This is one to add to your really cool list. In preparation for the Feast of St. Anthony, and roughly 800 years since he died, a group from the Unitversity of Padua’s Anthropology Museum did a recreation of St. Anthony’s face.
Since St. Anthony is my patron and I was ordained on his feast, I’m really happy to get to see what he looked like.
The love and mercy of the Blessed Virgin Mary are endless, of course through the goodness of Almighty God, who is the source of all grace.
Today, I visited the Grotta Della Madonna Della Tre Fontane (The Grott of Our Lady of the Three Fountains). This is such a beautiful and simple place. I visited here at the recommendation of St. Emanuella who I posted about yesterday.
There was a man by the name of Bruno Cornacchiola. Bruno was raised Catholic, but like many of our contemporaries, he left the faith. And, not only did he leave the Catholic Church, but he grew an intense hatred for it and the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom he often attacked and blasphemed.
Bruno pledged that he would do everything in his power to destroy the Catholic Church. He also made a vow to kill Pope Pius XII. Bruno was violent to his wife and children because they practiced the Catholic faith. He demanded that his wife leave the Church and become a Protestant and eventually an Adventist minister.
On a beautiful day, 12 April 1947, Bruno took his children to at little park across from the Trappist Monastery at Tre Fontane. Children loved to go there, since their parents would often purchase chocolate made by the Trappists. (I can attest to the goodness of the chocolate. Could have eaten the whole store!)
During their visit to the park, one of the children lost the ball they were playing with. The children began to search in the woods and when they came upon the grotto, they saw a beautiful woman and kept repeating the words: “Beautiful woman.” In fear that his children would be garment, Bruno went to see what was taking place and to remove them. However, without all his strength, Bruno could not move his children from the spots where they knelt. Suddenly, the Virgin Mary appeared to and spoke to Bruno.
Like St. Paul, the scales fell from the eyes of Bruno and his life was change forever. He was directed by Our Lady to seek the guidance of a priest (she promised that it would be confirmed by a sign) and she wanted him to meet with the Pope. Bruno and his family converted back to the Catholic Church. On 9 December 1949, just 2 – 1/2 years later, Bruno was able to talk with Pope Pius XII and ask his forgiveness. Bruno was used by Our Lady to confirm the Holy Father’s desire to proclaim the dogma of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary giving the Pope Our Lady’s message: “My body could not decay and did not decay, I was taken to heaven by my Son and His angels’.”
If you get to Rome, be sure you don’t miss this holy sanctuary!
I met some of the wonderful Dominican Sisters of Mary, Mother of the Eucharist at Tre Fontane in Rome today. This is outside the chapel marking the spot where St. Paul was martyred, on the property of the Trappists. More to post later!
Yesterday, I met this wonder Sister in St. John the Lateran. Sr. Emanuela works in the little gift shop. Through the inspiration of the good Sister, I’m going to visit Tre Fonntane today. That is one place that I have never visited in all my visits to Rome.
This picture of Sr. Emanuela and me is by an ancient processional cross at the entrance to the St. John the Lateran museum. To get to the museum, just go to the gift shop.
Sr. Emanuela and Fr. Jay Finelli
Lapis diaboli – stone that the devil threw at St. Dominic while he was at prayer.
In the back, left hand corner, of Santa Sabina in Rome, there is a pedestal with a highly polished black stone. It is known as the lapsis diabolo. One day while Dominic was praying in the church, the Devil threw this stone at him. It smashed the slab the the saint was kneeling on. The stone looks a lot like the ancient Roman paving stones, however it is not.
Do you believe in the Devil? You have an enemy who seeks to destroy you with all his might. If you don’t recognize that you have an enemy, you loose the battle. This is the difficulty with terrorism. When traveling, a terrorist can be anyone among us, but we don’t recognize them. That is why we must be ever vigilant.
In his daily homily on 11 April 2014, the Holy Father said: “We too are tempted, we too are the target of attacks by the devil because the spirit of Evil does not want our holiness, he does not want our Christian witness, he does not want us to be disciples of Christ. And what does the Spirit of Evil do, through his temptations, to distance us from the path of Jesus? The temptation of the devil has three characteristics and we need to learn about them in order not to fall into the trap. What does Satan do to distance us from the path of Jesus? Firstly, his temptation begins gradually but grows and is always growing. Secondly, it grows and infects another person, it spreads to another and seeks to be part of the community. And in the end, in order to calm the soul, it justifies itself. It grows, it spreads and it justifies itself.”
Our defense begins with a life of renunciation of evil. Here is the renunciation that we make at the Easter Masses:
Do you renounce satan? And all his works? And all his empty show?
Or:
Do you renounce sin, so as to live in the freedom of the children of God? Do you renounce the lure of evil, so that sin may have no mastery over you? Do you renounce satan, the author and prince of sin?
We must be like St. Dominic, who was vigilant at prayer. He had a strong devotion to the Most Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed Virgin Mary. Without the two, it is so easy to get caught in his snare. And, we need to have a devotion to St. Michael the Archangel. You can find the prayer in one of my last posts.
Legend tells us that as Lawrence was being grilled, he said: “I’m done on this side, turn me over and eat.” If he did say that or the like, it is only by the grace of God. Today, I traveled over to the Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls (San Lorenzo fuori le Mura). The original church on this site was built by the emperor Constantine I and several renditions since then. The church that stands today is a very beautiful and ancient church. The church was bombed during World War II in 1943 and the restoration was not completed until 1948. At the time of restoration, many of the 19th century accretions were removed. Many of the original frescoes were also lost.
The tomb of St. Lawrence is situated under the main altar, with a stairway leading down so pilgrims can pray to the saint. The altar dates back to 1148, and the Paschal candle stand date back to the 12th or 13th century. Both the Ambo of the Epistle and the Ambo of the Gospel date back to the 13th century. The Gospel Ambo was created by the Cosmati Masters.
St. Lawrence was one of seven deacons of Rome, who served under Pope Sixtus II. One of Lawrence’s main task was to care for the Church’s property and the poor. When he was asked to present the Church’s riches, Lawrence said he needed time to collect them. Lawrence arrived without the riches and when they asked where they were, he pointed to all of the poor and said, they are the Church’s riches. With that, Lawrence was place on the grill.
Basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls
The tomb of St. Lawrence
Tomb of Blessed Pius IX, behind the tomb of St. Lawrence. Highly decorated with rich colored and gilded mosaic.
I have so many pictures and places to share, but I’m a bit tired tonight, after walking another 13 + miles. So this post will be short.
First, let’s start out with last night’s supper. Both Nick and I had Gnocchi, Roman Style. I’ve never seen anything like this. Gnocchi are known as belly sinkers. I don’t know what these can be called! They were like 9 little hockey pucks, but very good.
I started out this morning at St. John the Lateran. This is the Cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. No, St. Peter’s is not the Holy Father’s Cathedral. Over the door to the sacristy is the tomb of Pope Leo XIII. We often think of the tombs of Popes as being in the crypt of St. Peter’s Basilica. Originally, Pope Leo XIII was buried in St. Peter’s. However, it was planned to move his body to St. John the Lateran. Work was begun on his tomb, along with other projects that had to be completed in the Basilica.
The Vatican decided to move his body secretly, even without the aid of Italian police or troops. This was due to the difficulties faced with the transfer of the body of Pius IX, whose casket was almost thrown into the Tiber by agitators.
We can thank Pope Leo XIII for his famous prayer against spiritual enemies.
“St. Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the Devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray,
and do thou, O Prince of the heavenly hosts, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan, and all the evil spirits, who prowl about the world seeking the ruin of souls. Amen.”
Today is the Feast of St. Philip Neri and I am blest to be in Rome. I celebrated Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica at the Altar of St. Thomas, spent some time in prayer at the Basilica and went to the church know as Chiesa Nuova. The real name of the church is Santa Maria in Vallicella (Our Lady of the Little Valley). And, Chiesa Nuova (The New Church) is not really new. The first church was built in this place by Pope St. Gregory the Great.
When St. Philip Neri’s congregation was recognized by Pope Gregory XIII in 1575, he gave the church and an attached convent to Neri’s group. Gregory also rebuilt the church in 1575. It is here that St. Philip Neri’s mortal remains are kept, in a chapel to the left of the High Altar.
You can find more information about St. Philip Neri here.
Chapel with St. Philip Neri’s body
Painting of St. Philip Neri in his rooms
A view of Chiesa Nuova from the entrance.
During my time in Rome, I am staying at the Pontifical North American College. Today, the NAC 250 seminarians. I always enjoy my visits the to NAC. The seminarians are men of deep faith and have a great love for the Church.
Tonight, I had the privilege of attending Solemn Vespers (Evening Prayer of the Church). It was so uplifting. Such a change from my days in the seminary, over 24 years ago. There was a procession of Incense, Cross Bearer, Acolytes bearing candles, deacon and priest celebrant. The hymn was Ad Cenam Agni. (Here is a version of it, but the scola did some beautiful choral in between verses). The antiphons were all in Latin and the Psalms in the vernacular, all chanted of course.
For those that think Pope Benedict’s Liturgical reform was short lived, they had better think again!
A video at the end, that expresses my thoughts on the change that has only just begun. The Liturgical hippies are on their way out, beauty, reverence and dignity are returning.
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception (taken after most had already left the chapel following Vespers)
You can find the lyrics here.
“Come mothers and fathers
Throughout the land
And don’t criticize
What you can’t understand
Your sons and your daughters
Are beyond your command
Your old road is
Rapidly agin’
Please get out of the new one
If you can’t lend your hand
For the times they are a-changin’.”
There is nothing by chance in our lives. The day you were conceived (which you have no way of knowing), your birthday, the date of your baptism and other sacraments. For a priest, the parishes he is assigned to are also significant. My first parish assignment was St. Gregory the Great in Warwick, RI. Just a week after ordination, I cam on pilgrimage to Rome. On one of those days, I went to St. Peter’s to celebrate Mass. The altar server lead me to the altar of St. Gregory the Great.
Who would have know that we would one day be able to celebrate the Traditional Latin Mass, know as the Extraordinary Form. St. Gregory contributed significantly to the the Roman Rite. Except for the insertion of St. Joseph into the Roman Canon by Saint John XXII, Pope Gregory was the last to modify it, until following the Second Vatican Council. Gregory also made modifications to the entire Rite, removing things, changing a few and adding a few.
Gregory was born in 540 and died on 12 March 604.
The image above the altar with the remains of St. Gregory the Great.
The altar with the remains of Gregory the Great.
Notice, the altar is NOT free standing! Priest and people go together to the Lord.