Rome

As we approached St. Peter’s Square on our way to Mass in the Basilica early Monday morning, we had our umbrellas in hand and the Swiss Guards could be seen keeping watch over the Vatican steadfastly in their navy, golden-button down raincoats.

Padre Giuseppe concelebrated Mass with Fr. Mark, a former pellegrino from Merrimack College, in the ornate Clementine chapel located just below the main altar in St. Peter’s Basilica. It was a beautiful and touching Mass celebrated at the remains of St. Peter, our first pope.

It was amazing to ponder how the Church of today has survived through all of the centuries despite its struggles; moreover, it was awe-inspiring to know that we stood right where St. Peter, “the rock,” had been buried. Fr. Mark preached about knowing and being yourself in a world of distractions and temptations. During this Mass, as well as all of the other Masses that were celebrated, pellegrini were brought not only closer to God, but also closer to each other as we exchanged heartfelt signs of peace with one another. 

After celebrating Mass, we were given a tour of the grottos underneath the Basilica and were shown the tombs of Pope John Paul II, Pope Pius XII, as well as the tombs of others.

We were also given an informative tour by Padre Giuseppe of the main Basilica, where we he called our attention to the statue of St. Peter. While the rest of the statue is dark with age, St. Peter's foot is bright and shinny, as a function of pilgrims from all over the world touch the statue as they pass by. 

Fr. Joe told us about the pope who had constructed the basilica at that time, who had incorporated on the four main pillars of the altar the stages of a pregnant woman, as a tribute of sorts to his niece who had been undergoing a tough pregnancy at the time.

Padre Giuseppe provided “insider details” about some of the sculptors and their clever ways of incorporating themselves into their work. As we were leaving the Basilica, banners could be seen being put up in preparation for the upcoming Canonization ceremony. 

We were also honored to visit the tomb of Blessed Pope John XXIII, whose feast day was celebrated that very day, October 11— the day in which the great Pope had started Vatican Council II forty-eight years ago in 1962.

During this afternoon, we got to see the Colosseum, run up the many steps near the Spanish Embassy, and throw a coin with a wish attached to it into the beautiful Trevi Fountain together with our fellow pellegrini.

 After having a late breakfast, the group walked around Rome, viewed some churches including the church of St. Ann and St. Augustine, and browsed through gift shops. After having a hot bowl of pasta for lunch and sharing some laughs with each other over everything ranging from the way in which the waiter had taken our orders to Fanta towers and the infamous Snape, we set out to tour Rome.

While there, we were introduced to Paolo and given headphones so that we could hear the English translation of the Italian homily. Although the prayer service was in Italian, the warmth and presence of the people united around you could be felt as the hymns were being sung.

The Italians were very welcoming to us American pilgrims. They seemed to appreicate our participation and helped us stay on the right page in our missals.

During the homily, Andrea Riccardi, the founder of St. Egidio, talked about the biblical passage in which it is said that “faith can move mountains.” I remember this, because I thought it had been ironic, for I had just been discussing this passage in my one Humanities class back at Villanova, a few days prior.

He had talked about how truly nothing is impossible with Christ and how our lives are wrought with miracles every day, whether they are great or small, and that they are still God’s gift of Himself to us. He talked about how, although we are all bound to undergo struggles in life, it is through the help of each other that we overcome them. Furthermore, Andrea said that it is through us, God’s instruments of grace, that God performs His miracles. This prayer service prompted us to be thankful always for our friends and family and for those who we are blessed to have in our lives.

After the beautiful prayer service, our friend Paolo talked to us briefly about the work he does and the mission to which he and his group aim. Paolo took delight in telling us about the differences he tries to make in the lives of those who are less fortunate than we are. He talked about how the very church that we just had a prayer service in becomes transformed into a banquet hall on Thanksgiving and Christmas for those who are in need of assistance and who are alone on these holidays.

Paolo was a great inspirational speaker who avidly was devoted to this mission of helping others. After departing with Paolo, we gathered for pizza and someone would always say grace adding his/her own personal touch. It was a great day in Rome for us pellegrini!

Rome and Ostia

Buon giorno to our first full day in Italy! And what a special day it was: October 10, 2010, or 10/10/10! We rose from our sleep thankful that Padre Giuseppe let us sleep in a bit! Some of the Pellegrini were more affected by the jet lag than others and had to get a personal wake-up call to get out of bed!

 Once everyone was awake, alert, and enthusiastic we set out in the clear, crisp morning for the short walk to the Collegio Santa Monica located directly next to St. Peter’s Square and the Vatican. We entered through the gates of the college and into the beautiful Augustinian property where Padre Giuseppe gave us a brief overview, including some stories of when he used to live at the college!

Upon entering the main college building, we immediately met more Augustinians who greeted us like we were old friends. As we passed through the halls we saw the dormitories that housed scores of Augustinians and priests, including former cardinals and Popes who at one time had stayed for a visit.

We then gathered for Mass in St. Monica’s Chapel, where there was a stunning mosaic behind the altar that depicted various scenes of Monica and Augustine’s life. Padre Giuseppe even let us all stand around the altar as we celebrated the Eucharist during our beautiful, private Mass in the chapel. 

After Mass, we went across the street into St. Peter’s Square for the weekly Sunday Angelus at High Noon with Pope Benedict XVI. Pope Benedict translated his blessing and message into many languages so all of the thousands of people from around the world that packed the square could understand his powerful words.

The Angelus at Noon with Pope Benedict XVI

This window drape, with a new version of the papal coat of arms,
was used for the first time today!
For 50 points, what major change from the previous banner, will be corrected?

Look for us here!!!

Right after the Angelus, the Pellegrini decided to hang out in St. Peter’s  to take in some of the sights and sounds of the Vatican. This included meeting two young, friendly priests from our neighboring city of Pittsburgh who were in the square playing guitars and singing songs for everyone’s enjoyment.

Before lunch we made a stop on the roof of St. Monica’s college to check out the impressive views of St. Peter’s Basilica and snap some group pictures. Padre Joe had a “small world” moment when we ran into an old student of his in the adjoining hotel whom had become a priest himself.

Lunch consisted of some take-out pizzas which we enjoyed in a small piazza outside of our hotel with the Vatican beautifully displayed in the backdrop.

Then it was off to Ostia Antica, the ancient port of Rome. It was fascinating to walk on the ancient cobblestone road that made its way from Ostia Antica all the way into the heart of Ancient Rome.

Ostia was breathtaking, with thousands of stones and ruins! It was particularly special that Ostia was a place where Augustine and Monica likely walked and talked together.  As we made our way through the ruins, we read excerpts from the Confessions and saw such places as were Augustine probably bought his ticket for the boat that took him to Africa.

Then it was back to the hotel in Rome to rest up before Cena. However, the Pellegrini took advantage of this time for some quality bonding over some intense games of UNO and fish bowl!

When it was time for dinner, we were certainly ready for the outstanding and plentiful meal that we had at a small restaurant about a block from the hotel, with the owner an old friend of Fr. Joe’s! We were lucky enough to try various traditional Italian dishes as well as some Italian drinks including the traditional after dinner liquor, Grappa, getting mixed reviews from the inexperienced Pellegrini.

With full bellies, we made our way back to the hotel, looking forward to some much needed rest while reflecting on the fantastic day in Rome and Ostia, and looking forward to the adventures and experiences the next day would bring.

We're Here!

Although we had been awake for a little over twenty-four hours (at least those of us who hadn't been able to catch a nap on our two flights to Rome), we had a full afternoon ahead of us! After leaving the airport in Rome, we boarded a tiny, twelve-seater bus to take us to our first hotel.

We settled in and unpacked a bit before Father Joe led us on a short walk through the streets of Rome into the heart of Saint Peter’s Square – The Vatican.

Though I had been there before, it was completely overwhelming to stand at the home of our faith tradition, the true center of the Catholic Church.

We walked through the colonnade for a few minutes, looking forward to the time we would be able to spend in the cathedral the next day, before heading back to the hotel to meet the bus that would take us to Genazzano, home to the Shrine of Our Mother of Good Counsel.

This particular name for Mary is certainly not foreign to us Villanova students! As an Augustinian community, we ask for her intercession at our regular Masses and some Villanova students even reside in the residence hall named after her. As such, we were all looking forward to making this first, official stop on our pilgrimage to see the icon we all knew so well.

What most of us hadn’t known was the miraculous story of the icon itself. While traveling to the shrine, Father Joe told us how the icon had originally resided in a church in Albania and mystically travelled to the shrine in Genazzano that we were about to visit. Even more amazing, the image now appears to be suspended in mid-air without any structural support!

Leaving the bus, we walked through the incredibly quiet, tiny town until we reached the shrine. While the local congregation was praying the rosary before their evening liturgy, we spent some time praying the day’s evening prayer in the chapel that serves as the resting place of Blessed Stephen Bellesini, O.S.A. An Augustinian, Stephen Bellesini was devoted to serving the poor, especially the children of his community, educating them and providing for their well-being. After prayer, we visited the image of Our Mother of Good Counsel itself before being shown the room where Stephen Bellesini died. How wonderful to see so much Augustinian history on our first day of pilgrimage!

We boarded the bus yet again on our way back to Rome, and had a wonderful first dinner together outdoors, enjoying the culture and laid back atmosphere that bella Italia offered. It was a great way of getting to know each other and to relax from our hectic days of travel. We all fell asleep quickly - tired but looking forward to the tour of Rome and all that it would hold in store for us.

Andiamo

We gathered at 3:00 p.m. outside of Bartley Hall, across from the North Gate, excited but still frazzled from the stress of midterms and packing for our Pellegrinaggio!

Through the graciousness of 2008 pilgrim, Chris Janosik, of the Office for Mission & Ministry, we were provided a pilgrimage prayer book, which soon became as important to us as our boarding passes and passports. In retrospect, it is these daily prayers and readings that will bring me back to the sacred moments of our walking “in the footsteps of Augustine."

As we prayed together for the first time, reading from our prayer book, little did we know how “dog-eared”, well used and treasured our prayer manual would become.

As we boarded our coach and Fr. Farrell led us in the first ritual of the pilgrimage - the oft repeated "head count," we began our journey as pilgrims with restless hearts.