Out and About

You might have noticed, but I haven't had a post for a while.

The reason for this is because I haven't had too much time to spend writing blog posts. I've spent the last few weeks cranking out an architecture project or traveling. It only continues from there. To top it all off, I'll be spending the next week traveling for Fall Break.

No worries, though. Once I get back I'll be sure to write a couple of posts on my experiences from my recent field trip to Northern Italy (Venice, Vincenza, Ferrara, Ravenna, and Bologna) along with my trip this coming week to Istanbul, Athens, and the Greek Isles.

So much to talk about already, but the coming week promises even more discovery and a taste of what lies beyond Italy's borders.

Under Saint Peter's Dome

No visit to Rome is complete without a visit to the Vatican and the awe inspiring St. Peter's Basilica. You can see the top of the dome from any high point in the city and with all its history, tradition, and importance to the Catholic world it is impossible to ignore. That being said, until yesterday I had not actually been to the Vatican yet. I had walked by it once before on a trip to get some gelato but that was about it. Yeah, I was shocked when I thought about it, too. I can not, however, think of a better way to experience the Vatican and its beauty for the first time than by attending a Papal Mass, precided over by Benedict XVI himself. I did just that yesterday morning.

Simply awe inspiring

We had secured tickets to the Mass earlier in the week and walked over towards the Vatican bright an early. As we drew closer, the dome and Bernini's massive colonnade surrounding St. Peter's Square grew larger and larger. You really don't get a scale of how large everything is until you are physically standing next to one of the columns and realize it is well over 6 feet in diameter. You are just dwarfed by the massive scale of every architectural element.

After going through security we were ushered up the front stairs and into the interior of St. Peter's Basilica. The scale of things outside was also reflected on everything in the interior. The pilasters, the ceiling coffers, the piers, the dome. Everything was just huge. Everything was simply incredible. I was glad we got there an hour before Mass started because not only did we get really good seats close to the central aisle, it also gave me a chance to simply look at all there was around me and just take it all in.

The Mass itself was another experience in itself. It is an extremely humbling experience to attend Mass in St. Peter's, the heart of the Catholic Church, along with thousands and thousands of others from all over the world. The procession of all the priests, bishops, and cardinals was phenomenal. Priests from all over the world walked past in different forms of traditional religious regalia. Those priests and bishops from the Eastern Rites were the most exceptional to see with their bejeweled robes in the traditional Byzantine style. Then came the Pope.

This is my I'm glad we sat close to the center aisle.

You could tell he was coming because people towards the back of the Basilica began snapping pictures at a frantic pace among the fervor in the air that only the presence of the Holy Father could create. He walked gracefully up the center aisle, kindly smiling, waving, and granting blessing upon the faithful masses that scrambled to get a good view of him from their seats. It was incredible to be just a few feet away from the Vicar of Christ, Pope Benedict XVI. An amazing experience I will never forget.

The Mass itself was equally impressive. A lot of the Mass was in Latin, but there were scatterings of English, French, Italian, Hebrew, Farsi, Syrian, and even Arabic at various parts of the liturgy. There were some beautiful chants in Arabic done during the Mass. It might seem odd to have Arabic, Syrian, and Hebrew in a Mass, but it was fitting in this case because the Mass was aimed at closing a week long series of meetings between the Pope and all the Bishops of the Church in the Middle East. So it was actually quite fitting.

The Mass ended, and the procession of all the priests and the Pope went out towards the back of the Basilica. The Pope walked by us again and to our surprise moved off his line towards the doors and headed towards our side of the church. He stopped about three rows behind us, blessed a little girl being held by her parents, and then countinued along on the procession towards the back of the church. The parents immediately began crying in happiness and everyone around them swarmed towards the child in joy. What a experience, and I'm sure it will be one of the greatest moments in the lives of that small family sitting a few rows behind us.

I will never forget my first trip to the Vatican. The architectural beauty of the Basilica and the Vatican along with the spiritual peace of the Mass and the faithful thousands will stick with me for years and years to come.

Assisi: A Most Beautiful City

People will tell you there are places you have to go at some point in your life just to see what all the fuss is about. In my opinion, the hill town of Assisi is one of those places. Although, I wouldn't say that there is much of a "fuss," rather, there is an aura the surrounds it that can only be experienced by taking a trip there for yourself. I did just that this last weekend.

Assisi is not all that important of a city in the grand scheme of things, but spiritually it is one of the most important cities in Italy. It was the birthplace of three different saints, St. Francis, founder of the Franciscan Order, St. Clare, founder of the Poor Clares, and St. Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows. It has some of the most beautiful and historic churches in all of Italy and is one of the most beautiful places ever worth visiting.

A view of Assisi from above

I spent two whole days in Assisi exploring the city and all of its historic sites. Everywhere I went, I discovered breathtaking vistas that looked down on the valley below. Assisi is such a different city than what I've experienced in Rome. Whereas Rome is loud and dirty, Assisi was very quiet, clean, and had an air of solemnity everywhere you went. There were still the goofy gift shops selling postcards and cheesy t-shirts on every corner, but as you walk around you hear more from the birds than from any automobile.

It is very easy to tell how this city fostered the growth of three different saints. The winding streets, beautiful pinkish-white stone buildings, and the tree covered hills around Assisi almost force one to pause and reflect, to look beyond the everyday and see the world for what it is in all its expansive beauty.

Looking back on the experience, I know that I will find my way back to Assisi at some point. It was such a great experience that I'll reflect on for years to come. A trip back will only deepen the experience and leave me even more amazed that I am now. Simply put, Assisi is a great place to go to see beautiful architecture and, most importantly, find a little peace in a world that's always in motion.

Me in front of the Basilica of San Francisco