Rome sweet Rome

Greetings from aboard the Carnival Splendor in the port of Civitaveccia (pronounced Chivee-ta-veeche) Italy. The ship is just leaving port and we are about to begin our cruise. However, this is my third day in Italy. I spent Sunday, Monday and today in Rome. It has been a glorious experience!

We arrived in Rome on Sunday, Sept. 21st at 8:30 am local time (1:30 am CST). We were taken to our hotel, which was 2 blocks from Santa Maria Maggorie Basilica (St. Mary Major Basilica). We spent the afternoon wandering around the local shops. At 4:45 pm that evening we were taken to San Martino ai Monti Basilica to celebrate Mass. This is a church a few blocks from St. Mary Major and was built upon one of the original "home" churches in Rome. Also known as a domus church, these were private homes that we used by the early Christians in the first 3 centuries of Christianity because the Christian religion was illegal in the Roman Empire. Mass has been celebrated on the grounds of this church for over 1800 years!!! Being able to celebrate Mass in such a historical place was unbelievable.

On Monday we went to St. Peter's Basilca and at 7:30 am Fr. Regie and I celebrated Mass in the Polish chapel in the crypts of the Basilica. This is the chapel built in honor of Pope John Paul II. Just being able to celebrate Mass mere yards for the bones of St. Peter was indescribable. After the Mass we were given a private tour of the Vatican Museum including the Sistine Chapel. We were then given a tour of the Vatican Gardens. The Gardens are such a beautiful place. It is 55 acres of lush green grass, flowers, plants, bushes, trees and numerous fountains and grottos. It was absolute paradise. Lastly, we took a private guided tour of the Basilica. This included to tour of the crypt but not the scavi excavation tour.

Today we began with a tour of the St. Callitus Catacombs. It is quite impressive to see the underground burial crypts of such saints at St. Celilia, Pope Sixtus and others. After the catacomb tour we visited the Roman Ruins and the Coliseum. As we left the city for the cruise ship we stopped at St. Paul Outside the Walls. Because Pope Benedict has designated that as the Year of St. Paul, visiting St. Paul Outside the Walls gains you a plenarary indulgence.

It has been a busy few days. Tomorrow our ship will arrive in Naples, Italy where we will be taken to Pompeii and Sorrento. It looks to be another enjoyable day. Until next time...God bless.

posted by: crossman at 20:06 | link | comments |
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