Yesterday, virtually all day, after mass, I went with a few new friends to a sanctuary on a mountain called 'Santuario Madre delle Grazie Mentorella', which is of course way on the outskirts of Rome and you have to drive to get there (Did I mention how scarily the Italians drives?...O.k...VERY scarily...Thankfully not my driver...Most of the time :) Basically, it is this beautiful little church in this mountain town called Prenestina. We went because it was the anniversary of JP2's last visit there, and they were having a special feast, with very good desserts, of which my friend, Ana, ate 10. 'I had two yellow...three white...one red...etc.'
That mountain had the most SPECTACULAR view of Rome. Unfortunately for me, I didn't bring a coat and it was cold, so I probably didn't enjoy it as much as I could have, BUT it was still really incredible. At night, you can see Rome from a distance and it is illuminated just like New York from North Jersey, only much cooler because you know it is Rome, and really you're just thinking about center Rome.
Afterwards we went to eat at this Italian Churrascheria...I call it that because 'tis what we could call it in Spanish!... where I witnessed first hand how much they all love food. (You know what I find most interesting? That back home when we order something like steak, it comes with with two sides (Rice, Mashed Potatoes, Macarroni and Cheese, Jello, etc.), but in this country, when you order 'steak', I mean, it's literally just the biggest steak you have ever seen, without anything else, except maybe bread. I, the vegetable lover,say this will take some getting used to...) Of course, quite the scandal on the way home getting lost because we were letting ourselves be guided by a GPS system (I swear those things are more trouble than what they are worth...), which resulted in my arriving late for the second time this week, adding to my weirdness with my sisters after having 'broken' my bed a few nights before and pretending I was in charge of the vending machines. And so my new friends say, 'We can just say we were stopped by a cop and they asked for Rocio's 'Permesso di Sogiorno' and she didn't have it.' SUREEeee...Blame the American. What a day...haha
Monday, September 1, 2008
'She'sa O.K.!'
I am in fact o.k. It's just been a few hectic days, both good and bad.
But I just wanted to say that this time here, as short as it has been, has been VERY strong spiritually, which I know comes off in my blog, or at least I hope it does. That doesn't mean that everything is perfect, I don't expect it to be, and neither should anyone else. But in the same form, we all go through so much daily that I just don't want to waste what little time I have talking to you all via-blog complaining about a country, to which I came fully aware of its chaos.
As the Italians themselves would say, 'STAI TRANQUILO(A)!'
But I just wanted to say that this time here, as short as it has been, has been VERY strong spiritually, which I know comes off in my blog, or at least I hope it does. That doesn't mean that everything is perfect, I don't expect it to be, and neither should anyone else. But in the same form, we all go through so much daily that I just don't want to waste what little time I have talking to you all via-blog complaining about a country, to which I came fully aware of its chaos.
As the Italians themselves would say, 'STAI TRANQUILO(A)!'
Saturday, August 30, 2008
St. Catherine, St. Francis, and St. Paul
I was expecting to meet friends in Rome, BUT I wasn't expecting all that happened yesterday. Due to how MUCH happened, I will make a short a sweet list, which will allow you to get the idea.
Yesterday Miriam invited me for some coffee in the dining room and asked me if I would like to go say the rosary with her at 'Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva'. I, of course, said yes.
I find out when we get there that this is the church where the remains of St. Catherine of Siena are burried.
We say the rosary and I meet the first in the series of some pretty wonderful people, Monica.
Miriam and I go to eat gelato and I invite her to go see 'Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia' .
We walk all around the city looking inside windows of stores that have products that are wayyy to expensive and talk about how we could feed Ghana with the price we would pray for one dress in the window.
We then go to a gallery, which is kind of like a mall, where I proceeded to drink the most amazing cappucino I have ever had in my life ( I wasn't aware REAL cappuccino was supposed to taste THAT good...), and we talked about our lives and compared our pasts and how we got to the point in which we are now.
We visited 'Chiesa dellla Madonna del Pozzo', which that, my friends, is a whole other miracle that happened in and of itself.
Miriam invited me to go see the monks of the Basilica of St. Paul chant the 'compieta', which, do you really think I was going to say, 'No.'?
She mentions we have to go on her moped because it is far away.
I get to see all of Rome on the back of a moped, which let me just say, was INCREDIBLE....but only because she is a good driver...
First, we go to mass with some Franciscan priests and brothers and I get to meet a few of her friends.
At the end of mass, we talked to a priest, with whom I sang some of 'Un Bel Di Vedremo' (He said that if he had been a woman, his calling would have been to be an opera singer and sing that aria...)
Then, this is the most incredible part, we went to visit, 'Le Tre Fontane' (The Three Fountains)which is right next to the Basilica of St. Paul and where St. Paul was executed. I can not explain what it was like to be there. Maybe it is the fact that I love St. Paul's writings. BUT without even really knowing what it was at first, you could just feel it in the air. I have never been to such a holy place. I can't even explain it.
We went inside the church which is truly ancient in all senses of the words to pray and to hear the monks chant the compieta. Hearing chant on disc is NOTHING like hearing it done by incredibly holy people, in an incredibly holy place, who are also beautiful musicians.
Four of us went to a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Rome, where we sat and joked and laughed at Sabrina (one of the girls I met) remarks, because everything you said, she was somehow related to it...'I studied at such and such a school.....AHHH MY BANK IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR!.....I like this restaurant...IT'S OWNED BY MY FRIEND!!' We had such a good time.
Miriam and I stopped on the way back to the house at a church where there is perpetual adoration. Perfect way to finish the day.
We realized once we got into the church that it was already past curfew, and so we practically said 'Hi!' and 'Goodbye!' to Jesus at the same time.
We got to the house and were reprimanded by one of the sisters who sternly reminded us that on Fridays the curfew is still 10:30 and that it only changes to 11:30 on Saturday.
She forgave us...a little bit...when we explained we were just doing lots of Catholic things, which was the Truth!
So I went back to my room and really pondered all that had happened that day. That I got to Rome a week before, without anyone, only a friend of a friend. And that little by little I have begun to notice all that has been put around me. That I am surrounded by incredible things. That I have met some of the most incredible people, and it just seemed like we have known each other for ever and were just waiting to meet . And that I, together with these people, have been able to experience some of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced in my life. These are no coincidences. This is the calm after the storm, my friends, and I now know that it is in Rome where I am going to learn much more than I ever thought possible.
I love you, and as always, you are constantly in my prayers.
Yesterday Miriam invited me for some coffee in the dining room and asked me if I would like to go say the rosary with her at 'Chiesa di Santa Maria sopra Minerva'. I, of course, said yes.
I find out when we get there that this is the church where the remains of St. Catherine of Siena are burried.
We say the rosary and I meet the first in the series of some pretty wonderful people, Monica.
Miriam and I go to eat gelato and I invite her to go see 'Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia' .
We walk all around the city looking inside windows of stores that have products that are wayyy to expensive and talk about how we could feed Ghana with the price we would pray for one dress in the window.
We then go to a gallery, which is kind of like a mall, where I proceeded to drink the most amazing cappucino I have ever had in my life ( I wasn't aware REAL cappuccino was supposed to taste THAT good...), and we talked about our lives and compared our pasts and how we got to the point in which we are now.
We visited 'Chiesa dellla Madonna del Pozzo', which that, my friends, is a whole other miracle that happened in and of itself.
Miriam invited me to go see the monks of the Basilica of St. Paul chant the 'compieta', which, do you really think I was going to say, 'No.'?
She mentions we have to go on her moped because it is far away.
I get to see all of Rome on the back of a moped, which let me just say, was INCREDIBLE....but only because she is a good driver...
First, we go to mass with some Franciscan priests and brothers and I get to meet a few of her friends.
At the end of mass, we talked to a priest, with whom I sang some of 'Un Bel Di Vedremo' (He said that if he had been a woman, his calling would have been to be an opera singer and sing that aria...)
Then, this is the most incredible part, we went to visit, 'Le Tre Fontane' (The Three Fountains)which is right next to the Basilica of St. Paul and where St. Paul was executed. I can not explain what it was like to be there. Maybe it is the fact that I love St. Paul's writings. BUT without even really knowing what it was at first, you could just feel it in the air. I have never been to such a holy place. I can't even explain it.
We went inside the church which is truly ancient in all senses of the words to pray and to hear the monks chant the compieta. Hearing chant on disc is NOTHING like hearing it done by incredibly holy people, in an incredibly holy place, who are also beautiful musicians.
Four of us went to a Chinese restaurant on the outskirts of Rome, where we sat and joked and laughed at Sabrina (one of the girls I met) remarks, because everything you said, she was somehow related to it...'I studied at such and such a school.....AHHH MY BANK IS RIGHT NEXT DOOR!.....I like this restaurant...IT'S OWNED BY MY FRIEND!!' We had such a good time.
Miriam and I stopped on the way back to the house at a church where there is perpetual adoration. Perfect way to finish the day.
We realized once we got into the church that it was already past curfew, and so we practically said 'Hi!' and 'Goodbye!' to Jesus at the same time.
We got to the house and were reprimanded by one of the sisters who sternly reminded us that on Fridays the curfew is still 10:30 and that it only changes to 11:30 on Saturday.
She forgave us...a little bit...when we explained we were just doing lots of Catholic things, which was the Truth!
So I went back to my room and really pondered all that had happened that day. That I got to Rome a week before, without anyone, only a friend of a friend. And that little by little I have begun to notice all that has been put around me. That I am surrounded by incredible things. That I have met some of the most incredible people, and it just seemed like we have known each other for ever and were just waiting to meet . And that I, together with these people, have been able to experience some of the most beautiful things I have ever experienced in my life. These are no coincidences. This is the calm after the storm, my friends, and I now know that it is in Rome where I am going to learn much more than I ever thought possible.
I love you, and as always, you are constantly in my prayers.
Do you have water?
A few days ago, I had mentioned I was a little sick, and while at mass that same night, I began to feel pain in my throat. So I knew it was time to get some sleep and relax.
After mass, I went to the grocery store (Which I do mostly everyday in order for my food to be fresh, and well...It seems like everyone else does to!) Bought lots of tea, a very ugly mug of Roman that I needed FOR the tea, and then went to do something nice for myself and bought a cone of Fig gelato (I am definitely on a Fig-kick lately...I think my mom has rubbed off on me even though we are so far away from each other...) In any case, I went to bed very early that night, after drinking lots of fluids, etc. I woke up in the morning, and still not feeling one hundred percent, I took another nap. Needless to say, I woke up a few hours later, still feeling a little groggy, but headed to the kitchen for some juice. (This is where the story gets good, folks :)
So I am walking to the kitchen, and I see an older gentleman walking in front of me (Men are allowed to stay here too, but on a different floor) Mind you, I am still out of it, minding my own business. When he turns to me and says, 'You know, you have no water left in your vending machines. ' So because I was out of it, with my hair probably sticking up all over the place, in pajamas, I was like, ' Oh, no?' (Why I went along with it, I have no idea. ) And he said ' No. You know, it was very good water and a very good thing to have in the vending machines. If you have some more, and would like to put it in the vending machine, that would be a really good thing.' And so I said, 'Yea.'
First of all, there are a few questions I have pondered after this encounter;
A. Why did I allow this man to think I was somehow in charge of the vending machines, and able to fill them regularly? I don't know. But...
B. ...the better question is, how did he come to the conclusion that I, clearly looking like a 'sick and out-of-it' person was in charge of anything anyway? I certainly don't think he could have confused me with a sister, due to the fact that I was wearing a 'Hallmark Project Red' t-shirt and slippers. Or confused me with ANYONE that would be working there, for that matter.
So now when I see this gentleman, I hide. That is all.
After mass, I went to the grocery store (Which I do mostly everyday in order for my food to be fresh, and well...It seems like everyone else does to!) Bought lots of tea, a very ugly mug of Roman that I needed FOR the tea, and then went to do something nice for myself and bought a cone of Fig gelato (I am definitely on a Fig-kick lately...I think my mom has rubbed off on me even though we are so far away from each other...) In any case, I went to bed very early that night, after drinking lots of fluids, etc. I woke up in the morning, and still not feeling one hundred percent, I took another nap. Needless to say, I woke up a few hours later, still feeling a little groggy, but headed to the kitchen for some juice. (This is where the story gets good, folks :)
So I am walking to the kitchen, and I see an older gentleman walking in front of me (Men are allowed to stay here too, but on a different floor) Mind you, I am still out of it, minding my own business. When he turns to me and says, 'You know, you have no water left in your vending machines. ' So because I was out of it, with my hair probably sticking up all over the place, in pajamas, I was like, ' Oh, no?' (Why I went along with it, I have no idea. ) And he said ' No. You know, it was very good water and a very good thing to have in the vending machines. If you have some more, and would like to put it in the vending machine, that would be a really good thing.' And so I said, 'Yea.'
First of all, there are a few questions I have pondered after this encounter;
A. Why did I allow this man to think I was somehow in charge of the vending machines, and able to fill them regularly? I don't know. But...
B. ...the better question is, how did he come to the conclusion that I, clearly looking like a 'sick and out-of-it' person was in charge of anything anyway? I certainly don't think he could have confused me with a sister, due to the fact that I was wearing a 'Hallmark Project Red' t-shirt and slippers. Or confused me with ANYONE that would be working there, for that matter.
So now when I see this gentleman, I hide. That is all.
Who cares if the Pantheon is your neighbor...
...when St. Ignatius of Loyola and St. Catherine of Siena are? I am just so cheesed, I can't believe it. :)
I am around the corner from a church called 'Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minverva' where the remains of St. Catherina of Siena are buried and down the street from 'Chiesa del Gesù' where the remains of St. Ignatius of Loyola are buried.
And thus, this is not a holy spot just because there are some churches, because it is Rome, and because I am in the center of the city. This is a holy place because I am surrounded by some of the GREATEST saints of ALL time...
Again...The Pantheon is magnificent, but these churches are epic.. :)
I am around the corner from a church called 'Basilica di Santa Maria sopra Minverva' where the remains of St. Catherina of Siena are buried and down the street from 'Chiesa del Gesù' where the remains of St. Ignatius of Loyola are buried.
And thus, this is not a holy spot just because there are some churches, because it is Rome, and because I am in the center of the city. This is a holy place because I am surrounded by some of the GREATEST saints of ALL time...
Again...The Pantheon is magnificent, but these churches are epic.. :)
Friday, August 29, 2008
So much to say... so little time...
Hello there :)
I have so much to say! Unfortunately, I have very little time because I have been given an 'impromptu' invite to go see some Gregorian Chant with some pretty awesome monks!!! (How could I POSSIBLY say no?) SO I will have to inform you all about that, plus more, tomorrow. In the mean time, I am 'a o.k.' here in Rome, thinking and praying about and for all of you.
God bless you all.
I have so much to say! Unfortunately, I have very little time because I have been given an 'impromptu' invite to go see some Gregorian Chant with some pretty awesome monks!!! (How could I POSSIBLY say no?) SO I will have to inform you all about that, plus more, tomorrow. In the mean time, I am 'a o.k.' here in Rome, thinking and praying about and for all of you.
God bless you all.
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Rocules!! (You know...Like HERCules..?)
Solo a me...
Well, I had come to terms with the fact, and was actually quite anticipatory of the fact, that if I continue to walk everyday as much as I have been, I am going to have 'Christy Linn Strength' legs... or at least, this I hope. BUT, I didn't realize that I have, apparently, begun to have Herculian strength!
So I was sitting in my bad last night (I feel like I begin bad stories with this entrance title a little too often...That's not good...) and had gotten up to grab a my little book of evening prayers, when I sat back down, and BROKE my bed. Yes. You heard correctly. I didn't break the actual frame, but I DID break the part that holds up the mattress. So I was so mind boggled, that I started to yell at the bed in Italian... Like it was the bed's fault that I have been eating too much cheese and my bones are all calcium ridden, and I broke the bed! Truthfully, the bed should have yelled at me... But seriously, my friends from next door heard me yelling at the bed and came into help. The prognosis: Apparently this happens all the time. These beds are really old and they start to break after a while. You can fix them at first, but apparently, this wasn't the first time this bed has broken because after Miriam inspected it, she said it has definitely broken before. I was rather disappointed. I desperately wanted to believe I had super human strength...Sigh. So I slept on the other bed. And yes, this morning, I had to explain to one of the sisters that I broke my bed. And she was equally bewildered as I was, but then she inspected it and came up with the same idea as Miriam, not before saying, 'Cosa hai fatto?' (What did you do?) and my respnse having to be, ' Mi sono seduta??' (I sat down?) Yea. We shall see what happens.
But on a better note, I did find a solution the itching and swelling of my mosquito bites. Last night, after mass, I went to a pharmacy and after the Pharmacist inspected my bites and realized that, yes, they were quite bad told me what to buy. Basically, she sold me a prescription lotion that I didn't have a prescription for. I mean, it totally works. But on the back it says:
'Avviso: DA VENDERSI DIETRO PRESENTAZIONE DI RICETTA MEDICA' (To be sold in the presence of a prescription.) BUT I realized it doesn't say 'ONLY in the presense'. That makes it totally o.k. I used some last night and it definitely relieved a great deal of all that itching.
I don't know what it is, but I think I am getting a little sick. I have been sneezing quite a bit and my throat hurts. Well, nothing I didn't expect...I just have to take it easy AND promise not to break my bed due to my excitement of evening prayers. :)
Love you all.
Well, I had come to terms with the fact, and was actually quite anticipatory of the fact, that if I continue to walk everyday as much as I have been, I am going to have 'Christy Linn Strength' legs... or at least, this I hope. BUT, I didn't realize that I have, apparently, begun to have Herculian strength!
So I was sitting in my bad last night (I feel like I begin bad stories with this entrance title a little too often...That's not good...) and had gotten up to grab a my little book of evening prayers, when I sat back down, and BROKE my bed. Yes. You heard correctly. I didn't break the actual frame, but I DID break the part that holds up the mattress. So I was so mind boggled, that I started to yell at the bed in Italian... Like it was the bed's fault that I have been eating too much cheese and my bones are all calcium ridden, and I broke the bed! Truthfully, the bed should have yelled at me... But seriously, my friends from next door heard me yelling at the bed and came into help. The prognosis: Apparently this happens all the time. These beds are really old and they start to break after a while. You can fix them at first, but apparently, this wasn't the first time this bed has broken because after Miriam inspected it, she said it has definitely broken before. I was rather disappointed. I desperately wanted to believe I had super human strength...Sigh. So I slept on the other bed. And yes, this morning, I had to explain to one of the sisters that I broke my bed. And she was equally bewildered as I was, but then she inspected it and came up with the same idea as Miriam, not before saying, 'Cosa hai fatto?' (What did you do?) and my respnse having to be, ' Mi sono seduta??' (I sat down?) Yea. We shall see what happens.
But on a better note, I did find a solution the itching and swelling of my mosquito bites. Last night, after mass, I went to a pharmacy and after the Pharmacist inspected my bites and realized that, yes, they were quite bad told me what to buy. Basically, she sold me a prescription lotion that I didn't have a prescription for. I mean, it totally works. But on the back it says:
'Avviso: DA VENDERSI DIETRO PRESENTAZIONE DI RICETTA MEDICA' (To be sold in the presence of a prescription.) BUT I realized it doesn't say 'ONLY in the presense'. That makes it totally o.k. I used some last night and it definitely relieved a great deal of all that itching.
I don't know what it is, but I think I am getting a little sick. I have been sneezing quite a bit and my throat hurts. Well, nothing I didn't expect...I just have to take it easy AND promise not to break my bed due to my excitement of evening prayers. :)
Love you all.
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