My first few days in Rome

 

Dear Mom,

 June 26, 2008, memorial

St. Josemaria Escriva

 

I made it to Rome alright.  It has been an amazing couple of days so far; we got to spend a few extra days in Rome, which turned out to be an unexpected gift.  Italian people are really laid back, they do not care about anything, whether it is important visa paperwork or wearing cloths.  Italians do not like wearing cloths in the summer time.  I enjoy their laid back lifestyle; I just wish they would wear more cloths.

 

I have been to St. Peters a few times; I was even taken down into the crypt and saw the bones of St. Peter.  They are kept in this glass box that was designed by NASA.  I was literally two feet from the bones of St. Peter himself, I could have touched them, but I didn’t.  Do not worry mom, I have not been kicked out of the Vatican yet.  The Swiss Guards have saluted me a few times though.

 

It is probably a good thing you never got me that Swiss Guard uniform I asked for, I do not think it would have worked, all the Swiss Guards here seem to know each other and they are very serious about certain doors you are not allowed to go into.  I hope to make friends with them quickly.

 

So I am supposed to wear my clerics all the time right?  And I am walking around St. Peters and some of the other more touristy parts of Rome, and the only thing I can compare it to, is to being Mickey Mouse at Disneyworld.  Families just come up to you and want to get their picture taken with you.  It is the craziest thing ever.  I am probably already in like 40 family picture albums.  I think from now on if they do not have a digital camera I am going to start to make funny faces when they take the picture, that way they get home and can have a good laugh about the priest who they took the picture of.

 

I have been to several Churches here, I like to go exploring and find new churches.  One thing Rome has a ton of; it is churches, churches and saints.  Here is a list of the top three non-St. Peter saint bodies I have visited:

            Pope John Paul II (he will be a saint soon enough, so I am counting him)

            St. Josemaria Escriva

            St. Pius X

 

In addition to saints and churches another thing Rome has tons of is ice cream, but it is better then ice cream, it’s called gelato.  I have had gelato 4 times since my arrival, and it has been amazing every time.  So refreshing.  Do not worry though, I walk tons here every day and will definitely be loosing some weight over here.

 

I made friends with a bunch of the 5^th year priests who study here and are going home for good soon, and took a bunch of stuff off their hands that it is not worth it for them to ship back.  It was like winning the jackpot; never underestimate how much God provides.

 

On Sunday I went to the Angelus and saw the Holy Father there, the blessing he gives extends to my family, so on Sunday you got blessed by the Pope.  Later on that day I got to sit in choir at evening prayer in St. Peters Basilica, the coolest part about that was I got to vest back in the sacristy of St. Peters and process in and out.  It was a pretty neat experience.

 

I leave tomorrow for Turin/the rehab program.  I think it will be a good experience.  I do not plan on using the internet very much if at all over there, so do not expect any posts for a few weeks.  I plan on really throwing myself into the community there and getting to know and live with them.

 

Today, June 26^th, is the feast day of St. Josemaria Escriva, do not forget to ask for his intercession on this special day as I venture off to Turin.

 

 

“If things go well let’s rejoice, blessing God, who makes them prosper.  And if they go wrong?  Let’s rejoice, blessing God, who allows us to share the sweetness of his cross.”

            -St. Josemaria Escriva

 

St. Josemaria Escriva

Pray for us.

 

One final thing, Adam Haake is doing well; in the future I plan on waking him up in the morning by taking pictures of him and then posting those pictures on this site.

 

 

With Love from Rome,

Your Son