Day 5 Recap

There's so much to cover today, I don't know where to begin.  The beginning is a good place as any so I'll start there.  We were doing our ups at 7am; wake-up, wash-up, eat-up, pack-up, and head out (okay, mostly "ups" with one "out").

The first event on today's agenda was a papal audience.  Thanks to the sister of one of our seniors (not on the trip), we were given tickets to attend.  We arrived in sunny Piazza San Pietro at 8:30am for the 10am greeting.  After passing through security, we found seats no far away from one of the lanes where the pope rides through the crowds before the audience officially begins.  The Holy Father appeared around 9:40am making his way through the crowd.  Our boys rushed to the front of the section and began waving one of their Jesuit hoodies for Pope Francis to see.  Apparently he did see it because he did somewhat of a double-take, smiled, and then gave them a blessing.  The whole thing was pretty incredible.

After the audience ended, we returned to the apartment and shared some graces from the day.  From there we met Fr. Michael Earthman for lunch.  Fr. Earthman is a priest friend of mine from the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston who is currently studying in Rome.  Then it was onto our daily dose of gelato at the Frigidarium which came highly recommended by my cousins from Louisana (and verified by Fr. Earthman).  It didn't disappoint to say the least.  They have managed to take gelato to a whole new level.

Since Santa Croce in Gerusalemme was closed when we went yesterday, we headed back in that direction, stopping to visit the baptistry at St. Giovanni in Laterno on the way.  In all my visits to Rome, I had never been inside and I immediately fell in love with the small chapel inside.  It's rustic quality had a profound impact on me.  It reminded me that while the fancy gilding may be beautiful and the enormity of some of the basilicas is mind-blowing, when it comes right down to it, it's the faith behind the construction that is inspiring.  God can be found in the simplest of places, and His presence makes the most humble abode grand beyond words.

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is keeper to some of the most precious relics in Christendom: two thorns from the Crown of Thorns, the finger of St. Thomas the Apostle, wood from the True Cross, one of the nails used in the crucifixion of Jesus, and the titolo, or wooden tablet, that Pilate had hung above Jesus' head proclaiming Him the King of the Jews.  If that weren't enough there is also a photostatic copy of the Shroud of Turin in a side chapel.  I've only recently discovered this church and it is quickly moving up the list of my favorite churches in Rome.

Then it was back across town (about a 40 min walk) to the Gesú for the 5:30pm reveal of the statue of St. Ignatius of Loyola.  After the reveal, we met up with Fr. Brian Reedy and Fr. Jeff Johnson, president of the school.  Fr. Johnson took us on a tour of the Rooms of St. Ignatius (bedrooms and offices).  Fr. Johnson also celebrated Mass for us in the room where St. Ignatius died.  While it was the third time I have had the opportunity to experience a Mass there, it never ceases to move me.  As a Jesuit educator for 25 years, I owe so much to the work of this man whose life has impacted not only me, but millions of others around the world; a testimony to what one can accomplish when one lives his life for God's Greater Glory!

After Mass, we made our way to our favorite restaurant.  By the time dinner was done it was 10:30pm and we were wiped out.  So the houses parted ways and headed home for night prayer and bed.

Peace to all of you following the daily recaps.  We do feel the support of your prayers and are lifting all of you up at each of the places to which we pilgrim.

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam!