Papa Please
Preach ~ My Trip to Rome
After a
month of computer glitches and fixes…I’m finally able to share about a little trip
to Italy we took this fall.
I was not
raised Catholic but became Catholic after getting married. It was a personal
choice for me. So being able to see Rome was such a joy!
One of the
great things about being an expat is meeting other people in your same
situation. It’s the best way to find out where to go, where to get off the
beaten path, which museums to go to and how to avoid the long lines. And they are usually full of ideas on how to
do as inexpensive as possible.
Here are
some things I learned and enjoyed about Roma~
-There’s a
reason there’s a shortage of Priests in the world…. They’re all in Rome. I
would say the old saying… “You can’t swing a dead cat without hitting a”…
Priest or Nun, but that doesn’t sound very nice… so I’ll just say there are a
lot in Rome.
-God is
everywhere. What if God was one of us? What would you say?
- If you are
a single, Swiss, Catholic, high school educated, Swiss military trained male over
the height of 5’8” and between the ages of 19-30 you have a chance to become a
Papal Swiss Guard.
- Vatican
City is its own state within the city of Rome. Day or night this vibrant area
lives and breathes the beauty of God.
The Vatican at night
The Sistine
Chapel is truly amazing. Guards or workers tell everyone… no pictures and to
keep quiet as people look around in awe. It was wall to wall of people staring
up. Looking up to the beautiful ceiling painted by Michelangelo? Looking up to
God for the plea for a prayer?
The ceiling in the museum leading toward the Sistine Chapel
Right before you go into the chapel
No pictures? Ok…. Click
-As the
saying goes “Rome wasn’t built in a day.” But the Roman’s do know how to build
to impress!
-Mass at St.
Peter’s Basilica was on my bucket list.
People visiting need to visit their
website before going because there are do’s and don’ts. You must be dressed appropriately
and talking is kept to a minimum. But that’s hard to remember as you enter and
everywhere you turn are amazing works of art that look like they belong in a museum.
You sometimes just want to share with the person next to you what you are thinking
or feeling. We wandered around looking and listening to our walking guide explains
to us what each piece was. Then we checked for mass times. We had a few spare
minutes so we found the gift store and bought a few memorable pieces for our
children. We then gathered behind an area in front of the alter where mass
would be held. People were already a few rows deep just look to see what was
going on. I stepped up to a man standing at the gate and asked if mass was
available to everyone. He said “Yes, but it’s in Italian.” Not a problem I said
and we stepped in to find seats. It really wasn’t crowded because I think some
didn’t realize they could come in. I’m pretty sure the gate that was about
waist high was just there to keep people from milling around during mass.
Mass for me was
an unexpected emotional experience. I attend mass every week and have attended
mass in most places I’ve traveled to. One of my favorites was in Yellowstone
National Park. But as I got down on my knees to pray for my family and anyone I
could think of I couldn’t help the tears that spilled from my eyes. And I can
say that mass in Italian is beautiful. I only understood a bit but that’s ok.
It was a familiar part of my being and I thank God I was able to be there.
-Pope
Francis~ I love how there are so many different religions in the world and I
respect that everyone has their own way to pray or not if they so choose. For
me.. I need prayer. When things go right or wrong in my life or the world
around me, it is faith in my God that helps me get through.
With the new
day of our Pope Francis I am so ever grateful to a man who answered a call from
God to lead his people. To me this humble, kind, caring, loving, charismatic
man is just what my heart needs to help me to keep peace in my heart and life.
I didn’t get
to see the Pope while visiting Rome, but I know he was there. Seeing isn’t
believing.
Pope
Francis.. This American Girl sends thanks, gratitude and prayers to you and the
people you pray for. Papa please keep preaching your words of love and
kindness.
