Roma: the Canonization!

 - Canonization Day -

Rome had been preparing all week, and especially the Saturday before for this huge occasion. Large screens were in position to broadcast the Mass all the way back to the Tiber River.

 Street corners were set up with medical units and thousands of water bottles.

Italian police were bused in.

Around 7pm we stationed ourselves with a growing crowd outside of the blocked-off Via Della Concilazonie near the Castel Sant'Angelo.

And under the watchful eye of St. Catherine.

 It was initially raining when we first assembled, but stopped after 2 hours and then we had clear skies the rest of the night!

 Any open spots quickly filled up...

 So many jubilant groups! These Polish seminarians started a few dance and song parties during the evening.

Dominic was the center of much attention, being one of the very few babies present. Quite a few people asked if they could get his picture. The above picture was sent to me - apparently we made it into a Slovak news website!

Around 9pm we got the boys to sleep and tucked away in their stroller. We prayed a Rosary then chatted with people around us. Germans, French, Italians, and one American lady who happened to know a classmate of ours from Ave Maria! Vastly different cultures, languages, ages, but all united by our one Catholic, apostolic faith. 

I don't have any more pictures from the rest of the night except a few taken on my phone, so will continue with the details. Around midnight, we heard the gates being pulled back. In what seemed an instant, we had jumped up, gathered our blankets and water bottles, and rushed along with the crowd towards the street. Of course, we didn't get far because there were so many people, but we were able to figure out that the police were very slowly moving the crowd forward towards the square, which wouldn't open until 5am. We were packed shoulder to shoulder, back to back. We remained this way for a hour, not moving. I squatted down, leaned against the stroller and tried to catch a few winks as did many of the people around us. Then at 1am, the movement started again, but this time with intense pushing pressure from the thousands behind us. I was behind the stroller and had to yell out "Stop pushing" at different intervals and wave my water bottle wildly in the air when it got too intense, and a kind man with a loud voice assisted me in doing this, yelling "Children are here! Stop!" Thankfully the message got passed along, but it was harrowing for me at points. Lots of prayers for our safety and especially for the elderly I saw around us. Of course I checked the boys every other minute, but they were completely fine in their sturdy stroller and slept through it all! Then the forward motion stopped, and no progress was made for a long time. Andrew was concerned about enough air getting down to the boys in the stroller as we were packed so tight. I could see him considering leaving and let him make the call. Peggy was worried about her children as well and we all knew we couldn't spend the next 4 hours in this position. So we made the hard decision to leave, which wasn't as hard to do as we had feared, thankfully. It only took us about 5 minutes to get out to the side street. People were very kind and helped us, smiling down at the boys, even when the stroller wheels crunched their toes. Michael received many blessings from priests as we made our way through the crowd and finally woke up once we were out on the empty street. We were so thankful to sleep in beds that night! Disappointed to have had to leave the crowd, but the children come first!

 I got up around 7am the next morning to go check out the situation. As our apartment was within the area sectioned off from the crowds, the streets were quiet except for cardinals and their assistants walking towards the Vatican to con-celebrate the Mass. I scoped out a place we could be in good position for the Mass and brought everyone back at 9am. I was happy for this spot. We could see the columns of the square, we could hear the music, we could catch an occasional glimpse of one of the big screens.

Michael watching the news helicopters fly overhead.

 Sharing a kiss with Mama before Mass started. He was such a happy and affectionate boy that weekend.

 But then! They allowed some of us to enter in up to the next barricade point. We were chosen because of the children. I kept saying, "Familia! Bambini, due bambini!" The police were very sympathetic towards all families, throughout that whole weekend, I felt. So nice.

 And then!! Just as the Mass started we were allowed into the sidelines of the square! We quickly went through security and came upon this sight just as the canonization proclamation occurred.

 We jumped the fence to get into this section. Wow, what an experience to see it all and feel the joy, the prayers, the gratitude - such a spirit of John Paul II prevailed. Thanks to those ecstatic and proud Poles, no doubt!

Michael was excited to see Pope Francis on the screen, incensing and lifting the Host and Chalice! Finally, a papal Mass in person!

So so wonderful to see Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI too. He is holy and humble, and it radiates from his person. We miss him so. Participating at Mass and especially singing the Creed along with him and the million other Catholics present, was an amazing moment for me - such a feeling of universal unity! Our hearts were expanding and overflowing. Again, a tiny glimpse of Heaven.

 Of course, Michael had to participate by doing the incensing that he so loves to do (usually every day) using Mama's water bottle.

 Another very beautiful moment - seeing priest after priest carry the Blessed Sacrament into the crowd, signaled by a Vatican-colored umbrella.

 Happy boy. (Too many pictures of me! I told Andrew, next time, I will have to be behind the camera more.)

Brotherly love.

 He is a saint! St. Pope John Paul the Great, pray for us.

Here you can see the million pilgrims at the canonization stretching out from St. Peter's Square, along the Via Della Concilazonie, past the Castel Sant'Angelo and over both Tiber bridges! (Taken from Catholic-link.)

 After Mass, we went for lunch, then home for blessed sleep. Later that evening, Andrew and I went with the kids to the square. Lots of people were milling around, recounting the day's events.

 What a glorious day! So blessed to share it with them.

- Departure day -

 The next day, we packed up, said our goodbyes, and headed to the train station to check times for our trip out to the Ciampino airport. After buying tickets, we had a few hours to kill, so we walked down the street to the Church of Santa Prassede. This church was built in the 5th century and has been rebuilt several times since, but some of the original structure and decorations still remain. St. Prassede was the daughter of a Roman family who housed St. Paul during his trips to Rome, and when her family's religious affinity was discovered, they were martyred; the church is built over their house. We were happy to enter in just as a Mass was starting, in French, no less!

Michael folding his hands during Mass.

A very ancient fresco.

Beneath the altar are the tombs of St. Prassede and her sister. Also, many bones of the martyrs that were initially buried in the Catacombs.

Mosaics from the 5th century depicting Christ and the 12 Apostles.

 

Inside a side chapel, we came upon this portion of a column, and reading the little sign under it, I was amazed to see it was from the column of the scourging of Jesus! What a relic!

 

A lovely Pieta sculpture. 

We had such a wonderful trip and were sad to leave! Rome is crazy yes, but its people are so friendly and relaxed and human. Its churches and relics are a great treasure trove for learning and gaining peace. The historical ruins, fountains, architecture, narrow cobbled streets, rumbling vespas, whiffs of cappuccino, even the dramatic arguing of two Italians truck drivers in the middle of the street with a nonchalant policeman standing by puffing away on his cigarette and chatting on his cell phone, completely charmed us. We felt so at home there...it could be that we have not seen much of Europe, and the Italian culture is so more down to earth and casual that of the Viennese. Much of my year's worth study of Italian came back to me over that week, and knowing Latin, Italian is so much easier to follow than German. Could have something to do with it as well.

Well, maybe we won't miss the graffiti. :)

Arrivederci Roma, we will be back. Grazie mille, dear God, for this wonderful experience!

Roma, part III.

 - Day 5 -

On Friday, in anticipation of the city was getting more and more crowded with pilgrims for the canonizations, I had planned a little excursion out of Rome. We took the metro west and stopped at the last of the four major basilicas in Rome - St. Paul Outside-the-walls. This church was the last big construction project of Imperial Rome, circa 380 A.D. and the largest church in Christendom until St. Peter's. There was a tragic fire in the 19th century and then the church was rebuilt in the same style and size of the original.

The church had a nice courtyard which Michael enjoyed exploring.

Michael playing hide and seek with a new friend.

 

He had great fun climbing up and down the stairs and on the pillar bases.

 

Column pieces from the original church.

 The chain which bound St. Paul.

The sarcophagus of St. Paul, only discovered in 2006 during some excavations under the church!

 Around the perimeter of the basilica are images of all 266 popes of the Catholic Church, beginning with St. Peter...

...and ending with a light shining on the current pope's image. Pretty cool.

We had a quick lunch then continued on our way to Ostia Antica near the coast. After a 30 min. train ride, we arrived to the ruins of this important sea port near the mouth (ostium) of the Tiber, founded in the 4th century B.C. It was abandoned between the 9th and 10th centuries A.D. Two-thirds of the original city have been excavated  - one could spend all day here exploring!

 Michael saying, "All gone!"

Michael had fun peering through the ancient windows.

 

Oh, the places this boy will have walked by the time he is 5...

 The theatre.

The gods of comedy?

Climbing up the steps of an old temple.

In the Plaza of the Guilds.

Here, each section had a mosaic signifying the trade of a particular guild on its floor.

Dominic is finally big enough to go on my back and loved being able to look around.

Don't worry, the above structure is NOT a well - just a very shallow hole - the remains of a small monument related to the Temple of Augustus and Rome in the background.

Public latrine...looks cozy.

The heads of many of the statues could be found in the site's museum, along with many other artifacts from this city; we didn't take the time to go in.

This area is called Tabernae of the Fishmongers, and is right next to a Christian church, so not sure if that was used as an altar at one point.

A nicely preserved facade of a "horrea" or shopping center.

 Michael had been such a good, patient boy the entirety of the trip, we really wanted him to have a whole afternoon to run and play around as much as he wanted. This was the perfect spot for it!

 The Capitolium - a temple dedicated to the Capitoline triad of gods - Jupiter, Juno and Minerva.

We passed the gymnasium and baths on our way out. Great mosaic work here.

We had such a great time and there was so much we didn't have time to see; will have to return someday! I found this cool interactive website for Ostia Antica which was very explanatory while reviewing the pictures we took:

http://www.ostia-antica.org/dict.htm

- Day 6 -

Saturday morning we slept in a little bit and discussed the necessary preparations that we needed to make for attending the canonization. We decided that we would get in line at the time St. Peter's Square closed that evening around 7pm and attempt to stay all night for a good spot the next day. After all, we had come all this way and it is not every day, one is able to attend the canonization of a pope so pertinent to our day and especially, families. And, the boys sleep quite comfortably and warmly in their chariot of a stroller, so being out all night wouldn't affect them. The final plans made, we set out for a little coffee/pastry and walk, and found these delicious, fresh plain-type donuts sprinkled with sugar granules. They were a hit.

Then we shopped for some rosaries and saint cards to take to be blessed at the canonization. This is Borgo Pio, one street over from where we were staying, and it is lined with small, but very busy religious item shops.  

Then we walked away from the Vatican to the Castel Sant'Angelo and the bridge, the Pont de'Angelo. The Castel was commissioned by Emperor Hadrian to be built in 130 A.D. as his family's mausoleum. Popes converted the structure into a castle fortress, to which they retreated whenever Rome was attacked. Legend has it that the Archangel Michael appeared to Pope Gregory I in 590 above the Castel, and sheathed his sword, signaling the end of a terrible plague that had been besieging the city. Hence, the statue of St. Michael on top of the Castel, sheathing his sword. I especially wanted to take Michael here to show him his patron's statue and the Pont de'Angelo or "bridge of the angels."

 Showing Michael the Tiber River.

 The angel statues on this bridge each carry a symbol of Christ's Passion.

We all really liked this bridge and spent some time on it.

 Love these shots.

 Then we walked over a bridge adjacent to the Ponte de'Angelo for another view.

 The bridge and statues only interested Michael momentarily, then he was back addressing the important things of life, like trucks, vans, and wheels. Such a boy.

 

Walking up the Via Della Conciliazione which ends right in St. Peter's Square. Michael wanted to help push "baby brother" quite often on this trip.

Of his own accord, he sat down on the curb to "rest" he said. "Too tired." We headed back home for naps before the night's big adventure! To be continued...