this morning. Most of the way there was dotted with lovely hill towns and the trained snaked along the Tiber River. Short interludes of graffiti and shanty housing along the river and railway interrupted the fine views, reminding that we are, in fact, living in this world.
Pray for the destitute here and everywhere, it is so easy to forget in the midst of joy and plenty.
Our first site in Rome, less than one minute from the train station was the Roman Baths built by Diocletian. Through the treacherous and winding streets, filled with suicidal motorists and naive tourists, our cab driver found his way to the Campo di Fiore, where our apartment is. It is a lively spot, and we are certain not be be disappointed here.
We walked to the Vatican shortly after we arrived to pick up our tickets for tomorrow's audience with Papa Francesco. It took about 37 hours to get those tickets, free, but including a trip through Vatican security and a lengthy wait. It will all be worth it. While in line, we met up with a priest, Father David from Illinois that we met while in Siena (he is the chaplain for a tour group). He gave us the lowdown on getting to the audience, told us it was the one time in our lives when we didn't need to practice charity, and bouyed us up spiritually for our journey in Rome.
After the chaotic gathering of tickets, we thought we should take a quick peek ( ha ha ha ) at Saint Peter's Basilica, as we were right there. Um.
Words do not suffice, my friends. Just going to have to go back for another look before I can even comment.
At any rate, while we were gawking at the sheer weight of it all, dear Father David taps us on the shoulder. "I was just spending time at adoration here, and God told me I should come and find you," apparently, God led him right to us. "I want to invite you to the catacombs with our tour group tomorrow, I will be saying Mass in the catacombs, and I thought you could join us."
Yes. Father David. We will join you.
Dinner at a lovely trattoria, home and in bed early as tomorrow is a very big day.
Up early to get a good seat for the Papal audience, Papal audience, meet Father David's group, bus out to catacombs, attend Mass and have a tour of the catacombs, then meet a tour guide at Saint Paul's outside the walls for a couple of hours of church combing.
Will fill in details tomorrow, with all good fortune.
Pray for the destitute here and everywhere, it is so easy to forget in the midst of joy and plenty.
Our first site in Rome, less than one minute from the train station was the Roman Baths built by Diocletian. Through the treacherous and winding streets, filled with suicidal motorists and naive tourists, our cab driver found his way to the Campo di Fiore, where our apartment is. It is a lively spot, and we are certain not be be disappointed here.
We walked to the Vatican shortly after we arrived to pick up our tickets for tomorrow's audience with Papa Francesco. It took about 37 hours to get those tickets, free, but including a trip through Vatican security and a lengthy wait. It will all be worth it. While in line, we met up with a priest, Father David from Illinois that we met while in Siena (he is the chaplain for a tour group). He gave us the lowdown on getting to the audience, told us it was the one time in our lives when we didn't need to practice charity, and bouyed us up spiritually for our journey in Rome.
After the chaotic gathering of tickets, we thought we should take a quick peek ( ha ha ha ) at Saint Peter's Basilica, as we were right there. Um.
Words do not suffice, my friends. Just going to have to go back for another look before I can even comment.
At any rate, while we were gawking at the sheer weight of it all, dear Father David taps us on the shoulder. "I was just spending time at adoration here, and God told me I should come and find you," apparently, God led him right to us. "I want to invite you to the catacombs with our tour group tomorrow, I will be saying Mass in the catacombs, and I thought you could join us."
Yes. Father David. We will join you.
Dinner at a lovely trattoria, home and in bed early as tomorrow is a very big day.
Up early to get a good seat for the Papal audience, Papal audience, meet Father David's group, bus out to catacombs, attend Mass and have a tour of the catacombs, then meet a tour guide at Saint Paul's outside the walls for a couple of hours of church combing.
Will fill in details tomorrow, with all good fortune.
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