Home Again

Well I'm back home finally. I really had intended to post a lot more on here, and I probably will fill in some details in the coming days.

I'm looking forward to seeing all my friends soon, a bunch of us are going 2-stepping tonight, so if you haven't got the word yet, let me know :)

Matt

Back in Roma

Well, it was great visiting Croatia, and I spent a couple days in Slovenia, and a day in Venice. I am back in Rome now, and will stay here until Thursday. I'll try and put some more details but no promises. It might be I'm home before I finally get that done.

God Bless,

Matt

Hravska (Croatia)

I arrived this morning in Split, and promptly found a private room to rent for only 125 kuna ($25). The house is owned by a nice lady named Maria. She`s visiting her grandchildren this afternoon but promised to take me to mass with her at 6pm.

I really like this place, it`s much more relaxed (and inexpensive). The people are very friendly, and suprisingly most speak at least a little English.

Unfortunately the internet kiosk here doesn`t let me upload pictures, hopefully I will be able to do that soon.

God Bless,

Matt

Arrivederci Roma

Well this is my last night in Rome. I went to a lecture on homiletics (preaching) at the Pontifical American College. Abp. Dolan (Wisconson) gave an excellent talk, he seems very orthodox. The main point was that preaching is an ecclesiastical act, not a personal one, the priest preaches in 'Persona Christi' giving 'voice' to the Word of God - Christ. He emphasized that the priest should suppress his personal issues or opinions and only teach what the Church and Christ teach. He also pointed out that they must preach 'Christ crucified' and not a sterile, syruppy sweet false gospel.

Had a great dinner with Vincent Arong a seminarian of the archdiocese of Galveston-Houston. He's the type of man that the Church is in great need of these days, he will make a great priest. It's evident from the response to Abp. Dolan's talk that the college is full of these orthodox men who will help restore the glory of His Church in the US.

Change of plans for tomorrow. I need to take it easy more, and so I'm going through to Croatia. I'll take the train back and go through Venice and Assisi, but I just won't be able to get the most of them after everything I've been doing in Rome.

I'm leaving on the train at to Ancona, IT, then the overnight ferry to Split (2100-0700).

I'll be in touch again the day after tomrrow.

God Bless,

Matt

Catching up

It's been hard to find a time and place for updating the blog the last few days, but I will get to it sooner or later. I've seen just about everything I will see this time, and just got back from a beautiful traditional Solemn High Mass at the Chiesa Gesu y Maria, near the Spanish Steps. The Institute for Christ the King (ICKSP) offers the traditional mass only on Sundays here. It is a beautiful church, and the mass befits it.

Tonight I was invited to a lecture by Abp. Dolan at the American Seminary here by one of the 'New Men' from Houston, Vincent Arong. Tomorrow morning I will head over to Asissi.

God Bless,

Matt

Santa Maria Maggiore

This is an incredible church, with beautiful papal altar enclosing relics of the Manger of the Nativity, it houses the remains of St. Pius V and numerous relics of St. John Borromeo and other great saints. I will write more later.

I have arranged 3 masses for these intentions to be said at Santa Maria Maggiore:
Repose of the Soul of Frances McDonald
Intentions of the McDonald family of Winnipeg, Canada
Intentions of the Park family and my friends of the Diocese of Galveston-Houston

The masses will be said in August.

This afternoon I'm going to visit the catacombs.

Papal Audience and Cupola of St. Peter's Basillica

The audience was terrific, I was pretty close to the front (30 rows) and within 10 feet when he walked in. I will write more another time.

I also went up to the top of the dome of St. Peters (320 steps above the elevator. What a breathtaking view. Pictures are going to be uploaded soon.

The Tomb of Saint Peter

I can hardly express the feeling of this place. It is the most incredible thing. To be in the place where the holder of the keys was laid to rest. Along with many of the early martyrs and popes. I will write more about this later.

The earlier link for pictures is fixed:

here.

Matt

Mass at St. Peter's Basillica

Well, unfortunately I was unable to get into the Pope's mass, but instead I went to the Latin Novus Ordo mass in St. Peter's Basillica. St. Peter's is incredible, the sense of the divine is everywhere in this ancient and sacred place. The architecture is truly glorious, and draws one's attention to God.

The mass was celebrated by a cardinal (don't know who, but I'll ask tomorrow), and I think there were 12 or so cardinals there as well, about 25 priests. It was beautiful to hear mass is in such an incredible church.

After mass I saw the pope give his Angelus address (will be posted in a day or two here), which was great, but he was very, very far away. Hopefully I'll get closer for the Wednesday audience.

This evening I went to the Traditional mass at the FSSP church (http://www.fssp-roma.org/en/welcome.htm). It's a really tiny place with only 3 rows of pews, but the side and main altars are just like you would find in the grandest basillica. Mass was very short without dialogue or singing, and only 10 people assisting. It was nice to end my day in Rome there though, and I plan to be back for mass there tomorrow.

Pictures from today are here.


Good Night,

Matt