Fr Luis (left most) concelebrating mass at San Eugenio
Madonna and Child (Vatican Museum)
We woke up early today and headed for San Eugenio. Padre was to concelebrate mass there. It was very cold this morning and we had to walk from Flaminio to San Eugenio. When we arrived in the church, it was still closed. We had to wait 45 minutes for the church to open. I did my mental prayer out in the cold… Some Filipinos started to arrive to attend mass there.
It was nice to be in San Eugenio without the crowds. The mass was celebrated in Italian above the wooden urn which contains the remains of St Josemaria! After the mass, we went back to the hotel for breakfast.
We then went to the Vatican. Padre and I separated and we agreed to meet at Piazza del Risorgimento at around 11:30am. Padre had to go to a religious shop to buy a stole while I went to the Vatican Museum. The line was long and I only had 2 hours there. I spent my time at the Sistine Chapel which was packed today! Then I went to the hall of paintings.
After the museum, I went to the Piazza where I agreed with Padre. He wasn’t there yet but I met Pete Dimaculangan with his mother!! Padre arrived at around 11:45 and we headed for lunch. We had lunch at the restaurant where Vicky and I ate on Good Friday 2000.
Sistine Chapel (Vatican Museum)
Santa Maria in Trastevere
After a quick lunch, we headed to St Peter’s for a tour to the catacombs where they found the bones of St Peter. I made reservations for this months ago. I was so happy that I got a schedule.
It was a very memorable tour to a place where very few people who come to Rome visit. We went to the side of St Peter’s Basilica and went underground. The excavation was interesting and our tour guide was an American priest. We saw the red wall and the trophy. All these things are described in the book The Bones of St Peter. Our tour ended at the crypt of the Popes.
I made a last tour around the Vatican then Padre and I proceeded to the Janiculum hill overlooking St Peters. We did our rosary overlooking St Peter’s. My back was aching the whole day. All this walk is really giving me pain.
After this, we went for a walk to Santa Maria in Trastevere. It was a nice walk to the cobbled streets of old Rome. Padre pointed out the images of our Lady in almost all street corners. In fact, the placement of the images of our Lady were so natural that they don't stand out. It really helped us leave presence of God.
We attended another mass there with Filipinos and Australians! It was like the masses of our Father here in the Cebu Cathedral! After the mass, they were giving away tickets for the Thanksgiving mass on October 10. Padre got his ticket but I couldn’t get one for myself. The guy that was there had a thick wad of tickets. But he told me that these were for numeraries and associates only! Sigh!
After the mass, Padre and I together took the bus to our hotel area together with Jeffrey. The problem was we got off the bus too soon so we had to walk a long way. To my surprise we ended up at the Trevi Fountain!! We had dinner at a restaurant close to the Trevi Fountain. The owner is an Asian looking woman who can only speak Italian!
Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere after the thanksgiving mass.