. Sister Mary Agnes, Sister Mary Hanah, and Sister Mary Maximilian went to Saint Peter's Basilica first thing in the morning in order to go up to the cupola. The climb up was more of a challenge than usual: there were no lights to guide their steps, so the Sisters went on in the dark. This sounds like a spiritual lesson, and maybe it was... and they made it to the top. Outside the Base of the cupola               View of Sister Mary Agnes from inside the cupola The Altar of the Chair from inside the cupola The Sisters looking down on the Altar of the Chair Outside the cupola -- the Statues of Jesus and the Apostles Looking up from the base of the cupola at people on the highest level Celebrating the victorious climb -- with ice cream and the Apostles!  Meanwhile, on the other side of town, after attending Mass at the Gesu', Sister Karen, Sister Clare, and Sister Mary Angela were dis