'A time of grace'
Sunday, June 27, 2010
* Ana Rodriguez Soto
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Rome is hot - and as impressive as ever.
After a smooth flight over - something not everyone on this pilgrimage can say - some of us spent our first day in Rome walking around and seeing the sights. It is actually a great way to stave off the jet lag until your new bedtime.
I walked from our hotel, which is located next to Vatican City, to the Piazza Navona and Pantheon, which are on the other side of the Tiber River. An easy way not to get lost is to keep an eye on the Castillo Sant'Angelo, that ancient fortress located right next to the river and just at the end of the Via della Conciliazzione, the road that leads into St. Peter's Square.
Then, after a shower and brief rest in the hotel, those accompanying Archbishop Thomas Wenski on this trip attended an opening Mass at a church located just down the block from our hotel. Of course, it is not difficult to find a church in Rome. In fact, from our hotel, the Michelangelo, if we walk in one direction we run into St. Peter's Basilica; and if we walk in the other we run into this comparatively little but impressive 350-year-old church called Santa Maria della Grazie (St. Mary of Grace).
In his homily, Archbishop Wenski pointed out that Romans pray to Mary for their health and safety. He prayed "that she will give us her protection during our time in Rome."
He also reminded those present that "we come to Rome not just as tourists. We also have to remember that we come as pilgrims." And pilgrims can turn inconveniences - such as delayed flights and lost luggage, jet lag and aching feet - into prayers by offering them up to the Lord.
"This is a time of grace," Archbishop Wenski said.
Today (Sunday) our pilgrimage starts with a tour of Christian Rome that will culminate with the celebration of Mass at Santa Maria Maggiori. In the evening, we will be the guests of the U.S. Ambassador to the Vatican, Miguel Diaz, the first theologian to be appointed to the post and a man with myriad Miami connections. He will host a reception for us in his home, Villa Richardson, which, I am told, has one of the most magnificent views of the city of Rome.
Until then, ciao!
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