Nov. 30, 2014 COLOSSEUM OF ROME

The Colosseum is the iconic symbol of Rome, Italy just as the Eiffel Tower is of Paris, France, Big Ben is of London,  England, the White House is of Washington D.C., United States of America and The Golden Gate Bridge is of San Francisco. The elliptical building was built by Emperor Vespasian in 70 A.D. and finished in 80 A.D. by his son Titus. The  Colosseum was the first structure to use "arches" as a Roman engineering phenomenon for strength and beauty. There was the "hypogeum" which were the underground passageways, tunnels and cages beneath the arena where gladiators and animals were held before the contests began. The base area of the arena was equal to 6 acres. It was so constructed that it could hold 50,000 to 80,000 spectators but could be vacated in 8 minutes flat. It was inaugurated by a series of shows, admittance free, which included gladiatorial contests and mock sea battles that lasted for 100 days. The Colosseum served to satisfy the insatiable desire for entertainment of the people of Ancient Rome. This seeming un-quenchable thirst to be lifted up from their mundane everyday existence was somehow capitalized by emperors in their scheme to subdew their subjects so they would regard them as deities or gods.


At the height of the persecution of Christians in the early centuries, the arena became  the hallowed ground for the blood of the martyrs of "The Way" who were fed to lions, tigers and trained gladiators amid the incomprehensible shouts of joy and triumph of the emperor, his court and his people.

The Catholic Encyclopedia records that St. Ignatuis of Antioch (Syria), a disciple of St. John, the Beloved was condemned to the beasts at the Colosseum by Emperor Trajan in 107 A.D. The Church calendar has October 17 as the feast of St. Ignatius of Antioch.

In 1749, Pope Benedict XIV declared the Colosseum sacred site having been sanctified by early Christians who were martyred. He dedicated it to the Passion of Christ and installed the 14 Stations of the Cross which by now are gone having been taken by bounty hunters. Nonetheless, a large Cross has been erected at the Colosseum where the yearly celebration, "Good Friday Stations of the Cross Procession" is held with the Pope as principal celebrant.

Having had the opportunity of visiting the Colosseum before, I decided to stay by "The Cross" while Bobby, Carla, Michael and Christian went around and up to the second and third tiers of the amphitheater considered the largest in the world. In addition, the Colosseum has been declared by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site and as of 2007, officially listed as one of the "New Seven Wonders Of The World."

After some time devoted to prayer, my attention got caught by the variety of visitors around who must have come from four to five continents of the world. Tour groups came in succession with commentaries in different languages of various tour guides holding their short sticks with an identifying banner. Chit-chats of admiring/puzzled visitors and feeble cries for food or rest of tired three or five-yr. old children filled the air. Then there was the temptation to look at the shorty-shorts and outrageous low cleavage of wearing apparel of those who gave justice to them and those who justly "hurt" the eyes of onlookers due to factors as heavy body mass or clearly defined chronological age. I surveyed my surroundings  and the people, like us who are on a Roman Holiday and smiled at the thought that "freedom of choice" was the norm of the day! True to its essence, "freedom"gives every  person unspeakable joy....to the extent that one's freedom does not encroach upon another's right or property.

Our walk outside the Colosseum included the Arch of Constantine which was/is a monument to his conquest of Jerusalem in 70 A.D, the Arch of Titus and the short "climb" up the Via Sacra ( Sacred Way) with its large stones, several sizes bigger than those on ordinary cobblestone streets which form the thoroughfare leading to the Forum. We decided to just take a look at the huge complex of the ruins of ancient government buildings and temples which comprise the Forum.

That was a wonderful day spent at the Colosseum of Rome!

Nov. 28, 2014 ROME'S PANTHEON

                                           

The Pantheon in Rome is a "must-see" in the itinerary of every traveler who visits Rome for the first time and also for those returning ones because of its irresistible charm. Why is this so? Because this building by its elegance, beauty and reason for being takes the beholder into the realm of wonder and awe only a chosen few among the works of human hands can lay claim to.

Firstly, the Pantheon in Rome is the best preserved in all ancient buildings in the world today. It was commissioned by Emperor Marcus Agrippa between 27 B.C. and 4 A.D. and rebuilt by Hadrian in 126 A.D. To think that it is still standing whole and upright and the object of "ohs and ahs" of everyone who sets foot in it in 2014!

Secondly, through more than 2,000 years after it was built, the dome of the Pantheon in Rome is still the world's largest "unreinforced stone dome." Engineers and architects of the domes of the Basilica of St. Peter; St. Paul's Cathedral in London; the Hagia Sophia in Istambul, Turkey; the White House and the Jefferson Memorial in the United States and others came to Rome and studied the Pantheon before undertaking their projects.

Thirdly, the Pantheon is  considered a "perfect  structure." It is a circular building with the height from the floor to the ceiling to be exactly "the same" as the diameter of the interior circle - 43.3 meters or 142 ft. If one traces an imaginary line between ceiling and sides, the building will be a sphere.

Fourthly, the Pantheon is the only ancient building in "continued use" for the purpose for which it was made - religious! It was constructed to be a "Temple of All Gods." In 609, Emperor Phocas gave it to Pope Boniface IV who made it a Roman Catholic Church and dedicated it to "St. Mary and the Martyrs," informally known as Santa Maria Della Rotonda. Since that time up to the present, Holy Mass is celebrated at the Pantheon. The square fronting it with a grand obelisk is called Piazza Della Rotonda.

Fifthly, the 16 Corinthian granite columns on the facade of the Pantheon are the original ones which were quarried in Egypt's Eastern mountains. Each one is a "whole, uncut granite" column 39 ft. long, 5 ft. in diameter and 60 tons in weight. Special boats were made to transport them through the River Nile, then to the blue Mediterranean Sea and finally up the Tiber River. It must have been a very long journey!

Lastly, the "Oculus"which is the only opening on top of the dome continues to astound the world! It is 30 ft. across and provides the only entry for sunlight which shines at different places within the interior at certain hours of the day. At high noon, sunlight beams directly at the huge bronze entrance door.

During our visit last year, my grandchildren: Diana, Joshua, Christina, Tiffany Anne and Melanie Mary had so much fun standing by the door at high noon with lifted arms basking in the sun looking up to the Oculus. Each one had a snapshot taken to commemorate his/her visit to the Pantheon! Several people followed suit. To even the score, Michael and Christian whom I accompanied this year to a Roman Holiday, also had their pictures taken for posterity! What is more, Bobby had his commemorative photo, too! You should have seen the people who duplicated the stance!
It was interesting to hear them all commenting at the "soothing" heat of the sun on their skin.
This brought to mind several articles I have read about the exalted feeling of "peace/ serenity and space" one experiences while staying quietly for some time under the Oculus. I have desired to do just that in all of my previous visits at the Pantheon, even of this year's, but  on all occasions, it was impossible to do because of the crowd of people within its confines. Could it be that an undefinable phenomenon is happening in this enigmatic building? Do the souls of the illustrious people entombed inside - King Vittorio Emmanuelle, King Umberto I, Queen Margherita and Raphael, the famous artist who painted "The Transfiguration" have something to do with it?

Before leaving, I took a long lingering, grateful   look at the altar of our Mother Mary and the Martyrs' Church. I would have yearned to be one of its parishioners!

On the way out, Carla wanted to check the width of one 60-ton Egyptian column. Together, with Michael and Christian, they wrapped their arms around one of them in the portico. It was amusing to see them carefully positioning themselves as they "hugged" the monstrous column. We had a big laugh upon discovery that their "wraparound" fitted snuggly to a "T."

Then off we went to get our daily dose of Italian "gelato."

Sept. 3, 2014. - COOL SLUMBER IN VENICE

Venice - the mere mention of the name conjures an aura of romance and it's accompanying images of the ecstasy of  "love" on a slow gliding gondola along a placid lagoon with a gondolier in his traditional red or blue striped shirt and be-ribboned straw hat noiselessly manning the oars. Ah, la dolce vita! (Ah, the sweet life!) The sense of peace, love and contentment of the beauty of life, nay, of just being alive, comes with such dynamic realism that the heart inevitably throbs with gratitude to God, our Creator.

For centuries, Venice has been called, "The Most Romantic City in the World," but during the Middle Ages, its strategic location at  the head of the Adriatic Sea made it a trading center. Today, Venetian glass made in Murano is famous for being skillfully made, colorful and elaborate. The fascinating uniqueness of Venice, an archipelago of 118 islets formed by 177 canals in a shallow lagoon connected by 409 quaint mini-bridges makes it a favorite destination of 18 million tourists a year.  The influx of tourists come around two weeks before Ash Wednesday when the "Carnivale " in Venice is celebrated. People wear colorful costumes with fanciful masks in festivities nothing like it in the world. Imagine 50,000 people moving about Venice, the "floating city," daily in motorized water buses called "vaporetta." 

Significant buildings are enchantingly attractive with Venetian Gothic architecture combined with Byzantine and Moorish influence. The Doge's Palace typifies this exceedingly beautiful style which occupy a large area right on Piazza San Marco. In
olden times, the mayor or chief executive of Venice was called "doge." The Basilica of  St. Mark is so unique and guaranteed to 
take one's breath away especially the ceiling of the sanctuary with 
intricate designs made with real gold. I cannot relay the exquisite beauty of the basilica in black and white! My vocabulary is dismally inadequate. One has to see it and more importantly "feel" the pervading atmosphere of the place! How true are the words of a sage, "When the heart is full, the tongue is meek." 

Venice has been the setting of novels and movies as of James Bond and Indiana Jones. I remember Shakespeare's "The Merchant of 
Venice" and its famous lines, "The quality of mercy is not strained. 
It blesses him that gives and him that takes." Shakespeare must 
have been a Christian! The city has been a tourist spot for years and years. No wonder, the rich and the famous and celebrities of film, art, literature or science come to Venice for relaxation and fun. Many have vacation homes in the city so that demographics show that a great number of natives had left in exchange for the high prices they got for their homes. Within the last five years, the 
population had dwindled from 122,000 to 66,000 and prices of goods and commodities had skyrocketed. For example, our breakfast of a cup of coffee or tea with 2 medium-sized croissant each for the eight of us cost 93 euros. Currency exchange rate was $1.50 for 1 euro. What a terribly costly breakfast! 

Rome as a venue to strengthen one's faith and Venice as a means to broaden one's perspective in life, made me promise (with God's assurance, of course) to reward every grandchild graduating from high school a visit to these legendary places. And so it was that last summer and this July 2014, I fulfilled my "vow" to my seven grandchildren including 11 year-old Melanie who is only in 
5th grade since I would not be around anymore when she finishes her secondary education. I must confess that I enjoyed every 
minute of our togetherness - from the visit to the Basilica of St. Peter, the seat of Christianity and the other patriarchal basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major and St. Paul Outside the Walls...to...the interesting landmarks of Rome and the magical city of Venice plus the authentic gondola ride with a "singing" gondolier.

At first, I had second thoughts about taking the gondola ride because of the fantastic cost of 80 euros. My brain went reeling, tornado-like to the infinitesimal cost for each one of us! Picture me heaving a sigh of great relief when the gondolier said the 80 euros is for one hour's ride for 5 passengers. My initial shock was further relieved when my daughter, Cielo, promised to pay for one gondola while Diana and Christina, my granddaughters who study and work part-time, offered to give me the ride as a gift. How wonderful to be at the receiving end - sometimes! The slow gliding gondola through the winding lagoon lined with centuried stone houses festooned with ornate windows, porch columns and railings of a bygone era was immensely fascinating. Among the few flower-strewn balconies we passed by was the house of Marco Polo, the world- renowned Venetian explorer who brought much of the knowledge of China and its culture to Italy and to other European countries centuries ago. He was favored by the great Kublai Khan 
to teach English to his court and his people for so many years. His book, "Adventures of Marco Polo" inspired many enterprising 
young men and "visionaries" of the new and the untried to visit the continent of Asia.

I sat comfortably on the maroon velvet cushioned seat of the gondola enjoying the soft caress of the gentle breeze. I was so 
wrapped up with a sense of suspended animation of penultimate 
contentment which the French rightfully calls, "sans souci" -without care! I leaned back and let go of whatever tension my muscles harbored and let my arms go limp with complete abandon. 
It was so relaxing!

"I will sing for you, Mama," said the gondolier which roused me from my reverie. In an instant, his deep baritone voice sang,

 "Mamma, son tanto felice,    (Mom, I am very happy) 
 Perche retorno da te,         (Because I am returning to you)
 La mia canzone ti dice,         (My song is telling you)
 Che il pui belgiorno per me, (It's the most beautiful day for me)

 Mamma, son tanto felice."    (Mom, I am very happy)

Ah..ah..ah..h..ZZZ..ZZ..z.z.z...I was off to Dreamland!

Aug. 2014 - BASILICA OF SANTA MARIA MAGIORRE

Today, August 5th is the Anniversary of the Dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore considered the largest church in Rome in honor of our Blessed Mother. Catholic Church History records that the construction of the sanctuary was based on a vision of  Pope Sixtus V to whom our Lady appeared asking that a chapel be built on the hill where snow would fall in the middle of summer. On August 5, 354 snow fell on the Esquiline Hill, one of the seven hills of Rome. Hence, one of the names given to Mary is "Our Lady of the Snows." The construction of the worship center was immediately begun fully supported by contributions of devotees from all over the world. The facade as it is seen now was constructed in 1746. Santa Maria Maggiore houses the icon of Mary believed to be made by St. Luke.

The most beautiful basilica in honor of the Mother of God depicts the "Coronation of Mary" in its apse. Mosaic of 4th century grandeur adorn the nave of the church. The ceiling is made of pure gold - a gift of King Ferdinand and Queen Isabella of Spain. Santa Maria Magiorre has the relics of the Holy Crib from Bethlehem in the Crypt. Buried in the basilica are five (5) popes, one of whom is Pope Pius V who initiated the Rosary Crusade which caused the victory of Christian forces at the Battle. Of Lepanto in 1521. St. Mathias and St. Jerome are also buried here. As a whole, the Basilica of St. Mary Major is truly elegant and sophisticated but of 
sober design

June 29, 2014 - OUR ROMAN HOLIDAY

Rome is a city that has been inhabited for thousands of years, much too long before the birth of Jesus Christ.  It is aptly called, "Eternal City" because of having existed "half as long as Time" and ever since Sts. Peter and Paul roamed its cobblestone streets proclaiming the seed of Christianity. 

Tradition has it that Rome was founded by twins Remus and Romolus who were nursed by a she-wolf. As they grew to manhood, the green-eyed monster identified as "Jealousy" overwhelmed Romolus as to orchestrate the murder of his brother. Hence, the city was named after him. History is replete with stories of intrigue and lust for power of many succeeding emperors of Ancient Rome, possibly tainted by its founder! Be that as it may, Rome rose from its humble beginnings as a city- state to become one of the greatest empires the world has ever known.

The territory of Rome grew fast because of the outstanding, in fact, "unparalleled warfare expertise and unalloyed loyalty of its citizens." These known attributes were dramatically enhanced by a reservoir of intellectual and creative minds in the Arts and Sciences of a people consumed with the passion that "beauty is its own excuse for being."

Today, in the present 21st Century era, as we walk, touch and feel  through the remains of the long-standing structures of the Renaissance and Baroque art or ramble through the remains of a once-upon-a-time architectural treasure we cannot help but feel the awe, wonder and appreciation of the glorious past of the Imperial Roman Empire. It gave birth to the cliché, "All roads lead to Rome." No one can visit the Eternal City and not be moved by her timeless beauty. For those who have visited her- "like the memory of a lost love, she will haunt you" and hasten your return.

Hmm...there is something which has been handed down from one generation to another which may assure one's return to this soul-inspiring city- throw a coin over your left shoulder at the Fountain of Trevi. It promises "Good Luck," too.

Today, July 6, 2014, Bobby, Carla, Michael, Christian and I went to the Fountain of Trevi considered the largest and most beautiful one in the world. It was made like a monumental triumphal arch by Nicola Salvi  who died before it was inaugurated in 1762. It is located at the end of an aqueduct which was the source of water for many centuries. Since it lies at the confluence- the meeting point - of three (3) streets, it got its name - Trevi ("tre" for 3 and "vi" for street). Tradition has it that you will return to Rome if you throw a coin into the fountain's water basin. You should toss it with your right hand over your left shoulder with your back to the fountain.

Imagine our disappointment to see the scaffoldings covering Neptune- the sea god- his horses and his courtiers! Workmen were busy cleaning, repairing and constructing a walkway which would allow visitors to come close to the sculptures that adorn the fountain. I guess when the fountain resumes operation, people on the walkway would be able to reach out and catch the streams of water which may  bring the 'Good Luck' the Trevi legend claims. The dried-up surface did not prevent many people from throwing coins over their right or left shoulders. The whole spectacle of uplift arms and coins tossed high only to be received by the bare fountain floor made me smile. I remembered myself doing just that in my first visit to Rome in 1975 after an UNCTAD (United Nations Commission on Trade and Developtment) conference in Geneva. I was rewarded with several visits to Rome after that to the extent that this 2014 visit is my 10th to magnificent Roma! I turned my attention to the multitude doing the repertoire of coins and their faces beaming with smiles of hope written all over. I thought of  the power of hope to boost the indomitable human spirit to achieve what it aims for. I said a prayer for them to our good and generous God so that, in His time, the hope burning in their hearts would someday be a living reality! Never mind if there were a handful of cold-blooded, humorless skeptics in the crowd. I let my grandsons, Michael and Christian throw their coins over their left shoulder! Everyone  of us was aglow with joy. I was smiling from ear to ear!  

That was a memorable visit to the world's most magnificent fountain -  the utmost disappointment of not being able to have one's eyes feast on its magical grandeur of form, light and sound.... but with the burning "hope" and eventual realization of a personal commitment to the pledge like that of the famous World War II General MacArthur's "I Shall Return!" 

May I, 2014.- ST. JOSEPH, THE. WORKER

Today, May 1, 2014, is the Feast of St. Joseph, the Worker. We all know St. Joseph as the foster-father of Jesus who was a "just" man. Being identified as such means that he was virtuous, full of conviction for what is right according to the teachings of God and always aware not to make compromises to escape ridicule or hate. The Bible does not record any word spoken by Joseph but illustrates many instances where he performed his responsibilities as father and protector of the Holy Family. There is the story of his trip with Mary from Nazareth to Bethlehem and their search for shelter. There is the simple sentence on their flight to Egypt in the middle of the night. Like most readers, I accepted it as fact in the life of the Holy Family, just that. But during a visit to the Holy Land and Egypt in 2000, our tour bus followed a similar path which Joseph  and his family would have taken from Bethlehem to the house in Egypt where they stayed. I saw the seemingly endless rugged terrain of the wilderness, the desert, and the lurking dangers 
from men and natural elements, thieves and sandstorms, to which   the Holy Family was subjected. Without question, fatigue which our minds cannot  fathom must have overwhelmed them since they traveled for days on foot. Having experienced being in the "setting" which the simple sentence pointed out in the Bible, I realized and appreciated the impact of Joseph's responsibilities and the enormous heroic actions he accomplished without the trumpet fanfare of Superman orBatman.


St. Joseph was a carpenter by trade. Like all fathers, he must have   helped in many infant-caring needs as bottle-feeding and diaper- changing. He must have done spoon-feeding the infant and enjoyed many moments of play and fun, too. He must have taught Jesus 
some tricks of the trade as he was growing up helping around in his small shop. When the boy was old enough, Joseph must have brought Jesus to help in his job in Sephoris, a more progressive town close by where at that time there was a construction boom. The father-figure that Joseph exemplified for his foster son was a 
man of action who " prospered the work of his hands."        

A traditional prayer to St. Joseph which has been part of my daily prayers for so many years is the ff:  

Oh St. Joseph, whose protection is so great, so strong, so prompt before the throne of God, I place in you all my interests and desires. Oh St. Joseph, do assist me by Thy powerful intercession, to obtain for me spiritual blessings from your Divine Son so that having 
engaged here below your heavenly power, we may offer our homage and thanksgiving to the most gentle of fathers.

Oh, St. Joseph, I never weary contemplating you with Jesus asleep in your arms. I dare not approach while He reposes near your heart. Press Him in my name and kiss His fine head for me and ask Him to return the kiss when I draw my dying breath.

Oh, St. Joseph, patron for healing and of departing souls, pray for us.  Amen.  (3 times)

April 27, 2014 - POPE JOHN PAUL II, A SAINT !

Today, April 27, 2014, Divine Mercy Sunday, is an epoch-making date in the history of the Catholic Church when two successors of Peter are declared worthy of veneration as "Saints," They are Pope John XXIII who convened the Second Vatican Council in 1963 and the dearly-loved Pope John Paul II of this generation whose pontificate lasted for almost 26 years from 1978 to 2003.

On this blog, I will concentrate on Pope John Paul 11 since I had the opportunity of visiting Wadowice, Poland, his birthplace and also because of my unique encounter with him in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican City.

I joined a Jubilee Year 2000 tour to Eastern Europe which included a visit to Prague, Czech Republic; Vienna, Austria; Budapest, Hungary and Poland, the birthplace of St. John Paul II and St. Faustina who has been called, "Apostle of Divine Mercy." A visit to these great cities of Eastern Europe is an eye-opener even to a seasoned traveler like me who has visited 35 countries of this planet. The rich architectural style of centuries-old Baroque is predominant in this part of Europe. The overall ambiance of these places has a hold on me so soothing to my senses, so remote from the plush and grandeur of Paris, London or Spain. Why? I searched for an answer and found three reasons : my long-time devotion to the Miraculous Infant Jesus of Prague, my inherent love for music which Vienna represents and the indelible imprint of the barracks and "crematorium" in the infamous concentration camp in Auschwitz, Poland where six million people largely Jews died during World War II. I may add, the visit to Our Lady of Czestochowa, Poland, one of two miraculous Black Madonnas of the world, the other being, Our Lady of Monserrat in Barcelona, Spain.

I found my visit to Wadowice, Poland a most exhilarating experience. At that time, Pope John Paul II was still alive but his home was already a museum. It is located on the second floor of an apartment complex. The wooden floor was kept shiny because visitors had to remove shoes at the door and use large Eskimo-like skis made of palm leaves inside the rooms. Clothes, boots and shoes, kitchen utensils, oars of kayaks which was his favorite sport, etc. were showcased. The myriad paraphernalia  were all neatly displayed with valuable inscriptions that portrayed the youngster who became a successor of Peter. Countless pictures of important events in his life were posted everywhere. The short inscriptions on each one made it possible for us viewers to have an insight of the man who "wore the shoes of the Fisherman." The photo that fascinated me the most was the one when he was around three or four years old attired in a long embroidered gown looking like a sweet little girl with a remarkable twinkle in his eyes and an infectious smile on his face. I guess every onlooker inevitably smiled back at him! It was in the little gift shop on the first floor where I found a fascinating picture of Blessed Mother Mary breast-feeding the Infant Jesus. It was something I never saw in all my travels! I wanted to have more copies but was informed they had only one and I believed what the saleslady said that it must have been meant for me. I was happy and felt privileged to have it!

In one of my earlier visits to Rome, two members of our tour group needed to go to the Vatican office in charge of the distribution of tickets for the weekly Wednesday Papal Audience at St. Peter's Square. It was their first visit to Rome so I offered to accompany them to the office which was near the Trevi Fountain. Through their request, I was also given a ticket which guaranteed a seat in the crowded square. We were lucky to be seated in the first section of reserved seats where the Pope would surely pass. The air was filled with excitement! I guess, like everyone else in the jam-packed square of possibly  25 to 30 thousand pilgrims, my heart was beating furiously fast. To me, just to have a glimpse of the Holy Father in person would certainly be rewarding by itself. Almost with clockwise precision, the sea of humanity rose at the sight of Pope John Paul II standing in an open very slow-moving low cart pulled by a small Fiat. He was shaking hands with the people along the curb of the enclosed section. Our seats were closest the side curb so we chorused our "Thanks be to God" as we awaited the outstretched arms of His Holiness. I was feverish with anticipation and joy! Then it happened! The Pope's right hand clasped mine in a tight warm "embrace." I felt the heat radiate to every cell in my body! It was a flitting handshake that brought tremors of undefinable joy to me! Funny, for a long while, I tried to to keep my right palm free from touching anything so as not to dispel the enchanted aura of that most memorable "embrace." Since then, I held a strong affinity to him and has tenaciously held on to his oft-repeated message of "Be not afraid." Since his elevation to the Communion of Saints, he has become one of my favorite intercessors in heaven. My encounter with St. John Paul II has been one of the most dramatic, unforgettable moments in my life!