CMSWR Rome Summer Renewal Program 2017

Day 17 Visit to the Congregation for Catholic Education  After attending morning Mass at the Church of the Twelve Apostles, we stopped to venerate a relic of the foot of St. Mary Magdalene, which is in the Church of St. John the Baptist of the Florentines on Via Giulia. A view of the sanctuary of St. John the Baptist's Church The relic of St. Mary Magdalen's foot is enclosed in a golden foot-shaped reliquary We had the privilege of visiting the Congregation for Catholic Education to learn about the Dicastery's role in helping to support local efforts in Catholic Education and in promoting a vision of quality Catholic Education worldwide.  The Congregation is located right outside of St. Peter's Square. A view of St. Peter's from the doorstep of the Congregation The front of the building where the Congregation is housed A happy surprise of the day was finding the street named after Father Pancrazio Pfeiffer! Father Pfeiffer was instru...

Today was an example of how God's plans are not always ours! We planned to go to Mass at the Church of the Stigmata of St. Francis, a nearby church we had not been to yet. When we arrived a few minutes early, there was a sign on the door telling us that there was no Mass there this week. So we rushed over to the Gesù, only to find that Mass was not for another hour there. We decided to go back to the first church to have some prayer time before returning to the Gesù. We laughed about what the locals were thinking as we went back and forth repeatedly! Sr. Karen and Sr. Clare in front of an image of St. Francis at the Church of the Stigmata Later we walked through the Campo dei Fiori, a market in a nearby piazza. That was a cultural experience for us all--multi-colored pasta, fresh fruits and vegetables, and free samples! The Sisters exploring the vendors. Sister Caridad takes in the sights and sounds of the market. Some sample dips and spreads to try--pesto, salsa...

We started the day with prayers at the Domus, and then all attended Mass together at the Gesu', which is nearby. It is a beautiful Jesuit church, and we love it more every time we visit. From there we took the bus to a part of Rome where we have not yet been, to visit St. Agnes and her sister. The nave and altar in the Church of St. Agnes Outside the Wall St. Agnes and her sister St.Emerentiana are buried together in this tomb. Sister Mary Agnes studies a small tombstone of St. Agnes. Then we went to the nearby Mausoleum of St. Constance. The Mausoleum of St. Constance Inside the Mausoleum One of the frescoes inside the mausoleum This sarcophagus looks like a jewel box in this photo, but it is large enough to fit a small car inside! From there we went to the Catacombs of St. Priscilla, but since one is not allowed to take pictures, we have the memory in our hearts. Then we had a bus ride home which we will remember as it was a typ...

We made it to the last of the four major basilicas, Santa Maria Maggiore! We had Mass and then prayed at the various shrines in the church. Mary's maternal presence could be felt. Inside the Basilica of St. Mary Major. We saw a few other churches in the area, including the church of St. Alphonsus, with the image of Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Santa Preseda, which has the pillar on which Jesus was scourged, St. Peter in Chains, which also holds Michelangelo's Moses , and the Basilica of St. Mark. St. Peter's chains from his imprisonment in both Jerusalem and in Rome. We celebrated Independence Day with great festivity! The table set for pranzo (lunch).

Day 13 - Churches in Rome Christ with Mary on the throne We started our day with Mass at Santa Maria in Trastevere.  It is one of the oldest Churches in Rome and is dedicated to Our Lady.   Above the tomb of St. Cecilia We then walked to Santa Cecilia to pray at her tomb.  We spent some time looking what is beleived to be the remains on the St. Cecilia's house located underneath the main part of the Church. The Chapel below Praying at St. Cecilia's tomb Finally, we stopped at the Church of St. Bartholomew the Apostle on an island in the middle of the Tiber River.  In 2000, it was dedicated by St. John Paul II in honor of the Martyrs of the 20th and 21st Century and holds many relics of these great saints.

Day 12 The Roman Forum The Arch of Titus in the Forum Today, we traveled back to Ancient times with a visit to the Roman Forum! Sister Mary Angela explaining the story of Romulus and Remus, the mythological founders of the city of Rome The Colosseum A view of the underground passageways where animals and props for the shows were kept before coming to the stage We learned today that during the years of about 70-500 A.D., the Colosseum was used for entertainment.  The lower passageways were covered with a floor which had many trap doors.  The floor was then covered with sand.  Slaves in the labryinth below would push up the props and wild animals to release them unexpectedly through the sand to appear on the stage of the ampitheatre. A replica of the floor above the passageways

Day 11 St. Paul Outside the Walls "Outside the Walls"  Today after Mass at Sant' Andrea della Valle, we journeyed outside the ancient walls of Rome to visit the tomb of St. Paul. We enjoyed a fascinating tour of the Basilica and prayed at the tomb of St. Paul. St. Paul's Tomb is behind the grating, his chains are above in the glass box both of which are below the Altar. A replica of the top of the Tomb