We arrived back in Rome on Wednesday. The other eight guys who didn't come over for early orientation arrived on Thursday. So Thursday the Pontifical North American College Class of 2013 walked into the Immaculate Conception Chapel to the ringing of bells and the welcome of the staff to start our time off with prayer and a message from our rector. The bells will ring again for us personally as each man departs once and for all from the college.
Friday, August 28, 2009
Orientation!
We arrived back in Rome on Wednesday. The other eight guys who didn't come over for early orientation arrived on Thursday. So Thursday the Pontifical North American College Class of 2013 walked into the Immaculate Conception Chapel to the ringing of bells and the welcome of the staff to start our time off with prayer and a message from our rector. The bells will ring again for us personally as each man departs once and for all from the college.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Assisi ancora!
Tuesday was the feast of St. Claire of Assisi. I attended mass at 6:30am in the crypt where her body now rests. That evening there was a city wide vigil procession to celebrate the patron of Assisi's feast day which was the following day, Wednesday. No, it was not St. Francis's feast day, his is October 4th. It was a much lesser known saint, one who you won't even find in the proper of saints for those of you who pray the liturgy of the hours. Needless to say, Wednesday was a big day for Assisi. It was the feast of Saint Rufinus, and in Assisi it is actually a solemnity. He was the first bishop of Assisi and said to be responsible for Assisi's ,as a city, conversion to Christianity. He was martryed in the 3rd century. Christianity was still illegal at the time.
Wednesday night they had a large fireworks display from Rocco Maggiore, an old military fort at the top of hill on which the city rests. We had a great view from the terrace of the place we are staying.
I was telling some folks that its great to learn Italian just for the sake of it. I will not be taking classes in Italian, at least not at first, like some of the other guys. Its a bit easier to learn this way. I enjoy praying with the english and Italian side by side. I also enjoy praying the mass in Italian and listening to the readings in Italian while seeing the words in Italian. I just purchased an Italian Bible for primarily that reason. I think my reading comprehension is at about 65% and my listening comprehension is around 35%. My speaking is lagging far behind. My hope is that I will be able to listen and read and learn that way which will help my vocabulary and ability to speak.
Thats about it for now, Ill be back in Rome in a little over a week for orientation to the seminary and some more Italian classes there.
I hope all of you are well, may God bless you all.
"La mia carne è vero cibo e il mio sangue è vera bevanda"
My flesh is true food and my blood is true drink
-from today's gospel
What a great gift we have in the Eucharist!
-Nick