Video Blog: Vatican City State
While taking a break from the books, I decided to film a short video for my blog. Do people even like video blogs or should I keep my regular, text-based blog? At least the video blog is 1) faster, 2) easier, and 3) faster. Did I mention that a video blog is faster to put together? haha. Enjoy this short clip and please continue to pray for me during this final stretch of exams!
Rome in Pictures
Yesterday was a beautiful day. I was beginning to get tired of the rain and clouds. After Mass at St. Peter’s Basilica, I snapped a few pictures and thought I should share them with you. Enjoy!
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- The massive statue of St. Paul greets visitors as they approach the main entrance to St. Peter’s Basilica.
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- The balcony from the central Loggia is where the Holy Father gives his biannual “Urbi et Orbi” blessing and is the first place the faithful get to see a new pope.
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- From St. Peter’s Basilica, the view is pretty amazing of St. Peter’s Square.
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- The statue of St. Peter overlooks St. Peter’s Square and is only a few yards from where St. Peter was crucified upsidedown.
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- This wide-angle photo shows St. Peter’s Basilica as the sun peaks over the mountains.
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- Cobblestones cover the entire city of Rome, including St. Peter’s Square.
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- When standing at the the center of the colonnade, all of the columns line up perfectly.
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- Within St. Peter’s Square, there is a huge nativity scene constructed during Advent around the Egyptian obelisk.
Alumni Weekend in Rome
The Holy Father address a private audience of faculty, bishops, alumni, and seminarians of the North American College.
Today was the best day of my life! While that may sound like a stretch, let me explain. To mark the 150th Anniversary of the Founding of the Pontifical North American College, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI invited the faculty, bishops, alumni, and seminarians to a private papal audience. All of us, seminarians, realized that there were so many people that were going to be present that it would be very unlikely that we would have a chance to meet the Holy Father. However, just being able to be in such close proximity to the Roman Pontiff had created a buzz of energy throughout the college in the last few weeks as the Alumni Reunion drew closer.
Today began with a Mass at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica celebrated by His Eminence John Cardinal Foley. I was very blessed to be able to serve the Mass by wearing a humeral veil and holding Cardinal Foley’s miter when he was not using it. It was a very simple job but as I sat in my chair beneath the Holy Spirit window, the reality of what was happening around me took my breath away. Immediately, everything around me took on a richer color, and the massiveness of the Basilica overwhelmed me. Here I was, a first year seminarian for the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City, holding the miter of a Prince of the Catholic Church. Every moment seemed to freeze for me to take it all in.
Later in the morning, all of the seminarians, faculty, and alumni gathered at the front entrance of the seminary and we made our way through St. Peter’s Square and then we were quickly guided by the Swiss Guard to the Loggia, the area above the main doors of St. Peter’s Basilica. This large hall is situated between five large, windowed balconies that overlook the Square. The other side of the hall has matching windows that overlook the interior of the Basilica. I was able to get a seat next to the aisle and about six rows from the front. It was exciting to be surrounded by seminarian friends as we anticipated the private audience with the Holy Father. No one knew what time the Pope would arrive, so we all took a seat, made small talk with each other, and frequently glanced towards the entrances of the hall. After waiting for about ninety minutes, all of the lights turned on and we could all hear the faint gasp as we all took in the fact that we were about to see Christ’s vicar on Earth, the Pope.
As the curtains at the end of the hall were pulled back, the Holy Father raised his hands, and we responded with a loud applause. However, I quickly realized that the Pope was taking a long time to make it down the first part of the aisle. As soon as I received a clear view, I saw that the Holy Father was shaking hands with the North American College guests on the far side of the aisle. I thought to myself, “Wow! I might actually get to meet the Pope!” I kept waiting for him to cross the aisle to our side, but he just kept shaking hands on the other side.
One of the seminarians whispered to me that it looked like the Holy Father was going to stay on that side of the aisle and was going to leave the hall by coming to our side of the aisle. I cannot explain what was going through my mind, but I turned to my friend Joseph and said, “Joe, I think we are actually going to meet the Holy Father!” He responded with a huge smile and shook his head in agreement. What a moment!
The procession slowly made its way towards the front and the Holy Father made his way to his chair. This was followed by a speech given by the rector of the Pontifical North American College, Monsignor James Checchio, and then we sang “Ad Multos Annos.”
Then the Holy Father addressed us (see the previous blog for the text of the speech). It was such a surreal moment to know that I was so close to the Holy Father and that I may get to meet him. In what seemed like seconds and hours, at the same time, the Holy Father finished his address, took a picture with the bishops and cardinals in attendance and then made his way toward the aisle as we all erupted again into applause. As Pope Benedict approached me, I noticed that he was looking straight at me and was smiling. He shook a few other hands and then it was my turn. I shook his hand and told him that I was praying for him and I also thanked him for his priesthood. He smiled and shook his head and then I kissed his ring. It felt like I spoke to him for a full minute, but in reality it was very quick. As he moved on to my other seminarian brothers, I turned back towards Joseph and we were both just beaming with joy. I turned back towards the Holy Father just in time to see my friends, Brandon and Alan, shake hands with the Pope. We all continued clapping until the Holy Father finished greeting us!
After the Pope left the Loggia, we slowly made our way through the Vatican and back to main bronze doors to the Papal Palace. My walk back to the North American College was through sheets of rain, but I hardly noticed. As I walked by the hundreds of tourists and pilgrims coming to see the beautiful Basilica of St. Peter, I was reminded that our Catholic faith, nourished by the blood of the martyrs, is something tangible. Just as Jesus Christ called St. Peter to become the foundation stone of the Church, St. Peter’s successor continues to strengthen the Church by drawing all of us closer to Jesus Christ. Today was the best day of my life because, even though it was only a moment, I encountered Jesus Christ’s vicar on Earth, the Holy Father, Pope Benedict XVI!
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- The NAC House Cassock is composed of a black cassock with blue buttons and a red fascia.
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- Brandon, Peter, and I served the Alumni Mass celebrated by His Eminence John Cardinal Foley at the Altar of the Chair in St. Peter’s Basilica.
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- The Holy Father greets the seminarians of the North American College.
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- Pope Benedict addresses the seminarians, faculty, and alumni of the North American College.
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- This is the balcony that the Holy Father walks out onto after being elected Pope.
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- His Excellency Timothy Dolan was a rector of the North American College and is now the Archbishop of New York.
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- These steps lead up to the Papal Apartment and the rest of the Papal Palace.
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- Seminarians, Faculty, and Alumni of the North American College applaud as Pope Benedict XVI enters the Loggia.
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- His Excellency Anthony Taylor was a priest from the Archdiocese of Oklahoma until he was named Bishop of Little Rock by Pope Benedict XVI.
Sunday’s Angelus Blessing from Pope Benedict XVI
This morning I went to St. Peter’s Square for Pope Benedict XVI’s first Sunday Angelus Blessing in Rome, since I have been in Italy. Up until today, he has hosted the Angelus blessing at his summer residence, Castelgandolfo, which is located outside of the city of Rome. Prior to the Angelus, the Holy Father celebrated Mass at the High Altar in the Pontifical Basilica of St. Peter. He was welcoming the African Synod, which will begin later this week. It was a busy day for our Holy Father, but it was nice to see him from his Papal Apartment at noon for his message and blessing. Below are some pictures from the morning.
The North American College's soccer field from the window
This is the view from my window at the North American College if I lean really far and look to the right.
The dome of St. Peter's Basilica.
Here are a few of the statues of saints that overlook the pilgrims when they visit St. Peter's Square.
Two bishops walk among the pilgrims in St. Peter's Square, after Mass with Pope Benedict XVI. The Mass was in preparation for the African Synod beginning this week in Rome.
Another picture of the two bishops wading through the crowds of pilgrims in St. Peter's Square.
Two sisters discuss their experience of Mass with Pope Benedict XVI and prepare for the Holy Father's Sunday Angelus message to the pilgrims.
Pope Benedict XVI approaches the podium for his weekly Sunday Angelus message.
Pope Benedict XVI asked for everyone's prayers as the African Synod begins this week in Rome.
Pilgrims cheer for Pope Benedict XVI during his Sunday Angelus message.
Pilgrims cheer for Pope Benedict XVI.
Seminarians from the North American College sang for pilgrims following the Holy Father's address and Angelus Blessing in St. Peter's Square.
