Conner from Mobile - Paradox - August 14, 12:19 a.m.
Saturday the 13th started early in the morning with some light breakfast and than a metro trip to the Holy Fathers home church, Saint John Lateran. Inside of this basilica, statues of all the apostles with their means of death stand erected thirty feet in the air. We then celebrated mass and walked over to the Holy Stairs. This holy site is the exact stair way that our savior climbed before he was judged by Pilot. Tours of Saint Peter's and dinner with our very own Father Farmer were the highlights of the evening. Throughout the long day, we were constantly reminded that our journey is indeed a pilgrimage and that we MUST make sacrifices and DIE TO OURSELVES. The paradox of dying to ourselves in order to live is a constant theme and is embraced by our pilgrimage.
Michael from Mobile (inspired by lack of sleep) - In the Footstep of the Saints - August 12, 3:42 p.m.
We woke up early (5:45) and made our way downstairs for a filling breakfast of bread and small pieces of oatmeal. Being satisfied pilgrims, we left for Saint Peter's and experienced many natural wonders on the way including the metro station, which was built in the 8th century A.D. by Roman slaves who used only their bare hands. We arrived at Saint Peter's and after a brief stay in line we entered the church. Our hopes were high, but the basilica somehow exceeded all expectations. Father Dave gave a moving homily about following Christ that added to the divine atmosphere of the building. We then began our walking tour where we saw the Trevi Fountain, the incorrupt body of John XXIII-he looks like he is sleeping-and the church of Saint Ignatius, where Connor saw Robert Bellarmine, his patron saint. To finish the tour we stopped at a church made from the bones of over 4000 Franciscan clergy men and other small children. It was in no way creepy or slightly disturbing at all. Finally the night finished with adoration at a small church across the street from our hotel. Although it lasted for over an hour, it flew by and we left touched by God. ~ Michael - inspired by lack of sleep!
Saturday the 13th started early in the morning with some light breakfast and than a metro trip to the Holy Fathers home church, Saint John Lateran. Inside of this basilica, statues of all the apostles with their means of death stand erected thirty feet in the air. We then celebrated mass and walked over to the Holy Stairs. This holy site is the exact stair way that our savior climbed before he was judged by Pilot. Tours of Saint Peter's and dinner with our very own Father Farmer were the highlights of the evening. Throughout the long day, we were constantly reminded that our journey is indeed a pilgrimage and that we MUST make sacrifices and DIE TO OURSELVES. The paradox of dying to ourselves in order to live is a constant theme and is embraced by our pilgrimage.
Michael from Mobile (inspired by lack of sleep) - In the Footstep of the Saints - August 12, 3:42 p.m.
We woke up early (5:45) and made our way downstairs for a filling breakfast of bread and small pieces of oatmeal. Being satisfied pilgrims, we left for Saint Peter's and experienced many natural wonders on the way including the metro station, which was built in the 8th century A.D. by Roman slaves who used only their bare hands. We arrived at Saint Peter's and after a brief stay in line we entered the church. Our hopes were high, but the basilica somehow exceeded all expectations. Father Dave gave a moving homily about following Christ that added to the divine atmosphere of the building. We then began our walking tour where we saw the Trevi Fountain, the incorrupt body of John XXIII-he looks like he is sleeping-and the church of Saint Ignatius, where Connor saw Robert Bellarmine, his patron saint. To finish the tour we stopped at a church made from the bones of over 4000 Franciscan clergy men and other small children. It was in no way creepy or slightly disturbing at all. Finally the night finished with adoration at a small church across the street from our hotel. Although it lasted for over an hour, it flew by and we left touched by God. ~ Michael - inspired by lack of sleep!
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