E-mail that I wrote on January 6, 2009 while in Italy:
WHAT A WEEK I HAVE HAD THIS WEEK! It would take me hours to tell you about everything, so I will just give you the highlights:
I have visited ALL four of the Major Basilicas here in Rome (St. John Lateran, St. Paul, St. Mary Maggiore, and of course St. Peter's, I have also been to New Years eve Vespers and new years day Mass with Pope Benedict XVI (both times, got within 1 FOOT of him - INCREDIBLE!), We also went to the Epiphany Mass with Pope Benedict as well, we also spent New Years eve at the Colosseum with the local Italians (they were CRAZY), we also visited the Catacombs (ancient christian underground cemetarys - way cool!), we also got to climb the steps that Jesus climbed when he was going up to be condemned by P. Pilate (we went up on our knees which is the way it is to be done (What an experience - lots of prayer and tears), we rented a car and drove ALL over Italy - we went to Monte Cassino Monastery where St. Benedict and St. Scholastica are buried (the monastery was so high up in the mountains, we were looking down into the clouds), we also drove to Mt. San Angelo where St. Michael is said to have landed on the mountain and left his foot prints (They were there and have been scientifically tested), we also went to Lanciano where a Eucharistic Miracle took place (the host actually started to bleed and then broke off into real human flesh (both the host and the flesh are still there behind glass of course), We went to Loreto where the Virgin Mary's house is (according to tradition it was moved by angels to Italy during the crusades - there is nothin holding the structure up at all - and then many years later there was a basilica built over/around it - this was were the Annunciation took place - you will have to see pics to get the full idea), We also went to Asissi which I think is the most beautiful place on earth - we went to mass at St. Mary of the Angels which houses the original little church called "La Porziuncola" that St. Francis of Asissi rebuilt after God told him to - awesome and very emotional to see, we also went to St. Francis of Asissi's Basilica were he is buried - his tomb and basilica were amazing and yet again it was very emotional and beautiful to experience, we also saw St. Clare's basilica and her incorrupt body, perhaps the greatest part of my trip was going to San Giovanni Rotondo to see Padre Pio - we stayed with Fr. Jaegers order near San Giovanni in a jawdropping Friary on the side of a mountain (it was incredible) the Friars there spoke absolutely NO english so that was interesting and kind of exciting - they treated us great and for some reason I really loved staying in my COLD little cell (no ceiling fan required there haha! You know how I love the cold!), Padre Pio was about a 10 minute drive from the Friary and we spent a couple hours there the night we arrived - I can't explain my feelings and emotions when I saw his incorupt body - but I will say that it was probably the most spiritual experience I have ever had - we were of course wearing our cassocks so we were grabbed by the arm and escorted to some private seating near his body to pray with all the other priests, nuns and religious (that was an awesome moment) - i probably prayed in front of his body for an hour and a half and then decided to go on through the museum - We went and prayed in the original church there and then went and saw the new HUGE church they built for him after his canonization (it seats thousands) - the next morning we went to mass at the original church were Padre Pio celebrated all of the Masses (including his last one) - it was also the location of the movie that I have of him), I went and prayed in front of his body one last time and then we left to go back to Rome (I have more details for yall when I get back to the states), yesturday (my birthday!) I got to read the readings and psalms at daily mass here with the Franciscan Friars and they celebrated the mass in English for us (it has been in Italian all the rest of the time), I also was taken out for an authentic Italian meal (7 course meal UGH! I couldnt finish it), today we of course went to the Epiphany mass like I said and we then went and took an actual tour of St. Peter's Basilica and we climbed ALL the way to the very TOP (to what is called the Cupola) and saw the most awesome view ever, we then climbed down and visited the the Basilica's crypt where many of the Popes are buried, I got choked up in front of Pope John Paul II's tomb and prayed a rosary there - it was great,......JUST TO NAME A FEW! Tomorrow we have our final experience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Audience and guess what...we have special seating in the FRONT because we are seminarians!!!! I can't wait! My time here has been a blessing and has flown by and we still have a week left. I can't wait to talk to yall and tell you all about it!
WHAT A WEEK I HAVE HAD THIS WEEK! It would take me hours to tell you about everything, so I will just give you the highlights:
I have visited ALL four of the Major Basilicas here in Rome (St. John Lateran, St. Paul, St. Mary Maggiore, and of course St. Peter's, I have also been to New Years eve Vespers and new years day Mass with Pope Benedict XVI (both times, got within 1 FOOT of him - INCREDIBLE!), We also went to the Epiphany Mass with Pope Benedict as well, we also spent New Years eve at the Colosseum with the local Italians (they were CRAZY), we also visited the Catacombs (ancient christian underground cemetarys - way cool!), we also got to climb the steps that Jesus climbed when he was going up to be condemned by P. Pilate (we went up on our knees which is the way it is to be done (What an experience - lots of prayer and tears), we rented a car and drove ALL over Italy - we went to Monte Cassino Monastery where St. Benedict and St. Scholastica are buried (the monastery was so high up in the mountains, we were looking down into the clouds), we also drove to Mt. San Angelo where St. Michael is said to have landed on the mountain and left his foot prints (They were there and have been scientifically tested), we also went to Lanciano where a Eucharistic Miracle took place (the host actually started to bleed and then broke off into real human flesh (both the host and the flesh are still there behind glass of course), We went to Loreto where the Virgin Mary's house is (according to tradition it was moved by angels to Italy during the crusades - there is nothin holding the structure up at all - and then many years later there was a basilica built over/around it - this was were the Annunciation took place - you will have to see pics to get the full idea), We also went to Asissi which I think is the most beautiful place on earth - we went to mass at St. Mary of the Angels which houses the original little church called "La Porziuncola" that St. Francis of Asissi rebuilt after God told him to - awesome and very emotional to see, we also went to St. Francis of Asissi's Basilica were he is buried - his tomb and basilica were amazing and yet again it was very emotional and beautiful to experience, we also saw St. Clare's basilica and her incorrupt body, perhaps the greatest part of my trip was going to San Giovanni Rotondo to see Padre Pio - we stayed with Fr. Jaegers order near San Giovanni in a jawdropping Friary on the side of a mountain (it was incredible) the Friars there spoke absolutely NO english so that was interesting and kind of exciting - they treated us great and for some reason I really loved staying in my COLD little cell (no ceiling fan required there haha! You know how I love the cold!), Padre Pio was about a 10 minute drive from the Friary and we spent a couple hours there the night we arrived - I can't explain my feelings and emotions when I saw his incorupt body - but I will say that it was probably the most spiritual experience I have ever had - we were of course wearing our cassocks so we were grabbed by the arm and escorted to some private seating near his body to pray with all the other priests, nuns and religious (that was an awesome moment) - i probably prayed in front of his body for an hour and a half and then decided to go on through the museum - We went and prayed in the original church there and then went and saw the new HUGE church they built for him after his canonization (it seats thousands) - the next morning we went to mass at the original church were Padre Pio celebrated all of the Masses (including his last one) - it was also the location of the movie that I have of him), I went and prayed in front of his body one last time and then we left to go back to Rome (I have more details for yall when I get back to the states), yesturday (my birthday!) I got to read the readings and psalms at daily mass here with the Franciscan Friars and they celebrated the mass in English for us (it has been in Italian all the rest of the time), I also was taken out for an authentic Italian meal (7 course meal UGH! I couldnt finish it), today we of course went to the Epiphany mass like I said and we then went and took an actual tour of St. Peter's Basilica and we climbed ALL the way to the very TOP (to what is called the Cupola) and saw the most awesome view ever, we then climbed down and visited the the Basilica's crypt where many of the Popes are buried, I got choked up in front of Pope John Paul II's tomb and prayed a rosary there - it was great,......JUST TO NAME A FEW! Tomorrow we have our final experience with Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Audience and guess what...we have special seating in the FRONT because we are seminarians!!!! I can't wait! My time here has been a blessing and has flown by and we still have a week left. I can't wait to talk to yall and tell you all about it!
No comments:
Post a Comment