Holy Week in Rome

Many people told me "get out of Rome for Easter, it's going to get crazy". But they didn't get that I was excited about Rome getting crazy. I'm always drawn to anything that attracts a crowd without offering free doughnuts or cash.


In fact, it's even more of a cultural wonder when thousands of people show up on a Sunday morning for seemingly nothing but a lot of cold, cold rain and a glimpse of an old man speaking Latin.

Of course, I'm neglecting the fact that it's Easter Sunday, but that's the point isn't it? People come for many miles for a commonly intrinsic reason! I was happy to be a part of it.

But I'm getting ahead of myself - Easter Sunday is but the end of Holy Week. I'll have to try and bring this one full circle.

Holy Thursday, I went to a seminary to hear a mass in English with my friend Charlie. He is studying to be a priest here. Afterward, him, two of his friends, and I participated in what can only be described as a "Church Crawl".

On Holy Thursday, most of the churches keep their doors open late to display the blessed sacrament in different ways. Many of these places are completely dark except for the area around the tabernacle, where all the occupants of each church are crowded around praying. We went to 13 churches altogether and it was easily one of the most gorgeous experiences I've had in Rome.


Unfortunately, I didn't have my camera at the time, but I visited many of the churches later when I passed them on the street during the day. This is a picture from one of my favorite churches, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva. Along with this, we saw the Spanish and German national churches in Rome, Our Lady of Sacred Heart, la Chiesa di San Agostino, la Chiesa San Luigi dei Francesi, la Basillica di San Eustachio, la Chiesa del Gesu, San Carlo ai Catinari, Santo Birigitta, la Chiesa di Sant'Anna de' Parafrenieri, St. Jerome, and la Chiesa di San Giovanni Battista.


Holy Week was the first time I've really felt homesick since I've come to Rome. It was lucky then, that one of my cousins (Anthony, with his fiance Erica) showed up in Rome for a good lunch the next day (Good Friday) with me and Rosina!


After lunch, I went to the Passion at the Vatican with Rosina and company and look who I found?! Il Papa!

Later that night, the Pope did the stations of the cross outside the colliseum. It was really a powerful scene, especially with the thousands of faithful crowding the area. It was a gorgeous night outside and overall a nice experience. (By the way, the audio in the video is the Our Father in Latin).



After failing to get inside St. Peter's Cathedral for Easter Vigil Mass, I showed up to the Vatican for a refreshing (although others may have described the cold rain with other adjectives) Easter morning. This marked the last day of my beard (which can be seen in it's maturity above), the end of Lent, and the end of my homesickness.


Ciao!
Matt