Passing the torch

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.  

April 25 – St. Mark

Site 23: Venice, Italy

Today as we celebrate this Gospel writer, I can’t help but enjoy Saint Mark’s closeness to Jesus’ mission.

At different times, Mark accompanied both Saints Peter and Paul to assist their ministry, and Mark’s retelling of Jesus’ life in his Gospel demonstrates the depth to which he involved himself with the other followers to assume discipleship spread Christ’s faith.

Timothy calls for Mark to join Luke and him for his help in their ministry when others have left the mission behind, (1Tim 4:11) while Saint Peter recounts that after his rescue from prison by means of an angel, Peter goes to the “house of Mary, the mother of John, whose other name was Mark, where many were gathered together and were praying.” (Acts 12:12).  Today’s first reading gives us a glimpse at Mark’s life alongside Peter on the Christian mission as well.  I share it with you below, but you can also find it here: 1Peter 5:5-14.  

This great saint is another one that Italy is fortunate enough to honor on its soil.  I share with you today, my trip to Venice where Saint Mark’s relics lie in the basilica dedicated to him.

1Peter 5:5-14:

Beloved:  Clothe yourselves with humility in your dealings with one another, for: God opposes the proud but bestows favor on the humble.

So humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in due time.  Cast all your worries upon him because he cares for you.  Be sober and vigilant.  Your opponent the Devil is prowling around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.  Resist him, steadfast in faith, knowing that your brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings.  The God of all grace who called you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm, strengthen, and establish you after you have suffered a little.  To him be dominion forever.  Amen.

I write you this briefly through Silvanus, whom I consider a faithful brother, exhorting you and testifying that this is the true grace of God.  Remain firm in it.  The chosen one at Babylon sends you greeting, as does Mark, my son.  Greet one another with a loving kiss.  Peace to all of you who are in Christ.  

St. Mark, pray for us!

February 14 – St. Valentine

Site 19: Rome, Italy

Saint Valentine is an impressive martyr in the Church, and the relics of his skull are right here in Rome.  This year in pilgrimage is one big demonstration that Rome is a city-wide reliquary!  So, I apologize for my tardiness, but today I take you to the church where his relics are housed, Santa Maria in Cosmedin, to honor the feast day of Saint Valentine.

Saint Valentine was an Italian bishop in the 3rd century who was arrested for preaching the faith.  He was then detained in the house of Judge Asterius, who presented his blind daughter to Saint Valentine saying that if Valentine could heal her, the judge would oblige any request Valentine asked.  Valentine healed the girl indeed, causing the judge and his entire household to convert.

Having converted Romans to the faith, Saint Valentine was again arrested, and this time beheaded upon refusing to denounce Christ.

While many legends float around about Saint Valentine, these two (and arguably the most impressive) events of his life are the ones that we know most reliably to be true, and certainly both showcase his sanctity.

St. Valentine, pray for us!

December 26 – St. Stephen, martyr

Site 16: Rome, Italy

Hi guys, sorry to be a day late on this post.  In fact yesterday we made the pilgrimage to our first martyr’s relics, and I carried you all with me in prayer like I always do.  We find Saint Stephen’s relics here in the basilica of St. Lawrence Outside the Walls, along with Saints Lawrence and Justin.

ACTS 6:8-10; 7:54-59

Stephen, filled with grace and power, was working great wonders and signs among the people.  Certain members of the so-called Synagogue of Freedmen, Cyrenians, and Alexandrians,and people from Cilicia and Asia, came forward and debated with Stephen, but they could not withstand the wisdom and the spirit with which he spoke.  When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him.  But he, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.”  But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together.  They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him.

The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul.  As they were stoning Stephen, he called out “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”

 

St. Stephen, pray for us. 

December 25 – Nativity of Jesus

Site 15: Rome, Italy

My brother is here in Rome with me and for Christmas, we share with you our journey to Jesus’s manger in the  Basilica of Saint Mary Major. 

In light of our “pilgrimage year” today is heart of our entire endeavor.  Today we receive the King of Saints, the One whose descent to us that made our pursuit toward Him possible.

As I looked at the wood that held that little baby, I couldn’t help but to merely feel love for Him.  I have been prompted before to reflect on how humble our God is to have assumed humanity right along with us, and walk side-by-side with us in the world we have scarred by our sins.  Today though, I couldn’t help but see something else as I though about the infant Jesus:  how lovable He is, and yet, how He indeed was just like us when He was born as a human baby.  These two thoughts point to the reality of how lovable we  are—born into this life due to God’s love and desire for us.  So much does God love us and desire our being, that even after we tarnish our lovable goodness, He comes down to earth and redeems our lives back to our God-resembling origin.

It is Christ we celebrate with all our hearts, but our love for Him is a response to His initial love that made us.  To receive the immense gift of our Savior, we must first be filled with His love for each one of us.

When you reflect on the birth of our Savior today and consider His pure loveliness–which His infancy makes so apparent–consider how He looks at you.  Consider that our amazing God loves you, and made you in your unique goodness with the open invitation and desire for you to be with Him.

Merry Christmas!