Kehrmiterranean Day 4 - Churches

It was Sunday and Father's Day and another beautiful day in Roma. We decided to attend Mass at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggorie. Mass was at 10:00 AM and would be in Latin. We looked over bus routes and headed out to our friendly San Gegorio VII stop. The buses run frequently and we all found space scattered about. We transfered bus lines and were doing perfectly on time to arrive at the Basilica. On the bus Jim, Hanna, and I were possitioned near a very talkative Itailian with distinct political views. He was articulate and yet his polictics were not something we wanted to engage in. The conversation made the bus ride go quickly and we got off right outside the church.

We went through security and looked around the beautiful chruch with it's golden ceiling and notable Baptistry. Mass was about to begin so we found seats. The church was hot and the incense was heavy. I was glad that we got to experience the Mass in Latin, with a procession and candle bearers and a sense of the Splendor of our King. I think the girls were overtired and overheated and only through God's grace appreciated the experience. After Mass was over we found the Holy Door, and each passed through it with our prayers and humility.

Next we went to St. Alphonsus on Esquiline, which was just a block south of the Basilica. This little church housed the Original Icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. Afterward we stopped at a little pizzeria for lunch. Hanna was over hungry and melted down over the tall stools, but the staff was very helpful and we enjoyed pizza, rice balls, chicken and salads. Re-energized we then walked to the next bus stop and caught the bus to the Basilica San Giovanni in Laterano.

Saint John Lateran had a very different design, with gray and green marble. It had grand statues of the 12 apostles lining the central nave. The side aisles were simpler design but there were many elaborate side altars and tombs of many popes.  Here we also went through the Holy Door. Hanna stopped here to kiss the door as she went through and seemed to grasp that it was a sacred occasion.

We headed from San Giovanni toward the square nearby, so we could catch the bus. The square boasted an Egyptian obelisk that had been taken on one of the many Roman Conquests. It was huge and an amazing example of Rome's prowess and again only possible due to slave labor. A lot of Rome had this undercurrent.

Our bus ride north took us past the Colosseum, Palentine Hill, and Circus Maximus. Hanna was very excited to see them again, as were we all.  We got off the bus at Victorio Emanuelle near our next destination, Church of the Gesu and the Loyola rooms. The rooms are only open 4-6 so we headed off to the Pantheon, which is just a few blocks away. We headed in the right direction but got off our planned path and wound up meandering through the narrow roads of central Rome. Not a bad place to get lost.

Energies started to wane so we stopped for gelato at a street vendors cart. The whole family took seats on the wall outside of the pantheon enjoying our cold treat. We went around to the front of the pantheon and saw a huge line that stretched across the piazza, starting at the fountain and obilesk. The line though moved swiftly and before we knew it we were in the Pantheon, consecrated as Basilica Sancta Maria ad Martyres. The tombs of Two Italian Kings and on Queen are there as well as the tomb of the artist Raphael. The dome is fascinating to behold from the inside and there were a crush of people with selfie sticks attempting to do just that.

We reconvened outside and then walked back to the Gesu. This was on Bill's list of must-dos, we visited Loyola's tomb and the forearm of St. Francis Xaiver. Hanna and Bridget enjoyed the mirror at the back of the church set up to allow visitors to take in the ornately painted ceiling.  There was also an art exhibit depicting the cross and a person in a wheel chair cast in metal toward the back of the church that Megan was rather perplexed by. We headed out after a short time. Bill discovered that the Loyola Rooms were in fact not open, so we discussed option from there. We decided to come back the next day.

It was time for dinner, and we decided to go to the little supermarket, just near the Gesu, to pick up some items for dinner.  Jim made his way over to the Irish Pub, for a Father's Day pint and to catch up on the Europa League standings, while we started the shopping. Mom suggested picking up meats and cheeses for dinner and we all looked forward to that. We also picked up a few local beers and a bottle of Italian red wine.

We carried our parcels to the bus stop and hopped on good ol' 916.  When we got back to Ormisida we opened the windows to enjoy the cool night air and we pulled together the cafe tables and the extra table from Mom and Dad's room, to make a long dining table for 10. Mom laid out the meats, cheeses and crackers and I sliced the nectarines. We had leftover salad from our Coloseum dinner the night before and I savored the flavor of local tomatoes. We poured drinks and Dad set out a container of newly purchased olives. We also broke out the packages of sandwich cookies for dessert. It was great to sit around the table together in Rome Italy.