Hey guys,
We’ve missed quite a few feast days this past month and I sincerely apologize for it. I do have an explanation though: my backpack was stolen, money, laptop, debit card and all. Theft is one part of the pilgrim experience I’m glad you don’t have to encur! I do appreciate your coming back to my blog though even after a month of inactivity.
I was especially disappointed not to share Saints Philip and James’ feast day with you all on May 3rd. That one was right here in Rome. Their relics are in my favorite church, the Church of the Twelve Apostles. It’s beautiful and it’s always quiet when I go there–a real rarity in the city. I am a touch bias though in this preference because Saint James the Lesser is a patron of mine.
We also missed the feast of St. Rita, whose tomb is in Cascia, Italy (May 22). She might be the most approachable saints there is. She was a wife and mother before she was widowed and took religious vows, and in both vocations her devotion to Jesus was extreme. A good friend of mine and I prayed a novena to Saint Rita and even that short set of words told much about her unique relationship with God. For whatever supplications you have, a novena to Saint Rita is a good one to know.
We also missed Saint Joan of Arc’s feast day on May 30th, and missing that one disappoints me too. I hadn’t actually determined where in France we were going to need to venture in order to honor her, but after the theft I was in no position to buy a plane ticket to France.
I do encourage you to get to know Saint Joan though. Mark Twain claims his best novel is the story he wrote about her, and while it is a novel, the masterpiece will make a soft spot in your heart for Saint Joan. I recommend it.
We just missed the feast day of Saint Justine Martyr on June 1st. (If you didn’t get a chance to employ his intercession, it’s never too late!) and coming up are more celebrations that I regret that I won’t be able to upload photos and share with you. The feast of Saints Peter and Paul (June 29) is one that especially saddens me not to be able to share with you. Both their tombs are here in Rome where they were each martyred, and these two basilicas–Saint Peter’s Basilica and Saint Paul Outside the Walls–each have deep-running histories. They are marvels to see.
If my photos have been an inadequate experience of the pilgrimage–and believe me, they are–I hope they’re encouragement for you to plan a date and a savings strategy to make your own trip to Rome. Pick all your favorite saints and craft a pilgrimage that’s particularly yours!
I’ve been really blessed to see various saints impact my family members in different ways when they’ve made trips out to see me. My sister loved Saint Cecilia’s tomb the best. I took her to Saint Peter’s Basilica (the larges basilica in the world!) and all kinds of other places. Then we just happened across Saint Cecilia’s tomb–it was my first time there too–and she just loved it. My favorite part about having visitors is seeing them react to something they just love.
My dad’s favorite spot was this Benedictine monastery on Aventine Hill, and my mother loved a marian apparition site downtown. My oldest brother though, his visits have been the best. He loved everything. He even loved walking around with me in between each place we went. Those were golden moments too, because they allowed us to chat about whatever crossed our minds as we walked.
My other brother and his wife are planning to visit in the near future, and they’re an adventurous pair. I can’t wait to see what strikes them!
God has really blessed me, and the joys of this pilgrimage have been one, big offering of gratitude back to God.
I hope you all have enjoyed these months in pilgrimage. It’s been a sheer joy for me to share it with you! And I am sincerely sorry that we won’t make it the entirety of the year to finish the journey. Truth is, I probably could buy a new computer within my budget, but that’s still not a prudent purchase to make in my situation. So, I’m passing the tourch on to you! Keep going! Keep getting to know the saints and enjoy the places of the world where we can cross paths with the lives they lived.
Lastly, if you want to keep in touch with me, I’ll still be here. I’ve got a lot of crazy things to say, and whenever I get access to a computer (which I’m sure will happen often enough) I’ll share them with you.
So pilgrims, save travels to you! Take the peace of Christ and the zeal of Saint Paul and continue on your way fighting the good fight, knowing that the real destination you endeavor toward is heaven.
The Pilgrimage 