As I am sure most of you have heard, this week has been declared by Pope Benedict XVI 'Bible Day and Night', a project (for lack of MUCH better words) where all different types of peoples, all spectrum of the work force, of different religions, different races, get together at the church 'Santa Croce di Gerusalemme', and for 139 hours NON-stop read the bible, beginning with Genesis, ending with Revelations. What's the coolest thing about this? It is broadcast live on Italy's main public television station, RAI-Uno. Even cooler? I got to go last night.
A bunch of girls from 'Casa Famiglia' and I, along with three quite spectacular sisters (If I do say so myself...) headed out at 23:00 (11:00p.m.) to visit Santa Croce and partake in this incredible event. I don't know what I had in mind when thinking about this project, truthfully no idea what it would be like, but when I got there, it just made so much sense to me! There was a short line to get into the Basilica, as there are people coming in and out of the church (So much youth...What a beautiful thing to see), and so we had our chance to go in and sit, listen. By the time we got there, they had already gotten to the book of Wisdom (Can you imagine? They only started on Sunday!) You could see people with their bibles, listening and taking in as much information as they could, and it was surely possible to take in quite a bit in an environment made to be quiet and contemplative. To be able to share that with all the other girls was really quite wonderful, even more wonderful to see all the different people partaking in the reading of the scriptures, together.
On our way home, I got to talking with one of the sisters, a gem, and a good friend I have made here in Rome named Claudia, who studies Theology and Philosophy at the Gregorian (A pontifical University here in Rome) about how incredible this event really is. It's purpose is not to meditate on every single thing read (That's impossible, considering the time constraints, especially that we can never pretend to fully know EVERYTHING about the word of God even when we have more time. ) but more than anything, it opens the hearts of the people who went to witness this event, those who pass by and see all that is happening on jumbo-trons, and the people at home watching RAI-Uno, to be much more open to living, witnessing, and loving God's word, especially as Catholics. What a spectacular thing! And in the words of that wonderful gem of a sister, 'At some point we have to realize that God inspired and wrote for us this incredible book. If it can be read from start to finish in one week, something I can't do because it exceeds my human limits, can't I do the same in a year, at least?'
Between the unity it brings, the desire to love and understand God at a much more profound level, and even if it just opens a door of curiosity, WHAT a miracle.
Much much love and infinite blessings.
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