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More on the
canonization pilgrimage
PRAISED BE JESUS
CHRIST!
(Now and Forever)
On Tuesday, I will lead 28 people to Italy for the canonization of St.
Theodora Guerin. The highlight of the trip for pilgrims, as well as for
me, will be celebrating Mass with our Holy Father on Sunday, Oct. 15, in
the piazza of St. Peter’s in the Vatican. There will be a great crowd,
no doubt. A Mexican bishop, an Italian priest and an Italian religious
will be canonized along with Mother Theodore. Bishop Rafael Guizar
Valencia dedicated his life to preaching and ministering to the poor of
Mexico. He died in 1938 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1995.
Father Filippo Smaldone founded the Institute of the Salesian Sisters of
the Sacred Heart. He died in 1923. Sister Rosa Venerini founded a
religious congregation, the Maestre Pie Venerini. She died in 1728 and
was beatified by Pope Pius XII in 1952.
Catholics the world over are familiar with pictures of St. Peter’s
Basilica, but one must experience it to really appreciate its dimensions
and its beauty. My first sight of the basilica was from just off the end
of the Via Della Conciliazione, the boulevard that stretches up to the
basilica from the Tiber River. I was somewhat disappointed. The basilica
didn’t seem that imposing. However, as I continued to walk toward the
basilica (the colonnade was not yet visible), the great dome began to
disappear. When I finally reached the outside of the portico I felt like
an ant. There are five huge doorways. The portico alone probably could
umbrella most of our parish churches, two or three at a time. Stepping
inside St. Peter’s, I was overwhelmed by the brilliance of its mosaics,
the baroque art, the Baldacchino, the triumphal space. If it doesn’t
impress, nothing will. I will make sure our pilgrims see the basilica in
early morning. It is then that it is sacred space. Once the tour buses
begin to arrive, it becomes a museum. We won’t attempt to enter it on
the day of the canonization.
On Monday, Oct. 16, the seventh day of the pilgrimage, Hoosiers will
gather at St. Paul’s Outside the Walls. It marks the tomb of the apostle
Paul. And, after St. Peter’s, it’s the second largest basilica in Rome.
The façade of the basilica is magnificent, especially in the sunlight.
Covered with mosaics, it depicts the prophets Isaiah, Jeremiah, Ezekiel
and Daniel, as well as Christ giving a blessing with the apostles Peter
and Paul on either side. In the center of the portico is a colossal
marble statue of St. Paul. It is a building that grows on you. Not
overly impressive the first time, it is more so the second, and
increasingly so with each additional visit. It is there a Memorial Mass
honoring “the Hoosier Saint” will be celebrated by the five bishops of
the state, priests, seminarians, religious and laity.
A curiosity for almost anyone who visits St. Paul’s are the cameos of
the 266 popes of the Catholic Church which line its aisles. The cameo of
the reigning Holy Father, Benedict XVI, will be illuminated. The myth is
that when the last space is filled the world will come to an end. There
are only two or three (I don’t remember exactly) spaces left. When the
last space is taken, however, I’m willing to bet the Italians will find
a way to start a new row. If not, well, who knows. We are supposed to be
ready at all times.
The afternoon of day seven and the morning of day eight of our
pilgrimage will allow time to soak in some of the more frequented sites
of Rome, including the Vatican Museum and the Sistine Chapel. Then, on
the afternoon of Oct. 17, day eight, we will leave Rome for two nights
in Perugia. En route, we will stop at Greccio where St. Francis, the
story goes, lifted the Christ Child figure up to face level during
Midnight Mass. It miraculously appeared to come to life, smiled, and
caressed Francis’ cheek. It was this “miracle at Greccio” that
popularized the Christmas crib. I have never been there so it will be a
new experience for me. Nor have I been to Perugia. It should be
interesting.
On Oct. 18, day nine, a short bus ride will take us to Assisi where Mass
will be celebrated in the Basilica of St. Francis. We will also visit
the Basilica of St. Clare, which houses her incorrupt body. The Basilica
of St. Clare also houses the famous Damiano crucifix. It was from that
crucifix that Christ spoke to St. Francis, telling him, “Go, Francis,
repair my church, which is in ruin.” Thinking that God was telling him
to rebuild a local church, Francis renounced worldly goods and set about
repairing the building. Only later did the saint realize that God had
been speaking of his living Church.
It is good to visit Assisi after Rome. Quite hilly, small, and free of
the noise and the congestion of Rome, it is easy to picture Francis
roaming its narrow streets and alleys. Francis had a profound impact on
Catholicism, calling the Catholics of his time to simplicity and
conversion. One, I think, could spend a week in Assisi without tiring of
it.
No doubt it is because there is a Monastery of the Poor Clare nuns in
our diocese that St. Clare has special interest to me. We will see the
simple convent where St. Clare, foundress of the Poor Clares, lived and
died. I thank God that her daughters have a monastery in our diocese and
that they faithfully carry on the tradition of their foundress.
After breakfast on day 10, Oct. 19, our little group will return to the
lower plains of Assisi to visit the Basilica of St. Mary of the Angels.
It houses the Porticencula, a small richly frescoed structure which
cannot hold more than 35 or so people. It was given to Francis shortly
after his order was approved. That was before the frescos, of course.
The spot where Francis died is also inside the basilica.
Headed back to Rome there will be a stop at Orvieto. The façade of the
cathedral there is truly magnificent. The cathedral was built to
commemorate a Eucharistic miracle.
In 1263, a priest was celebrating Mass in the town of Bolsena, a short
distance from Orvieto. The priest was en route to Rome on pilgrimage
seeking the grace of belief in the Eucharist. After the consecration,
blood began to drip from the host. Seeing this the priest quickly
wrapped the Eucharist in the corporal, took it to the local bishop, who
then took the host and corporal to Pope Urban IV, who was staying in
Orvieto at the time. As a result of this miracle, Pope Urban IV
instituted the feast of Corpus Christi. St. Thomas Aquinas wrote the
Mass for the occasion. The corporal is enshrined in the Cathedral of
Orvieto.
That evening, a final night will be spent in Rome and then we begin the
journey back to the United States.
To pilgrimage to Italy is to be immersed in Catholic culture. It should
be exciting. |
