They Came, They Saw, They Had Gelatti

First things first, of course. With Saint Andrew's Academy here in town (on his feastday, no less) I took them to one of the best gelaterias the city has to offer.
















They were bearers of gifts, and the frisbee they brought was immediately appreciated as we made our pilgrim way.











Throwing the disk around a round (get it?).




The Father Brian and The Myself.














Some crumbling structure got into the background of this photo:















Ah, there it is: the view from the forum:















And the forum itself. After a downpour the night before when they'd arrived, the weather was absolutely gorgeous.










After the forum we went north to vespers with the Community of Jerusalem, stopping at Santi Apostoli, where Saints Philip and James are buried.












The view upwards from the crypt.


After vespers we banqueted on prosciutto, cheese, olives with fresh bread, followed up by a dark chocolate, a white chocolate, a milk chocolate . . . well, you get the picture.

Feast of Saint Andrew!

Happy Feast Day!

Today marks an unprecedented event in my stay in Rome: being out significantly early this morning, I witnessed the Trevi Fountain . . . without tourists! These photos document the unheard of situation of the fountain not being swarmed by flocks of bystanders. Even when I've gone out for a morning run around 6:00 there have been early strollers passing by.

That's called the street, in front of the fountain. It's rarely seen.

It was raining gently when I took these photos.

Quite an appropriate feast day today, actually, as Saint Andrew's Academy arrived from California yesterday evening for their tour of Italy. The small Anglican school is unfortunately afflicted with having me as a quasi-tour guide during their days in the Eternal City, and certainly with my monologue it will feel like an eternity . . .

Saint Andrew's feast day of course also comes at a pivotal time in the year, as we have just celebrated (we as in Americans, to clarify) Thanksgiving, which redirects our vision to God's providence and allows us to appreciate again the abundance we've been given.

Immediately following we celebrated (we as in Catholics, to clarify) the feast of Christ the King (of the Universe, as it's written here in Italy--nice appellation to have: I know that guy, by the way) last Sunday: a reminder of all things being encompassed in the scope of the Alpha and Omega, who defines the importance, or triviality, of all things.

And now as our liturgical readings reflect the end of our year with themes of the return of the Messiah, we are poised for the beginning of Advent this next Sunday. The readings of Advent point first to the Second Coming of the Messiah, and as the days go by, return to his first coming. These are days which offer peace, so our hearts can be reconfigured in light of these realities--rather than remaining turbulent with the eroding distractions which bring destruction.

How sad so many squander these days straining to fulfill the demands of a consumer holiday.

Andrew told his brother Simon, "We have found the Messiah." And Simon with Andrew, as Mark shows us, was able immediately to leave everything having found the Christ. May Andrew's intercession bring us that same freedom as the light of the Messiah cascades upon us.

Operation Getreadyforcoolseasons

So the four of us from Sacramento have been working on getting ready for Christmas . . .

Operation Visit Coolplaces

Who are these men?

And where did they go?
















All photos in this post by Brian Soliven, genius and photoguy.

The four men of Sacramento made it back to my August stomping grounds last weekend (November 16-18); August in both senses of the word.

It was a bit cooler than it had been before; our presence making it cooler--in both senses of the word.














Ponte Vecchio: Florence's Medieval Bridge



Our diocese has four men studying over in Rome right now: Father Chris and myself are already ordained, and Aaron and Brian are preparing for priesthood.

We had a weekend where all four of us were free, so we hopped on the train heading North. We took the less expensive train on the way up--discovering that the rest of Rome seemingly had decided to pile on as well. Progressive stops opened up seats--and reaffirmed why this was the cheaper train, as the trip doubled in length over the Express.

But we made it.


















Florence's Duomo.




The Duomo is one of my favorite cathedrals--and well-beloved after having celebrated so many Masses in it during my month of Italian study in Florence.

It was great to be able to show the guys the town.

















"If we turn around guys, we'll see the cathedral!"





In Florence they cover doors with gold.


















Gold-covered doors--Cathedral Baptistry.




We made it to a few of the museums, including Fra Angelico's famous monastery which now holds his remarkable frescoes.

The Museum of the Duomo has Donatello's Mary Magdalene.


















Saturday we celebrated Mass at our hotel with some friends of mine in Florence.

Sunday we celebrated the High Mass at the Duomo.














And then hiked up a hill.



We took the express train back.

Monte Cassino

The Amalfi Coast Expedition, Part IV. (Being the Final Part) (Really)

So even the best weekends come to a close. After our Sunday Mass celebration with the community of Saint Margaret's, we got ready to head back to Rome.

On the return we crossed the same path the Allies had.

Hopefully Monte Cassino fared a little better at our hands than it did during the war: the Nazis had dug in on the hill where St. Benedict had built his monastery in the 500's, and Allied aircraft bombed the entire hill to smithereens (technical military term).













It's a little more peaceful now.


Right after war the monastery was rebuilt in its classical style.
















'Ora et Labora' Pray and Work
Benedictine Motto


In the crypt of the beautful church Saint Benedict is buried with his sister Saint Scholastica.













Benedict amongst the mosaics.


And on the other side,













Saint Scholastica


We were able to join the monks for evening prayer, bringing a full weekend to a prayerful end. Now to look for an opportunity when we can get back down there again . . .

All Roads are Pedaled to Rome

A post on bicycling in Rome. Apparently we priests have two guardian angels. I like that thought.

Have Stole, Will Travel

The Amalfi Coast Expedition, Part III.

So there we were . . .

Turns out our pensione was right next to a small chapel in Positano (dating back only to the 1600's). There was an evening rosary posted at five, and when we went down at that hour, the sacristan happily agreed to set up for Mass for us.











So Saint Margaret hosted our All Soul's Day liturgy.


We mentioned to the sacristan we'd be there for two more days, so he found out what times we wanted to do Mass and agreed to come set up the church for us each day! We asked him to invite others if he'd like.

Apparently Positano had a Moorish influence in the past.
















So dinner was at the Saraceno d'Oro.



After dinner Fathers David, Pat and I decided to walk the nighttime streets.











The main church of Positano.



We wanted to make our way over to the cemetery to pray for the departed on All Souls Day.

Being on a ridge, everything is built on the edge.













Including the cemetery.


It was illuminated for the Feast Day--well worth the hike.

On our way back, we discovered we were public people.











Our sacristan had announced our Sunday Mass!



And the word spread! Santa Margherita's was full Sunday morning! I presided and preached in Italian, so the congregants won twice: the grace of the liturgy, and the penance of suffering through me!

One final episode: To be continued . . .

Coasting In

The Amalfi Coast Expedition: Part II.

So we headed on from the English Villa down towards the coast. I contributed to the drive by sleeping the entire way, which is appreciated by those who have to put up with my enlightened wit.

We arrived in the evening at Sorrento, where we found a simple hotel overlooking the water, peaceful in the gentle rain.

The following morning we set out for Positano, which in English means The Coolest Place to Go and Just Hang Out, I think.

Our rooms had a remarkable view.











Remarkable View.


Since it was off season, we were able to get rooms at a little pensione at discounted rates.
















This is Italy. This is My Veranda.



After the showers of the day before, this All Souls Day was absolutely gorgeous.
















So we decided to head down to the beach.



There are parts of the world where November 2nd would not have been a day for swimming.
















Positano was not one of them.



Come on in . . .












. . . the water's fine!


So we soaked up some sun before heading back up to our rooms to change before Mass and dinner.

Needless to say, the vista continued to emerge:
















West.



And South:















To be continued . . .

Step It Up

You may have been worried that the Spanish Steps were getting a little drab. Worry no more.












Coolness Arrives.



The Donnelly's came across the Atlantic to restore Rome's global ranking.

They were able to come by the Casa for Mass--immediately after having gotten off their multi-hour, multi-stop flight.

So after a Sunday liturgy in our beautiful chapel, we grabbed a bite to eat before hitting some of the sites--












Exhaustion and Elation can be blended



I think they survived the whirlwind, because they emailed me these photos after getting back to the States.

Speaking of England

Groundbreaking news coming from the English Isles (well, now in worldwide form): The Messenger reported October 16th that the primates of the Traditional Anglican Communion in an almost unprecedented move have sent a letter to the Vatican seeking full, sacramental union with the See of Rome. Numbering 400,000 in over 12 countries, the move represents further progress in vital call to all Christians to seek the full expression of Christ's call to love and communion.

Something for us to keep in prayer.

The British are Leaving!

The Amalfi Coast Expedition: Part I.

Anglophiles fear not. The English Departure enjoyed (or suffered) our participation in exiting the city. Rome, being a part of Italy, with a Catholic heritage, recognizes that Holy Days are holidays, and so both November 1st and 2nd were days off from classwork. The one and only Father David of Northampton, as well as three of us US folks rented a car to head south on Wednesday evening on our way to the coast.

Our first point of visit was the Villa of the Venerable English College, located on Lake Albano, across from Castel Gandolfo, the Pope's summer residence. The English, being geniuses, in addition to having their longtime (thus the Venerable) house in Rome, have also had a house about 45 minutes south of the city.












Our first sight on arrival, in the gentle (very British) mist.

Since we had already had dinner in Rome, we retired to the library to have brilliant discussions about brilliant things over Scotch.












G.K. Chesterton can be found on these shelves.


Built where Roman summer homes stood at the time of Julius Caesar, the current building was a monastery for centuries. When we got up the next morning, on the Solemnity of All Saints, we were able to celebrate the Mass in the same chapel where Father David was ordained a deacon, and which had seen liturgies since the 1200's.
















What is the church called? Our Lady of the Snows!



We stayed for lunch before heading south. The excellent meal was served in the hall which had seen, in different incarnations, occupying Nazis, recovering alcoholics, and now, wandering vagabonds.
















Lunch served at 1.



After the bustle of the city, and the constant onslaught of maniacal mopeds, to be in the open was perfect.











Castel Gondolfo can be seen on the far shore.



To be continued . . .

Athletes: Citius, Altius, Fortius

Here's a great article from Zenit on sports. Very important they are, it says. Thumbs up, it says. Metaphorically, that is. The text is taken from Archbishop Migliore's address to the UN on sport for peace and development.

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