The Human Person is Meant for Love

One of my philosophy professors from Franciscan, Dr. John Crosby, has had one of his excellent articles published here.

Grave Situation

(Image to the left not to scale.) Not Quite. For instance, the small statues on level one are 26 feet tall--taller than your average chihuahua. If you drop down to the next level (which tends to have quite a line most days), you find the centuries logged by the tombs of the succession of local bishops. But it's the level even further down which leaps the centuries. Uncovered only 50 years ago, the tombs of slaves and patricians stretch along the former slope of the hill Vaticanus at the edge of what was the large Roman circus. If you follow that level to the left you end up below the large baldechino two stories above.

This was the expedition we were able to make on the 26th--fifteen of us, guided through the dark passageways that take you past carvings and reliefs, speaking of a shift within the empire from paganism to the emerging Christian tombs. Simplest, and most hastily constructed, was the tomb found at the climax of the dig: a 'poor man's grave', six clay tiles leaned against each other to form a lean-to, looking like an old pup tent. Beneath the succession of altars which were later constructed over it, as well as the former basilica of Constantine, were the remains of the first local bishop, crucified upside down in the circus, a looming Egyptian obelisk in front of him, which still stands today in the center of the piazza.

The emperor who killed him is long dead, the bloodhappy spectators long vanished, but the work of the few followers who hastily stole his body endures, in the largest church built in Christendom. Even Peter's feet are missing, reminders of the anxious haste of his body's rescuers taking him down from the Roman instrument--but now the feet of millions yearly make the trek to gather over his grave.

The grain of wheat, fallen into the ground, bears much fruit.

Full Regalia

So the Swiss Guards came out in full dress Thursday evening for a Mass at Saint Peter's to start off the new academic year. It was great to be gathered together with fellow classmates and students and faculty from the universities of all over Rome.















Christ the Teacher: Program for the Liturgy


As concelebrating priests we processed in at the beginning of the liturgy to surround the main altar, where off to the right a schola from one of the universities was leading the music. Cardinal Grocholewski, who is the Prefetto della Congregazione per l’Educazione Cattolica (trans. Guy Who Takes Care of School Stuff), presided at the liturgy, centered over the tomb of Saint Peter.

2,000 years after Saint Peter was killed here for the faith, students from all around the globe were gathering to reaffirm their fidelity to that same belief; where Nero extinguished a human body, thousands are united in the living body of the Church joined to Peter's successor.

As the liturgy progressed I kept hearing the words of Revelation cascading past my ears: the golden lampstands were surrounded by the elders, clothed in white robes, as the smoke of the incense went up from the altar, built over one 'who had been slain for the word of God and for the witness they had borne'. As we stood for the gospel, the bishops, while not wearing gold crowns, cast off their miters as they turned toward the Word from which they preached. At the time of the homily the chair was brought in and placed before the altar, not quite surrounded by an emerald rainbow, but pointing to the chair of authority before which we all one day will be called. All the symbols were there to prepare us for the coming of the lamb that was slain, yet living, who would come to the altar before us.

Much of the liturgy was sung, with the Responsorial Psalm drawing my attention, as the cantor was blind, and followed the text by braille.

The readings were taken from the weekday, meaning they weren't specially selected for the event. This made the themes particularly intriguing. Paul in his letter to the Romans (6: 19-23) tells us how he is explaining things in simple terms because our bodies are so weak: any student who has spent hours poring over texts knows how true that is. Jesus in Luke's Gospel (12: 49-53) talks about how he has come to bring not peace, but division, and as students of the Gospel given to us by the Word of God, 'sharper than a two-edged sword', we are given a content that might not win friends and admirers, but earn us an end similar to Peter's.

At the end of the liturgy, after I had joined the other priests in distributing communion to the thousands gathered there, we paused to prepare for Benedict to come to address the gathered congregation.

These guys brought their halberds for the occasion:















Pope Benedict XVI joined us to share some words of encouragement and exhortation. Similar to his words to our rector a week or so ago, he reminded us that study is built on the foundation of prayer. In addition, the opportunity of studying in Rome gives the person the opportunity to share in the rich historical and cultural foundation of the Faith. His full text is on the Vatican website, if you want to brush up on your Italian.











Father Miro, sitting next to me, took this picture. I think it's somebody important.

Alma Mater

So in recognition of Those Who are Cool, our Alma Mater held an alumni reunion over here in Rome. Franciscan University hosted a Mass and dinner here last Sunday, where a surprising number of grads are living and studying. Our liturgy was a block from Saint Peter's at the San Lorenzo International Youth Center, pictured left, where the original World Youth Day Cross (right side of photo) is kept.

It was so much fun to see classmates I hadn't seen in ten years (I was class of '97!) and recall old times. Father Terence Henry, our school president, came over with Tim Delaney, our alumni director. Also able to come was the Dean of Faculty, who received his doctorate here in Rome. 7 priests concelebrated, assisted by several of the 18 seminarians at the NAC who are Steuby grads. Afterwards we had an excellent dinner in the Borgo district, at a restaurant worth going back to. Always nice to find those places.

Saints Alive!

Luke mentions in his blog the proliferation of saints that are buried here in the Eternal City. This makes for potentially travel filled saints' days. Particularly in this month of October when a lot of the major leaguers are commemorated in the Church calendar, the Roman Resident has the opportunity to go and spend some time at the earthly reference point for the fellow church member, now triumphant.

Wednesday we commemorated Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop at Peter's first see in present day Turkey. His letters give a riveting glimpse into the faith and vigor of the early Church, written before he was brought here to Rome and fed to the lions by the emperor. Being martyred here, his (post-lions) remains remain here.

So in the afternoon I walked toward the Colosseum, knowing that the Church of Saint Clement, where Ignatius was buried, was nearby. Arriving at the rotund construction at the South end of the forum, I stepped into a nearby church.

It was the Church of Saint Francis, another October Saint, with a beautiful and serene interior. An elderly priest, mostly deaf, sat inside. Utilizing a protracted elevation of volume, I was able to ask him where I could find Saint Clement's.

Going past the forum, as he directed, I found the avenue of San Giovanni. Tucked onto the side of the street, so that you couldn't see it until you were on top of it, I found the church that held the relics of Saint Ignatius. Going inside you could see the sweeping mosaics dating back to the 12th century. It is beneath the main altar that, along with Saint Clement, Saint Ignatius is buried.

What a remarkable thing, that just meters from the Colosseum, where he was killed, I could now pray where Ignatius was buried. Reading his words of courage in his letter to the residents of this city, I pray that today living in Rome I might share in the strength he drew from Christ.










(photo from http://www.basilicasanclemente.com/img/tour/hr/Interior.jpg)

Mark Your Calendars

If you're going to be in the Sacramento area Friday morning, exciting events are in place for the diocese! At 10:30 at the cathedral two more men will be ordained priests for Sacramento! Lift up prayers of thanksgiving to God and blessing for these two men: Deacon Arbel Cabasagan and Deacon Martin Ramat.

Loggia On Here

Needless to say, my nephew-in-law Luke, being a genius, also has a blog . . .

The Olson Conspiracy

So my nephew-in-law Luke is studying here in Rome for the year at the Angelicum University.

Being of a university age, it made sense that yesterday was his 21st birthday!

By amazing coincidence, his aunt and uncle, who have been great hosts out in Minnesota when I've been out there, were here this week in Rome.















So of course we had to celebrate!


Luke's commentary on the situation:
















After an excellent dinner at the Abruzzi Restaurant, a favorite, we had to follow it up with gelati--

"Tell Them . . . "

Our house rector Monsignor Kelly met with Pope Benedict XVI Friday--he told him about the 73 of us studying here this year at the house. Benedict, as a former professor himself, told him, "Tell them that their spiritual life and formation is of even greater importance."

Valuable words coming to us from our Shepherd!

The British are Coming

Bad influence, I suppose it is. My neighbor here at the residence has taken up blogging as well! Father David of Northampton, England, is a big help, because he included a photo of his room, immaculately cleaned, so that by linking to it I can give the impression that my room is just as well kept . . .

Bienvenido!

Our Diocese of Sacramento has a new coadjutor bishop! Bishop Jaime Soto was an Auxiliary Bishop of Orange in Southern California, where he was ordained a priest in 1982. We lost our previous Auxiliary Bishop Richard Garcia last January when he was appointed Bishop of Monterey.

As coadjutor, Bishop Soto will automatically become the Bishop of Sacramento years from now when Bishop William Weigand retires. A regular auxiliary bishop would remain an auxiliary.

If you're in the neighborhood, there will be a big celebration in Sacramento November 19th with a welcome Mass at 2:00 at the Cathedral.

Currently, it's looking like I'll be still out of town . . .

´ëllè haDDübärîm

I just handwrote my first words in Hebrew! After tackling the alphabet, I've started transcribing words! We're beginning with the first verses of Deuteronomy--If I could figure out how to import Hebrew font into here you could see what they looked like, instead of the gibberish above--

Dodici Apostoli

You walk into the large church. The massive ceiling opens above you, gilded with gold and soaring angels. Before you see the stairs of crypt descending out of sight. As you cross the sweeping floor you pass alcoves that tower on each side.

The turning stairs take you down into silence and cool air. The slight mustiness gives a feeling of age and long-lived peace.

Before you you see a simple stone altar. The Latin text reads: "Here are buried the Apostles Philip and James." You are alone in the secluded crypt. As you kneel in silent prayer the rustic frescoes provide simple company.

Later, as you turn to walk the remainder of the crypt, you read the Latin inscriptions revealing the burial sites of ancient Roman martyrs. You are standing amongst the earliest foundation stones of the living Church.

At long last as you return up the skyward steps you see the sunlight streaming in from the outside. Returning toward the entrance you pass a community gathered in song and prayer. You join them as the ponder on the early moments of Jesus' life in the joyful mysteries of the rosary before the Eucharist elevated in the monstrance.

Stepping outdoors, just next door from your own home, you are amazed at the living connection between today and the original foundations of grace.

Universita Gregoriana

So today was the first day of classes. I dutifully tucked my binder under my arm with my pen on the ready and made the trek over to my campus (all of about 27 seconds, crossing the Piazza, basically).

I was on my way to my class in Greek--well, in Italian regarding the content of Greek.

This was the hall greeting the new student:












The two students below give a sense of scale.



The classrooms as well had lofty ceilings, and desks that seemed to be from the set for a film depicting the late Middle Ages.












Where do I plug in my laptop?



As it turned out, while it was the first day of classes, the afternoon sessions were canceled, so I was able to have an enjoyable discussion with several Polish classmates (in Italian) before heading off to buy more school supplies.

Let Us Now Praise Famous Men

A series of excellent toasts was raised here at the house yesterday. We had our official beginning of the year liturgy and dinner, which concluded with toasts to the Pope, our homeland, and to the new year: a great and, as commented afterwards, all too often neglected practice.

In the midmorning (after my jaunt to Saint Peter's) we had a morning conference welcoming everybody back, which concluded with our group picture:









Back in Black



Bishop Schnurr from Duluth presided at Mass, preaching on that excellent verse from the first reading from Habakkuk: "For still the vision awaits its time; it hastens to the end -- it will not lie. If it seem slow, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay."

Dinner afterwards was outstanding, candlelit, many courses, white wine, red wine, wrapped up with the best apple pie and homemade vanilla ice cream. With the requisite champagne for the toasts.

Shoot (herein being the absence thereof)

You can tell I've been here too long when I bring a camera somewhere and then forget to take pictures.

Saturday my nephew-in-law Luke, who's here for the year studying at the Angelicum, and I went to Saint Peter's to celebrate Mass with my classmate Father David from England, and some friends from the States studying in Florence. Quite the group! We were able to get the altar of the Ascension, where I had celebrated Mass on my birthday. Afterwards Father David gave us an excellent tour of the basilica, and then we went for coffee at a nearby cafe.

And of course it was only when I was on my way home that I realized I'd forgotten to get one photo of the gathering . . .

Parliamo Italiano

Friday we had our last day of Italian class. We concluded the 5 weeks with a Mass in Italian with our house rector in the beautiful main chapel of the house. Now to put it to use! The school year starts Monday, when I'll classes in Greek and Hebrew begin--in Italian!

'Practice What You Teach'

. . . being one of the admonitions given to deacons at their ordination. The newly ordained is presented with a Book of the Gospels and told:

Receive the Gospel of Christ,
whose herald you have become.
Believe what you read,
teach what you believe,
and practice what you teach.

The PNAC turned out in force on Saint Francis' Feast Day for the ordination of 21 deacons. As the program said, the ordination was held at the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican. Always nice to know what that place is called--

We had 10 bishops there, with Archbishop Foley presiding, who among other things is the 'Pro-Grand Master of the Equestrian Order of the Holy Sepulchre of Jerusalem'. ("Does he ride horses?" a friend asked me after the Mass.) The hundreds of priests were too many to count, many coming from the States, as well as the many family and friends here for the occasion. We were at the Altar of the Holy Spirit, underneath the famous alabaster window and the large hovering chair, suspended on a cloud cascading from the window, reaffirming that the authority of Peter is a grace from heaven, rather than a human construct.

We had a big reception afterwards up the hill on the Gianicolo--in the main courtyard of the college. I ran into a friend I hadn't seen in ten years, from undergrad! Hope had gone to volunteer in Belize for two years after we both graduated in 1997. She's studying Marriage and Family at the John Paul Institute--good to see her again.

Do You See What Assisi?

As our Italian class draws to a close with the regular semester beginning next week, we are celebrating in Italian fashion.

The seven of us went to Assisi today with our professor--the weather was absolutely beautiful.










Who is this guy, and why is he blocking the view of Saint Francis' Basilica?



We celebrated Mass below the Basilica (where Francis is buried), in the chapel of Our Lady of Peace.












These guys are all white with me.



As I said, the weather was simply incredible, and it made being on the mountain supurb.

These two photos are from the piazza of Santa Chiara:










La Rocca is always one of my favorite sights.












Olive trees in the foreground.



It brought such a sense of peace to return again to Assisi and consecrate the upcoming year in prayer. With the presence of Saint Francis and Saint Clare, and so many who have come to pray here over the centuries, Assisi is truly a place of to be restored--and to be commissioned.









A familiar sight in the Medieval streets--the city's going to pot.

Steeplechase

On our walk back from Saint Paul's we came by this sight on the Roman Forum:














There's the steeple, where's the church?


Out in the street adjacent to a (steeple-less) church workers were mantling (as opposed to dismantling?) a steeple prior to lifting it up on the building itself.














This angle might give a better view.



So the secret is out--wooden core's inside the fancy adornment . . .

Wall Be Back

Saturday 7 of us made it out to the Basilica of Saint Paul's Outside the Walls.










Don't mess with guys with swords.


That statue is enormous--probably 25 feet tall on its pedestal.











The cloister is one of my favorite parts of the church.



















Here's a detail of one of the pillars.



Saint Paul, Apostle to the Gentiles, is buried here. The mosaics inside the basilica are beautiful. One of the remarkable features of the church are the mosaics of each of the successors of Peter from the beginning up to the present day--