Angel Quest Field Report 7

Filed from Rome (Roma)

St. Peter's Basilica behind me, although from the ground you can't see the dome.

Dear Angel Quest Friends,

Yes, I know this post is totally out of order and has little to do with Angel Quest. But I just finished my day-off here in Rome and wanted to get this posted before I forgot about it. I never worked so hard in 100+ degree heat having to walk over 6 miles because the taxi drivers decide it's the best time of the day and weather to gouge visitors. 

In my effort to get from Mt. Gargano, Italy (the bump on Italy's boot) and the most ancient of the St. Michael monasteries (I'll do a post exclusive to it later), my travel agent had to route me back to Rome (where all highway signs point to Roma), in order to get a flight to Athens, and a connection to Rhodes, and then a ferry ride to Simi, and then a taxi or scooter to the St. Michael monastery at the village of Panormitis. Yes, it takes days to get from one place to the next, even in this "modern" world.

A small part of the Roman Forum ruin next to the Colosseum and Palatine Hill which is where the emperors lived and ruled.

So I had Lynne give me an extra day in Rome to sightsee. I drove up from Gargano in the morning and after finding my religious guest house with an air-conditioned room (thank God, it was 95 yesterday and over 100 today) I walked to the Roman Forum (or what's left of it), toured a couple churches along the way, and attended a late Sunday Mass. 

I had read there was admission fees associated with getting into St. Peter's. But not today. This image was taken early in the day (Monday) with few people wandering around marveling at the art and architecture. By the time I left, there were thousands.

This morning I got to St. Peter's security check point at 8 AM when the opened. There were several hundred people ahead of me. But by 8:30 I was in St. Peter's. Wow. See a few images attached. I don't think it's possible to take a bad picture in this the tallest church in the world...or so some sign said (...the tallest church, not not taking a bad picture).  

The priest elevates the host just before Communion in front of the altar of the "side" Blessed Sacrament Chapel inside St. Peter's.

Inside there are numerous side chapels with altars and gigantic statuary or paintings above the altars. Private or semi-public masses were begin held. AT the far end of the church, behind the main altar, there was another altar beneath Bernini's Chair of St. Peter sculpture, where a restricted Mass was being held with several bishops and dignitaries (not the Pope). Now, you have to imagine (I could not without being there) that St. Peter's is so huge that there were all at once 4 masses with modest gatherings of people in each, being celebrated all at once. Each side altar had its OWN PIPE ORGAN or so it seemed (I didn't check all of them). I found the Blessed Sacrament Chapel where Adoration was taking place, and went into pray for my followers (I have a list of names n my small note book). No sooner had I finished and was about to leave when a priest arrived and began Mass for the dozen or so of us in the chapel. So, I stayed. My third Mass in three days. Now you have to realize something. This side "chapel" in St. Peter's is as big as many Catholic churches, and definitely better decorated. (see picture). After the Mass was over, the Blessed Sacrament was set out agin in a monstrance for adoration to continue. 

If I remember right, this is NOT the ceiling of St. Peter's but of the Blessed Sacrament Chapel. Perhaps this is why I became Catholic. I was starved for art that attempted to describe God's glory. 

I left St. Peter's about 10:30 AM. It was already above 90F. Took some more pictures and video and came back to my room to cool off. That is where I am now, and am about ready to leave again to take a tour of The Colosseum and the ruins of the Imperial Palace of Roman Emperors on Palatine Hill. It will be over 100 when I get there. I may take a taxi as it's a 50 minute walk from the guest house. More later.