The final day in the Eternal City was another opportunity to see some of things that Rome is famous for…
The last of the great basilicas, St Paul outside the Walls, was the final stop of Friday’s tour and provided the setting for our final Mass, which was led by Fr Jim McManus, the author of the book which many of you have already read. Altogether it was a memorable and richly blessed week, now providing loads of happy memories. Peace Fr Richard Reid CSsR.
A tour of the city was arranged for Thursday and in the late morning we stopped for Mass at theDominicanChurch, Sancta Maria Sopra Minerva.The significance of this church for us was that it was there that St Alphonsus was ordained a bishop in 1762. Bishop Ralph introduced the Mass by saying: “Today one reluctant bishop pays homage to another!”
At the end of the tour we went to the Basilica of St John Lateran (the Pope’s own Cathedral) and its special significance in relation to the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, is that originally Mary had revealed that she wished her image to be honoured between this and the Basilica of St Mary Major at the other end of the Via Merulana… to be continued…
On Wednesday, we went to the papal audience in St Peter’s Square and had a wonderful view of the Pope passing by. He spoke to us about the Year of Mercy and the depths of compassion in the parable of the Good Samaritan. In the evening we were welcomed to the magnificent chapel of the Venerable English College, where again Cardinal Vincent celebrated the Mass, accompanied by Archbishop Peter and Bishop Ralph. The occasion was the first coming together of the two English Colleges in Rome since 1918. Of course, the other is the Beda College (where incidentally Fr Tony Hodgetts had been Vice-Rector for many years). It was a chance for some of us – priests and people – to catch up with some old friends…. to be continued…
