benedetto. felice. amato.: Adventures in Rome

Rome - the Eternal City! Wow is it beautiful here! Everywhere I turn there is a big beautiful church or basilica and there are priests and nuns wandering around everywhere I look! I only wish I spoke Italian so that I could go up and talk to them. We have had the last two days to do our own thing and explore this beautiful place. We are staying in the southeast part of Rome so yesterday morning we took the Metro into town and wandered until we found St. Peter's Basilica and the Pontifical North American College. After that we found our way to the Trevi Fountain where we made a wish and enjoyed some gelato. We continued down a small road where we saw a sign that said "BISHOP’S OFFICE FOR US VISITORS TO THE VATICAN." So naturally, I knocked on the door. When there was no answer I found a doorbell to ring. Nothing. Oh well... Like my dad always says, "If you don't ask... :)". Anyways, from there we explored until we found the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles (Basilica degli Santissimi XII Apostoli). The Church is on a busy street surrounded by restaurants and shops so it could easily be walked past. I remembered going into the Church on the World Youth Day pilgrimage last summer and I wanted to go back so we explored until we found it. It is SO beautiful! There were only maybe 3 other people in the Basilica besides us and it was some nice time for prayer. The altar on the right hand side of the main altar is dedicated to St. Maximilian Kolbe - one of my favorites - so that was neat. I made my way into the crypt under the altar where Sts. Philip and James are buried. It is so quiet and beautiful down there. Makes for some of the best prayer time ever! This morning we went to Mass at San Giovanni Bosco - I thought that I didn't know any Italian and at Mass I found out that I know even less than I thought! Yikes! We made our way over to the Spanish Steps and saw two other beautiful churches along the way. The first one we visited was San Marcello and after that we visited the Church of Saint Ambrose and Saint Charles Borromeo. Both were incredible. My favorite part of the day was our last part. Un buon amico (I'm workin' on my Italian here), Chris Bernabe, told me about Vespers at Santa Trinita Ai Monti with the brothers and sisters there and Holy Liturgy of the Hours was it awesome! The chanting was so beautiful and peaceful - like angels! It was in French so I pretty much had no idea what was going on. I found my place every once in a while with the bowing and the sign of the cross but other than that is was just a nice opportunity to listen and pray. We have tours planned the rest of the week to see all of the Major Basilicas and such. You all remain in my prayers :)