Canonizations!
Wow! Two e-mails within the week. It's only because I have a bit of time, and today was such an amazing, Grace-filled day.
After going to a sacred music concert last evening, where we heard variations on the Ave Maria and Magnificat, and were invited to the reception following, shmoozing it up with the Italian musicians, today was quite possibly the icing on the cake.
Granted, we had to wake up before the break of dawn, to be at San Pietro by 7:30, but surprisingly I had a relatively easy time of it. I'm sure my body will be hating me for it tomorrow though.
Anyway, today was the closing mass of the Synod, the closing mass of the Year of the Eucharist, and, the canonization of five new saints! One of the saints was from Chile, so there were about 5,000 Chilenos present, dancing, and singing their praises for this model saint of poverty and charity! In addition there were two saints from the slavic countries; Ukraine, and my homeland Poland, and two from Italy--one being a Capuchin friar from the 1700s. (I like to call the Capuchins, Capuchinos)
Papa Benedetto gave a beautiful homily imploring us to keep the Eucharist as our center because it is THE source and summit of our strength. He reiterated the necessity and grace of it, which we can receive through adoration and frequent reception of the Eucharist. He called us to charity by emulating Christ in the "breaking of bread", and by following the example of the saints, especially those canonized today. He also asked for our prayers, for himself that he may lead us with humility, and for all of the synodal fathers, as they continue to implement the proclamations of the Synod in their pastoral work.
All around it was a very rewarding day. I wish you all could have been there with me, to experience the richness and joy of the Faith. I pray that in some way you will be able to through this full, albeit brief account.
Pacem Sempre!
Vive il Papa!!
Oh!I saw the Pope today! We went to one of the Wednesday Audiences,where he spoke a little...meaning he gave a teaching on a particularsubject, namely on Psalm 130, about redemption and the need forforgiveness to lift us out of despair. He greeted the people from the different languages and countries. He greeted our school inparticular, and then he drove around in the little "pope mobile" andblessed everyone as he went past. I ended up getting a view of him upclose...about 4 feet away. So that was a really blessed experience!
One of my "jobs" here is to develop and write our newsletter, whichwill go out to former students, and donors/patrons/interested parties. One of the other students, Matteo from Milano, and I are in charge of it. I'm pretty excited about it, because I get to use my writing talents a little bit..and my creative organizational skills as well. It's going to be a lot of work on top of all my other responsibilities...like studying, cleaning, evangelizing, and community life...plus relaxation time, and mission preparation...but it's going to be really fruitful for future students as well, we hope.
That's basically what's been happening. The first couple of weeks were kind of rough, adjusting to community life from living by myself and being a TOTALLY independent person. But I think I've found my little niche, and I love discovering everyone's little quirks, even when they're not so accomodating. It makes us all so human, and they're so good for using in emotional recall! HAHAHA...I can't take anything forgranted!
I'm actually able to use my skills as an artist here, and it's so relieving. I feel so much more clear-headed than I did in NY the past couple of months, and I know now that this is ABSOLUTELY where I'm supposed to be for the year.
We were in Assisi the first week, had a really fruitful time there, discovering the sprituality and grace of Assisi and St. Francis. I went back to my favorite place in the world...on top of the mountain, in a little crevice, just absorbing creation. We discovered our talents as a community there...we have so many artistic minded people. Almost everyone loves to sing, especially gospel/blues type testifying...we're thinking of using it as anevangelization tool.
And we're going to Lisbon, Portugal (stopover in Fatima) in just a couple of weeks, to take part in the International Congress for theNew Evangelization, which will bring together several communities,from all over the world, to participate in a city wide mission. It is with the hope of discovering the successes and needs for evangelization in the modern world.
To wrap it up...I'm having the time of my life, but I miss all of my friends and family. The ideal situation would be to have all of you here with me, but since that's not possible, I hope this update will be able to keep us connected.
Pictures will come with the next update...Peace & Joy to all...and Benedict XVI extends his blessing to all of you as well!
Vive il Papa!!
"Our youth is the bridge from the tabernacle to the streets"
