NOV. 1, 2015 JOURNEY WITH THE SAINTS

Today, the Catholic world celebrates All Saints' Day. We pause from our daily routine to honor the Communion of Saints who play an important
 role in our lives. The saints who are our "intercessors" in heaven are an integral part of our Catholic tradition since its its beginnings. So, I have a set of  favorite ones to whom I entrust my innermost desires for help and fulfillment.

The many years of travel have enriched my life with invaluable information and appreciation of the peoples who inhabit the earth. I have rubbed shoulders with highly esteemed members of the diplomatic corps in international forums in Geneva, London, Tokyo,etc., have conversed with farmers in the rice fields of Thailand and have walked side-by-side with waist-down-only dressed women of Papua New Guinea. Barefoot and completely covered with a long black wrap, I have joined members of Islam inside the Dome of the Rock down to see the huge marble-like rock on which Abraham laid Isaac to be sacrificed. I have stood before the Sagrada Familia Basilica in Barcelona, Spain enveloped with breathtaking awe no structure I have seen can equal in grandeur and style and have been mystified at the foot of the majestic Pyramids of Giza, Egypt.

True, I have climbed up, on foot, both the Tower of London and the Dome of Sacre Couer in Paris and have enjoyed the trolley ride  up the Eiffel Tower and the one to the hallowed grounds of Masada in Israel. I remember my strong legs then leading me back and forth the hazardous Bridge of the River Kwai in Thailand/Burma and the Golden Gate Bridge of San Francisco during its 75th Anniversary in the 1900's. And not to be forgotten were the reception committees that met me at the airports of countries of site conferences which sometimes included ambassadors who have become my friends and the stark contrast of the surge of a crowd of beggars that greeted me outside the airport of Dacca, Bangladesh. Another milestone in my travels was the tour through the magnificent intricately embellished artwork which represent the penultimate of the ingenuity of men in the walls, ceilings and furniture of Versailles, considered the most beautiful palace in the world and the heart-rending walk through the grim bunkers and gas chambers which killed millions of people during World War II in Auschiwtz, Poland.

But through all those encounters, my journey to the Shrines of Saints had been the most impressive and rewarding. This is so because the saints, their lives and work, specially of my favorites, are   fully integrated within the fabric of my Catholic Faith. Among the ones I have visited are the ff:

1.  St. Bernadette
          The incorrupt body of St. Bernadette lies in the Convent of St. Gildard in Nevers, France. After having been entombed for 35 years, her remains were exhumed and found "intact." It was re-buried and when exhumed again after 30 years, her body remained incorrupt and thence put on a reliquary in the chapel where she still lies today.

2.   St. Vincent de Paul
          The incorrupt body of St. Vincent de Paul lies high above the altar of the Mission Lazarite Church on Rue de Sevres, Paris. He was so well-known and loved during his time because of his philanthropic work so that when he died, the cortege passed through almost all streets in Paris and later enthroned in his mission church. He was never buried.

3.   St. Catherine Laboure
          The incorrupt body of St. Catherine Laboure with her blue eyes open lies at the chapel of the Motherhouse of the Daughters of Charity in Paris. While still a novitiate, our Blessed Mother appeared to her several times and instructed her re the medal which has become known as the Miraculous Medal.

4.   St. Jean Vianney
          The incorrupt body of St. Jean Vianney lies in the high altar of the church of Ars, France. He struggled in his studies and was ordained priest without the faculty of hearing confessions. When he was granted the privilege, he stayed in the confessional from 9 to 12 hours a day. People all over Europe came to him for confession and is now known as the Patron Saint of Priests.

5.   St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
          The incorrupt body of St. Margaret Mary is on the side wall of the Visitation Chapel in Paray-le-Monial, France. Jesus appeared to her several times and showed His heart thirsty for the love of men. She worked for the start of the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Holy Hour. Through her initial effort, the Sacre Couer (Basilica of the Sacred Heart) was built in Montmartre, Paris, centuries later.

6.   St. Claude de Colombiere
          Just around the corner of the Visitation Chapel in Paray-le-Monial is the Church of St. Claude de Colombiere, the Jesuit priest who helped propagate the devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. Church history records that there was so much opposition and controversy surrounding the institution of the Sacred Heart devotion by St. Margaret Mary. The incorrupt right arm of St. Claude de Colombiere is in a reliquary.

7.    St. Francis of Assisi
          The bones of St. Francis are entombed in the basement of the basilica named after him in Assisi, Italy. I sat there so disturbed by the question, " Why is St. Francis who is well-known by both Catholics and non-Catholics alike, who founded the Franciscan Order and who suffered the Stigmata (five wounds of Christ) in his body not among the Incorruptibles? "

8.    St. Clare of Assisi
          The incorrupt body of St. Clare is in the Basilica of Santa Chiara at the far end of the hill in Assisi. She abandoned her noble birth to follow the spirituality of St. Francis and founded the Community of Poor Clares at San Damiano where the miracle of the "hot cross buns" happened.

9.    St. Padre Pio of Pietrelchina
          Forty years after his death in 1968, the body of St. Padre Pio was exhumed and found to be "incorrupt." The Church allowed public veneration for a whole year in San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy before being entombed again for another 30 years. Seeing him like one who had just died minus the "stigmata" which he bore for 50 years will forever be etched in my memory. The priests present during his last hours attested that on breathing his last, the wounds on his body disappeared instantly without leaving a mark.  

10.   St. Anthony of Padua
          Though born in Lisbon, Portugal in the 12th Century, St. Anthony is as popular today as he was during his time because of the many miracles attributed to him. Hence, he is called the "Miracle Worker." His tomb is in the magnificent multi-domed Basilica of St. Anthony in Padova, Italy where he spent most of his priestly life. He was a prominent preacher and his incorrupt tongue which appears to be moist is in a reliquary. 

11.   St. Faustina
          "The Apostle of Mercy" is the title given to St. Faustina to whom Jesus entrusted the devotion to His Divine Mercy in Warsaw, Poland. Aside from the visit to the chapel where Jesus visited St. Faustina, I had the privilege of stepping inside the house of the family of the saint who had been entrusted the Devotion to Jesus' Divine Mercy.


12.   St. Maximilian Kolbe
          He is the saint referred to as "The Martyr Saint of Auschwitz" because while imprisoned in the concentration camp of the infamous Auschwitz, he volunteered to die in place of another prisoner. He was among the ten prisoners sent to the "starvation bunker." When I saw the bunker where he died, goosebumps all over me took some time to wear off as I continued to see the gas chambers and barracks of the camp where reportedly 6 million Jews were killed in World War II - 1939 - 1945.






 

OCTOBER. 4 - FEAST OF ST. FRANCIS

                   OCTOBER  4  - FEAST  OF  ST. FRANCIS

It has been some time since I posted a blog since I deliberately decided to attend to my health and regain the many hours of lost sleep which was the offshoot of my writings. Despite my effort to discipline myself in regard to my needed sleep, I often let go and continue writing my blog into the wee hours of the morning. It got to the point that I was no longer sleeping at night such that it triggered my failing health. Hence, early this year, I decided to give up blog-writing! 

But today, October 4, 2015, after participating in the blessing of the new statue of St. Francis in the grounds of the Holy Spirit Church in Fremont, California, something awakened in me the desire to write about Assisi, Italy. Thrice have I visited Assisi, the birthplace of St. Francis whom I have considered my "guardian angel" and one of my favorite saints. His spirit lives on in the unassuming medieval atmosphere of the village not tainted by even neon store 
signs nor graffiti of any sort. The cobblestone streets of yore still record the simple life of the people there who, to me, talk in whispers, as if afraid to disturb the solemnity with which St. 
Francis blessed the town. His biographers claim that he bestowed 
special blessings to Assisi before he met his Creator. 

It was in Assisi that I learned from Sister Lu, a fellow pilgrim during my first visit in 1996, that we should give a name to our 
Guardian Angel. Hence, I named my Guardian Angel, Francis, which eventually became personified in St.Francis, himself.

It was in Assisi that I fully realized the great difference between reading about the life of a saint and "experiencing" a bit of the life of a saint in the very place where he was born and lived his saintly existence. It emphasized the enormous insight and value of a pilgrimage to me.

It was in Assisi that the Lord showed me again, as in other times, too, what being close to Him really means...because in my third visit there, our tour bus was delayed for hours by a freeway construction along the way to Assisi. We arrived at night when the Basilica of St. Francis was already closed. The tour guide was adamant in not changing the departure time at 8:30 the next morning. I argued with him about the necessity of extending the stay for another hour since the Basilica of St. Clare which lie at the end of the hill need to be visited, too. While he relented in extending the time, he completely disregarded the itinerary re St. Clare's basilica. But I knew that an Assisi would be incomplete without a trip to 

DEC. 31, 2014 YEAR-END REFLECTION

Life is wonderful! The Lord has showered me with countless blessings throughout the 83 years of my life which far outnumber the disappointments and heartaches that came my way. A grateful heart is a mark of a Christian and so as this year comes to an end, I take time to say my profound thanks to God for being the recipient of a lion's share of His favor and blessings!

By design, He willed that I be born in a family where Faith was the axis on which all aspects of life revolved. My childhood years were marked by a deep-seated devotion to God and our Blessed Mother manifested in the lives we lived under the example of my parents specially my mother. The Family Rosary, Angelus and before/after meals prayers were a daily constant as the rising and setting of the sun. Even our regular Confession, which nowadays is known as Sacrament of Reconciliation, was a family affair. Discipline, gentle and fair, was administered by our parents with military precision. In all honesty, my climb up the educational ladder from elementary, secondary and college level was nothing short of outstanding. The forty-seven years of togetherness with a "soul-mate" cum jack-of-all-trades was the envy of many. 

With the distinct pride inherent to parents, I have my children-Bobby, Marissa, Noel and Cielo who pursued and finished their college education and are gainfully employed. More importantly, by living their Faith, they are exemplary, characterwise, since their early and teen years when some families are torn by their children's behavior influenced by wrong friends or bad company or addiction of any form. The flow of love and understanding between siblings and spouses has dominated our family life unlike tragic circumstances in families where some members are not on speaking terms. Hence, family gatherings to celebrate birthdays, Christmas, Easter, Thanksgiving, graduations, dramatic performances, recitals,  etc. are a source of unspeakable joy and fond memories. 

 My most rewarding career in a male-dominated field of Shipping with a job description of being the Director of Overseas Shipping at the Maritime Industry of the Philippines caused a lot of applause. Having been the only woman among the eighteen awardees of the United Nations Scholarship Program on Shipping during the decade of the 1970's was heartwarming. Four plaques of appreciation including one from the President of the Philippines meant for me a vote of confidence. The apex of my career was representing the Philippines in more than fifty, yes, 50 international conferences of  the United Nations (UNCTAD) and the ASEAN (Association of South East Asian Nations) which were held in different countries of the world. The opportunity to visit foreign shores developed in me the "love" for travel which keeps alive my unceasing desire for learning.

 With God's help, I have visited as of this date, thirty-five (35) countries. Of the seven continents, I have wandered the byways and highways of Asia, North America, South America, Europe, Australia, and Africa except Antartica which never graced my mind to see. What  is more, I  have managed to open new vistas of learning to my children and grandchildren by taking them along in my travels. I adopted a policy of giving a trip to Paris, Lourdes and Lisieux (France) as gift to my grandchildren finishing Grade VIII and a visit to Rome, Venice and Florence (Italy) for graduating from high school. Six of my seven grandchildren have enjoyed the two trips except one who is still in grade school who has not been to France yet though was with me to Italy last year. God willing, I hope to fulfill my promise to Melanie in the very near future.

The legacy of Faith to my family and loved ones has been the primary focus of my life both by word and example. I am convinced that I have done my level best and will continue to do so, to make God the very center of their lives. With the help of the Holy Spirit, I pray that our Catholic Faith be ingrained in their  being as long as they walk this earth!

Aware that some knowledge of  investment tools had assisted my husband and I to enjoy their fringe benefits, I launched a project on "Stocks" among my grandchildren as I did with my offsprings. I felt that having a portfolio of "forever" stocks at their teenage years will give them the insight and the discipline of "the power to prosper." In my talks with them, I emphasized the need of having a investment fund in their monthly budget and the rewards of investments during their retirement years. Four of my grand- children do part-time work while studying. To encourage and to help them in this new venture, I helped and will continue to share in their monetary needs as long as I am able. In addition, I do the research for them yet but checking on the stocks performance is their responsibility. I beamed with happiness as I took them to a brokerage office, see them fill up their application forms and witness them listen intently to a Scottrade broker's commentary. Their investment portfolio for this year included the following: Berkshire Hathaway B, Apple, Intel, and Costco.These stocks are not to be "touched or sold" till my grandchildren will be 60 or 62 years old.While we shall continue to look for other promising "legacy or forever stocks," we shall be dealing with Mutual Funds later since these funds are less risky than stocks as part of an Investment Portfolio.

The bonanza of blessings that I have received especially this 2014 from our all-powerful, all-merciful God has been magnanimous. To you, O Lord, goes my unending Praise and Thanksgiving!

Can you blame me if I consider myself as " One of God's Favorites?

Dec. 1, 2014 FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION TO THE MOST SACRED HEART OF JESUS

Today, I would like to share with you the promises of our Lord to those who are devoted to His Sacred Heart given to St. Margaret Mary. They are the following:

1.  I will give them all the graces necessary in their  state of life.
2.  Fervent souls shall quickly mount to high perfection.
3.  I will establish peace in their homes.
4.  I will comfort them in all their afflictions.
5.  I will be their secure refuge during life, and all in death.
6.  I will bestow abundant blessings upon all their undertakings.
7.  Sinners shall find in My Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy.
8.  Lukewarm souls shall become fervent.
9.  I will bless every place in which an image of  My Heart is exposed and honored.
10. I will give to priests the gift of touching the most hardened hearts.
11. Those who promote this devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted out, nor without receiving their Sacraments. My Divine Heart shall be their refuge.   
12. I promise you in the excessive mercy of My Heart that My all-powerful love will grant to all those  who receive Holy Communion the First Fridays in nine consecutive months the grace of final  penitence; they shall not die in my disgrace.

On the first Friday of the month,  we remember to pray the special First Friday devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In my blog last June, the month dedicated to the Sacred Heart, I related my visit to Paray-le-Monial, France where our Lord Jesus appeared to a nun who has become St. Margaret Mary Alacoque.

My mother was a devotee of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus so that it naturally followed that her children developed such love and esteem, too. We always had the icon of Jesus pointing to His Heart in a place of honor in our home, in fact, right at the entryway. It was the first thing that any visitor saw in our place. 
During my growing-up years, I did not know that by having our icon of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus exposed and honored in our home fulfilled one of His Promises. I even doubt whether my mother ever knew of Jesus' Promises. I think she just wanted to manifest her love for Jesus as well as to share that love with others. In my first home and in the succeeding ones, the image of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus had a special place of honor since both Rey, my husband, and I were devotees, too. In fact, his favorite prayer was one addressed to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. And do you know something? My husband died on May 2, 2003, a First Friday. Coincidence? No! I believe that Jesus welcomed him home on a day special to both of them!



              Prayer to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus:

Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee
Whatever may befall me, Lord, though dark the 
       hour may be
In all my joys, in all my woes, though naught but
        grief I see
Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place my trust in Thee.

When those I love have passed away and I am
       sore distressed
Oh, Sacred Heart of Jesus, I fly to Thee for rest
In all my trials, great or small, my confidence shall be
Unshaken as I cry, "Dear Lord, I place my 
        trust on Thee."

This is my own sweet prayer, dear Lord, my faith,
        my trust, my love
But most of all in that last hour when death points 
        up above
Ah, then, sweet Savior, may Thy face smile on
        my soul set free
Oh, may I cry with rapturous love, "I have placed
        my trust in Thee."

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!