- Home
- Blog News
- Our Journey
- Sights and Sounds
- Resources
- Messages
View from the Back of the Bus - Saturday
28th June, 2009 - Posted by Ursula Stephens -
It’s Saturday in Roma!
With such a profoundly moving day yesterday ( we covered a great distance but took some 7500 steps) today is going to be wonderful and hard work.
We wake refreshed in the knowledge that we are not so much living out of our suitcases - this has become quite significant in our minds!
First, breakfast together then onto the bus for our trip to the Catacombs. Archbishop Mark translates a prayer to St Paul from Rome as we make our way along the busy streets marvelling at the mix of old and new.
The Catacombs take up about 14 square kilometres under the city. Spread over four levels these are the ancient burial grounds of the early Christians..It’s quite mind boggling to imagine how this labrynth of caves and tunnels was constructed. Imagine working 30m below ground with rudimentary tools, little light and sometimes aired fouled by methane gas!
Today our morning Mass is in the Church of the Holy Martyrs below ground in the catacombs, another rare privilege afforded us as pilgrims. It is beautiful here - the acoustics are magnicent. The bishops and priests wear red vestments today and Richard reads from the Book of Revelations.
Tthe theme of Archbishop Mark’s homily is martyrdom, of those ‘bathed in blood’ who in giving their life reflect the face of jesus Christ risen. He stresses that martyrs and Jesus are not ‘once upon a time’ rather they are here and now, with many Christians around the world being persecuted for their faith. We too, must continue to be active in our faith to give life to the Church in our parishes and our communities. The question he asks of us, as pilgrims is this: “what way are you called to live the martyrdom?
We pray for all of you at home and for the special intentions that we are carrying in our hearts, and sing again with lusty voices.
After Mass we are back in the bus and off to the Vatican museum and then the Basilica of St John in Lateran,( which was the first Papal residence and Cathedral of Rome) and the fabulous Sistine Chapel.
We then trudge on to explore the wonderful St Mary Major Basilica before making our way back to our hotel to put up our very aching feet! It’s very warm, and most of us make our way to the little tavernas in the piazza behind the hotel for a cool drink ( all kinds acceptable!)
After another simple home-cooked meal we venture out again to see the sites of Rome at night. The city is abuzz - it comes alive again at about 10 o’clock and everywhere is teeming with tourist groups, all following little flags of their guides.
By bus we explore the Aventine Hill area where the first meetings of Christians honouring St Paul were held. It is in this area that he was held under house arrest, as referred to in Acts 28: 16-17.
Our guide is keen to take us to the Trevi Fountain so we can do the tourist thing of throwing a coin for luck over our shoulders. You know what they say ” When in Rome..”
A quick dash across the Piazza Navona for a gelati, then it’s home for bed after a whopping 38000 steps paying tribute to St Paul.
Ciao for now!
Tags: Archbishop Mark Coleridge, Archdiocese of Canberra and Goulburn, footsteps of saint paul, reflection, st paul, Ursula Stephens
Posted on: June 28, 2009
Filed under: Reflections from the Back of the Bus
No Comments
No Comments
Leave a reply