For years, we have been waiting for the founder of Opus Dei, St Josemaria Escriva to be honored at the altars. That day finally arrived! Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world have come to witness this event. Logistically this was a big nightmare. Yet months of preparation has paid off. This coupled with the self discipline of the people who were part of this event made everything smooth. I could not but thank all the young volunteers who came from all over the world to do the dirty job of crowd control and guide for all the pilgrims.
Padre and I woke up early today at around 5:30am. We want to be early today at St Peters to get a good seat.
The funniest thing that happened on this trip was when he gave me a small plastic container which he claimed to be the hotel's complimentary hair gel. When I looked at the back of the sachet, I saw a diagram on how to apply the contents into a shoe. This was not hair gel but shoe polish! He had to wash his hair again.
We had an early breakfast at the hotel. The typical Anglo Americano continental breakfast! After this, we rushed to the Metro for Stazione Ottaviano near San Pietro. The Metro was packed! For Romans this is strange because today was a Sunday and it was still 6:00am.
We got out at Ottavianno. A river of people flowed towards St Peter’s Square along Via Ottaviano. A light fog filled the streets slowly dissipating as the sun rose. The weather was very cool. CNN predicted rain today. But overhead the sky was clear. Padre and I separated at Piazza del Risorgimento , but we agreed to meet at the Obelisk after the ceremonies.
My seat was at Reparto 1. So I had to go around to the other side of St Peters.
This was a very long walk because Via Conciliazione was closed. Along the way, I met some Singaporeans. They were bringing their national flag and some seats.
As I crossed the edge of Via Conciliazione, I was struck by the view of St Peters. It was orange because of the sunrise. Many more people were streaming to their ticket location. Yet there was no chaos. It was a disorganized order! I had to go through a tunnel (Galleria Principe Amedeo Savoia Aosta) to reach my area. It was a very long walk but everybody was cheerful and you can feel the joy of everybody! We had to go through strict security to get to my location. By the time I arrived at my seat, it was close to 8:30am. I heard that they closed all entrances at around that time. Many people couldn't get to their area because it was just so full.
Surprisingly it was a sunny but cool day. I had checked the satellite maps a few days ago and it was predicted to rain this day! A miracle from our Father! Two helicopters were flying around the Vatican providing aerial views of the event.
The Clock at St Peter during the time of the Canonization of St Josemaria Escriva.
The entire St Peter’s Square was filled with people. There were many young people and many babies! When the ceremonies started, an aerial view of the crowd was shown on the big screens on the square. I was stunned to see the people overflowing at the end of via Conciliazione to the Tiber! This reminded me of the vision our Father had during the first circle on 1933. There were only 3 people who attended that benediction. But when he held up the monstrance during benediction, our Father saw not three people, but three hundred, three hundred thousand and 3 million people! The day after the canonization, police estimated that there were 300,000 people making it the largest canonization EVER!
Looking at the people there, you can see people from every nation and race. The colorful Africans, Spaniards, Italians, South Americans, Australians, Chinese, Japanese and of course FILIPINOS!!
At the front of the Basilica was a tapestry of our Father, St Josemaria.
The author at St Peters
Friends from Barcelona
Iubilate Deo in voce exsultationis Alleluia!
(Cry to God with shouts of joy. Alleluia!)
The entrance song still rings in my ears up to this day! The mood of everyone was filled with piety and reverence. Il Tempo even described in news article and everyone behaved with a dignity as one inside a church! It was so quiet when the Holy Father said the canonization formula and during consecration. The gospel was sung by a deacon (now a priest) from Leyte.
When the Holy Father proclaimed our Father as saint, I was overwhelmed with joy! There was a very strange feeling within me being a witness to this historic event. I noticed that quite a number of people had tears in their eyes. Other tried to hold back their tears! Deep inside I felt a profound joy that finally our Father has been proclaimed as saint! Joy was on everyone’s hearts!
I was seated next to some Spaniards from Barcelona. I was surprised when they told me that they were neighbors of the parents of Fr Luis!. What a coincidence.
The Pope with the Prelate of Opus Dei
The white umbrellas are priest distributing communion.
After the mass, the pope using the pope mobile with the Father, did a rounds even up to the end of Via Conciliazione. As he went around, there were people crying and people throwing babies at him. This was surprising because of the post September 11 security precautions . It just shows the trust and love of the Holy Father to the members of the Work. I tried to get a good spot but no luck! No one was willing to give up their position!
Fr Luis and I agreed to meet at the Obelisk at the center of St Peter Square. To my shock, the obelisk was filled with people with the same idea!! It took me 20 minutes to find Padre! Anyway, it was already 2:00 and we were VERY HUNGRY! All the restaurants within a kilometer radius of the Vatican was PACKED!! No way could we eat here. So we went back to Ottaviano and to the Metro back to Piazza Barberini. Thankfully our favorite restaurant was still open and we had lunch there!
After lunch, I went back to the hotel to change. We then proceeded to San Eugenio to visit the mortal remains of St Josemaria. To get there we took the Metro to Flaminio Station then walked about a kilometer to San Eugenio.
The place was PACKED with people with lines stretching to the corner! We went directly to the sacristy to arrange a schedule for Fr Luis to celebrate mass at the main altar. Padre was given an opportunity to celebrate mass the first morning mass on October 8. He met at lot of friends from the Roman College including the parish priest of San Eugenio.
While in the Church, I paid my respects to our Father. I kneeled in front of the altar where the mortal remains of St Josemaria was placed. Mass was said continuously. I then went a little to the side of the Basilica and sat on the base of a marble column to do my mental prayer.
After San Eugenio, Padre had to go celebrate mass. I went back to the hotel, then walked to Santa Maria Maggiore to do my Rosary there. In front of the marble statue of Our Lady of Peace I did my rosary! After I finished the rosary, I looked at the guy next to me. To my great surprise it was Art Espinosa, a very close friend from Cebu. I also met Ray Taganas. I haven’t seen this guy in 7 years! He’s now in India. I also met Silvan! This trip to Rome is really like a big get together where I met people I haven’t met in a long time!
After dinner, we rested early as we need to rise early again tomorrow.
Shrine of St Josemaria at the left side of the alter at San Eugenio
Mortal Remains of St Josemaria Escriva
Outside San Eugenio