Summorum Pontificum Pilgrimage to Rome

This year's pilgrimage was a great success.

We plan to repeat the same pilgrimage next year.

With the great Fr. Z - always splendid to see him and hear him preach.

We look forward to next year's pilgrimage!

Thank you to everyone.  

Rome Scene

I Met the Pope!

Yours truly with Blessed Peter the Roman.

Pray for the Roman Pontiffs.

He said in English: "Pray for me."

Always an honor to meet popes.  I was fortunate to meet Pope Benedict nine times and Pope St. John Paul II.

O Blessed Peter!

Lino Rulli Sighting in Rome!

Angelo!  Sei tu?

He shows up everywhere.   

Driving with friends in Rome.

Lino is a proud son of the North Star State, Minnesota.

Before I made my first trip to Rome, Lino was kind enough to meet me and some friends before our trip to tell us about the Holy City, of which I knew very little at the time.  He answered my first questions about Rome!

Sei bravo, caro, e fai bravo sempre!  Sono sicuro che farai sempre un gran bene alla Santa Chiesa Romana!

American Priest in the Vatican

A very noble man, a fine priest and a Church historian!

The Next Pope

Cardinal Priest of San Traspontina.

Once Primate of Canada.  

Marc Cardinal Ouelet of the Holy Roman Church.

Son of glorious Catholic Quebec. 

Africa: Hope of the Church (and Synod)

Two seminarians from the Pontifical Urban College (Collegio Urbano).

Seen today in the Vatican.

In the traditional house cassock of the Urbaniana.

Paper Hat in St. Peter's Square

Rome FCO Airport

Welcome to the holy city!

Monsignori

Beatification of Paul VI: Beatificationis Ritus

The Great Ed Pentin (I had a nice conversation with him yesterday...a very fine man)

Synodus Episcoporum III Coetus Generalis Extraordinarius

How should a layman react?

What are we to do?

Have you been fasting and doing penance for a positive and fruitful outcome of the Synod?

Have you offered your Holy Communions for this intention?

Have you offered a rosary for this intention?

Have you been staying in the state of grace and praying for this intention?

Have you offered your time to teach catechesis or marriage prep in your parish or diocese?

Are you instructing your kids, or those youth within your reach, as to the truth and meaning of marriage and human sexuality?

Are you doing any of the above?  Do the best you can and strive for more. 

50th Anniversary of the First Mass in Italian: 1965 - 2015

At the parish of Ognissanto, in the San Giovanni neighborhood (Re di Roma metro stop), constructed under the pontificate of Pope St. Pius X.

Sunday, March 7, 1965.  

The lovely sanctuary, later gutted, reflects the spirit of that age of revolution.  They really believed modernity had come into its own.  Hopefully the original decor will be restored with it's gorgeous Carrara of the Sacred Heart.     

Lateran Baptistery

One of my favorite places in the holy city. 

The Benches of Vatican II

For four years they were kept in the aula of St. Peter's Basilica. 

Then they didn't know what to do with them.  There were confessionals, too. 

They were all taken apart and given away.  These can be seen across the street from the Vatican at Sts. Michele e Magno.

VENERABILE ARCICONFRATERNITA DEL SS SACRAMENTO IN SAN PIETRO IN VATICANO

The old Archconfraternity of the Blessed Sacrament in St. Peter's in the Vatican.

Display seen across the street from the Vatican at Sts. Michele e Magno.

Newly Restored Pacelli Family Tomb

Rome's Campo Verano Cemetery. 

The family of Onano, near Viterbo.

Hero: the Catholic Layman

Rome's Campo Verano Cemetery.

"WE HAVE NOT HERE A LASTING CITY
WE SEEK ONE TO COME"

Signature of Pope Benedict the Great

Rome Tomb of Rev. Réginald Marie Garrigou-Lagrange, O.P.

 
At the Campo Verano cemetery at San Lorenzo. 

On the left, after you enter the main entrance.

Read his story here:

 http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reginald_Garrigou-Lagrange.

Vestment at the Grand Hotel in Rome

What Cardinals Drink in the Vatican: Chartreuse

From the French Alps, this liqueur is made by the Carthusian monks since 1737 -- 130 herbs, plants and flowers are used in its preparation.  Once a Byzantine priest in Rome told me: "No bar is complete without Chartreuse."   

Insignia of the Ordo Equestris Sancti Sepulcri Hierosolymitani

An Ecclesiastical Order of Knighthood.

The only Order of Chivalry under the protection of the Holy See.

Membership is considered one of the highest honors conferred upon clergy and laity alike.

The Order was established in AD 1099 by Godfrey de Bouillon, leader of the First Crusade.  He called for members from among his knights to spend their lives guarding the newly liberated tomb of Christ in Jerusalem.   

In addition to being a great honor, membership carries with it certain spiritual and temporal responsibilities first among them being daily prayer for peace in the Holy Land.  The Holy See has given the Order the two-fold modern day mission of fostering the practice of the Christian life in the modern world, and, the preservation of the faith in the Holy Land. 

Join Us for the Pilgrimage Experience

http://oc-travel.com/

Swiss Guard Armory

Cohors Helvetica Defensores Ecclesiae Libertatis

Father Benedict Groeschel: Requiem!

Mons. Francesco Taffarel: RIP (1936 - 2014)

Prayers for il segretario di Papa Luciani, Mons. Francesco Taffarel.

He once was the secretary of Pope John Paul II.

A fine man.  Ordained priest in 1960.  

May he rest in peace.  Amen.  

Have You Ever Attended a National Pro-Life Conference?

Then don't miss out!

This Oct. 23-25 in Vancouver.

It truly is a life-changing experience.

A bit like a family reunion.  

Register here: http://www.lifecanada.org/services/national-conferences.

Loving Life Now. 

Jesuit Saint Slays Heresy

From the facade of the the Church of the Gesù, located in Rome, the mother church of the Society of Jesus.  At dusk.  St. Ignatius, pray for us!

The Apartment of the Archpriest of the Liberian Basilica

Attached to the the Pa. Basilica of St. Mary Major. 

I always wonder if this is where Eugenio Pacelli was ordained priest, inside the private chapel.  I should ask Cardinal Law, who is now living at the Palace of the Cancelleria.  Maybe there is a marble targa in there or something. 

Pope St. John Paul II Celebrated in Rome

Papal Wednesday General Audience

This is what it's like, rain or shine.

On this day it rained.

Always a thrill to see Peter.

At the conclusion the Our Father is prayed in Latin and the blessing is given. 

Where to Get Fine Luggage

http://www.globetrotter1897.com/

Made in Britain.

Cardinal Burke: Stop Communion Debate Now

Rome FCO Airport

October 4 -- Mass at Tomb of Venerable Pius XII

With His Eminence Cardinal Burke, and the Pacelli Family.  An annual Mass.  A beautiful celebration of the life of the Pastor Angelicus/Defensor Civitatis. 

Baroque Altar Cards Seen in Rome

Excelsior Hotel - Rome

A lovely and historic old hotel, located on the Via Veneto.

Seen from our hotel terrace at the Regina Baglioni. 

The Italian Priest in Rome

American Chapter for Chartres Pilgrimage

Don't miss out on the mother of all pilgrimages.

An annual walk from Paris to Chartres.

Something truly to behold. 

Now easier than ever, you can join this American group:

http://ourladyoftherosarychartres.org/.

Thanks, Patrick!

Casa Santa Maria in Rome

A special place for North Americans in Rome.  Home of the icon of Our Lady of Humility.