Living in Rome, Part I

The Eternal City...

The beautiful St. Peter's Basilica

A panorama of Roma

Greetings from the eternal city! There has been as usual a lot going on here. We have had an opening banquet, a Halloween festa, and our first soccer game of the season (which we won)!
And my first test is next week, translating Latin into Italian. We'll see how that goes!
Walking through the streets of Rome almost everyday is familarizing me with life in Rome.
Getting to meet new people, see a new culture, and learn about the "Roman" life today, has been really an experience. Here are a few things I would like to tell you about.

A picture of Roma, and where the university which I attend is located.

Winding Streets with Shops...

The streets of Rome are really amazing to walk through, especially in the centro (central) of
the city. The streets are narrow and windy, surrounded by tall buildings that are quite old (and sometimes ancient). The roads in this part are cobblestone, and every few blocks there is a piazza with fountains and beautiful works of art.
Unlike today in most United States' cities, there are little shops all over the place with every kind of knick-knack imaginable. There are no Walgreens or Walmarts, but a thousand different "family run" shops that are just trying to make a living. The diversity of things to find in these shops is really interesting; I love to look in the windows as I pass by to see what will be in the next shop! I know that all you shoppers who are reading this are probably rubbing your hands together or something, but sadly a lot of beautiful things in the shops are "molto caro" that is very expensive. (Especially with the US dollar as it is) That does not mean, however, that you cannot dream about all the beautiful furniture, artwork, and clothing that are just waiting to be bought by a tourist just like you. I will take some photos...

Roman Symphony...

Last night I went to my first Roman Symphony concert. The concert was of Beethoven's Missa Solemnis, and it was incredible. What a perfect choice to begin the season! The upcoming concert this week is a piece composed by Scarlatti, (I think it is called Europa Galante).
I will keep you updated on the pieces in the season ahead...and maybe sneak some pictures too (not of the actual concert though, because that is "vietato"--in English, illegal).


Pasta and Pizza...


Upcoming Trips...

Ordinations, Visitations, Canonizations

Yes, it is time for me again to post—the weeks have been flying by—and there is certainly a lot to post about! That is the reason for the above title. This past week has been probably the busiest of weeks since I left the United States.
Here is a sketch of the week’s schedule:

Monday
My grandfather’s 86th Birthday
My theology studies begin
Choir rehearsal for Diaconate Ordination

Tuesday
The Rector of my college seminary visits the NAC
School continues
Choir rehearsal again

Wednesday
The Archbishop of Baltimore visits the NAC for the week
School again
Choir Rehearsal again
Vigil for seminarians to be ordained, with choir

Thursday
Diaconate Ordination at St. Peters Basilica, with choir
Reception at the NAC

Friday
School again, first week of theology completed
Baltimore gathering for dinner in Rome
Cardinal Keeler arrives in Rome to visit

Saturday
Last gathering with past seminary rector
Studying for next week

Sunday
Canonization Mass at St. Peters Basilica
Preparing for second week of classes

So, all these things plus studying, praying, and more, have kept me pretty busy this week. And despite the fact that it was busy, it was a wonderful week. I had the honor of being able to sing in a choir at St. Peters Basilica; I was able to meet new families and old friends who were visiting Rome; I was able to participate in the Canonization Mass of five saints, with tens of thousands of people (and a few of Prime Ministers, a king and queen, and the Pope and hundreds of priest and bishops). It was amazing…and so here are some pictures:


























The ordination and the canonization were especially memorable. A friend from college seminary was ordained and also a priest of Hawaii was canonized (St. Damian of Molokai). Here is a link to a biography on the priest and his heroic life in Hawaii: http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Catholic_Encyclopedia_(1913)/Father_Damien_(Joseph_de_Veuster)

I am very happy to be studying at L’Universita Santa Croce. The classes there are very engaging, and I find the professors to be charitable and prayerful (I see them in the chapel before classes begin). So I am very excited to continue to study in this university. Here is a link to the universities website (and yes, they have an English version): http://www.pusc.it/

I forgot to mention as well my silent retreat. I had a great and profound experience up in the Italian mountains. It is very beautiful and peaceful there, and thus it helped me focus on God and prepare myself for the busy week which I have just finishing describing. I remember thinking of the phrase: “The calm before the storm.” I can say now, instead, that the “storm” was not so terrible; instead, I really found God in busy times as well as in the times of peace and silence. The key for me is to make sure that I am looking for Him, whether in busy times or not. So, if you find yourself in the midst of a very active life, that does not mean you cannot find God or pray to Him. Actually, at least in my experience, the busyness has nothing to with it; finding God is simple all the time, we just have to be looking and searching for Him.

Keep looking and searching then, friends, and I will continue to pray for you during the many activities of my life here in Rome.

More Italian and St. Monica's Day

Greetings from Rome! I am sorry it has been awhile since my last posting, but it has been very busy here at the North American College. Since returning from Assisi, we have had to attend four hours of Italian class from Monday to Friday (plus homework in the evenings), and also juggle many other activities in the afternoons. We have just finished all of the Italian studies for the year, and next week we will be on a silent retreat. During a silent retreat, in case you did not know, we do not speak except for community prayers and to our spiritual directors. We are to keep a spirit of silence, in order to allow God and the individual to communicate without distraction. Every seminarian and priest is to make a weeklong retreat once a year, so as to continue to cultivate the intimate relationship which exists between God and the priest.
Personally, I have been on silent retreats before, so I am used to the silence, which at first sounds very difficult (at least I thought so years ago). One of the aspects which I really enjoy about silent retreats is the extra time to pray for you and all the people God has placed in my life! The silence is really a means to more (and different forms of) prayer, and more prayer is always good.
Now, I am sure you are wondering what else has been happening since early September. Well, to name some major things: we went on a tour of the Swiss Guard barracks in the Vatican, we visited our different universities, we went to St. Peter’s at night, we went to the tomb on St. Monica’s Day and prayed for our mothers, we went to the beach again, and we played a softball game on Labor Day (which my class won). I must also note that I got my first “Italian” haircut—and he was even singing along to old Italian songs (on a casette!), just like in the movies! So, I have clearly been kept busy with all these adventures.




Here are some pictures from some of these adventures:

The attire of the Swiss Guard today. The main uniform is to the right, where the one to the left is for the Colonel. (The commandant of the Swiss Guard)

The armor which the Swiss Guard wear. Nick, this picture is for you...

The pantheon, where the Romans used to worship. It was destroyed several times, and then rebuilt in the 2nd Century A.D. The original structure was built in 27 B.C.

In front of St. Augustine's Church in Rome (the tomb of St. Monica is inside).

This is a painting of St. Augustine being baptized. His mother, St. Monica, is to the left kneeling in joy for seeing her son converted to the Faith. The bishop baptizing him I believe is St. Ambrose.

After we return from retreat, we start studies at the university which I am attending (Santa Croce University). That same week is the NAC diaconate ordination, at which the choir is singing (that’s another thing I have been doing). Also that week is the NAC welcoming Mass for Archbishop Di Noia, who was recently appointed to Secretary of the Congregation of Divine Worship. I do not know his exact connection with NAC, except that he has given conferences here for many years to the seminarians. The choir is singing at that Mass also. So there are a lot of upcoming events, and I promise to somehow take pictures in the midst of all of it. That way I can try and share some of the experiences with you.
In case you were wondering what exactly a first-year theologian studies, here is a list of my classes (all taught in Italian):
Introduction to Sacred Scripture
Introduction to Theology
Fundamental Theology
Dogmatic Theology I
History of the Church: Ancient to Medieval
Ecclesiastical Latin
Regretfully, I am out of time for now. I will post once returning from retreat on what Santa Croce University is like, and what preparations are being made here for the diaconate ordination. (And I promise to try and post more frequently in the future, as time permits.)
God bless you!

Seeing the Pope, First Time

On Sunday, we took a trip to Pope Benedict's summer residence in the
area known as Castel Gandolfo (it is in the mountains outside of Rome). This villa has been used by the popes for centuries, and this Sunday we were able to join him for the Angelus prayer at noon. If you check the Vatican Youtube channel (which is at the bottom of the blog),
you might be able to catch a glimpse of me in the group of men in black to the left.

It was an amazing trip, and I promise to elaborate on it and post pictures
when things slow down a bit here...

Here are some picts!

A Swiss Guard (they have guarded the Pope for centuries).

PopeBenedict XVI, above us at the general audience.

At the papal gardens, Castel Gandolfo.

More later! Ciao!