As my time in Rome comes to its conclusion I wanted to go back to the tomb of St Peter at the Vatican. It meant an early morning trip. But I must say that I love Rome at these early hours when the place seems to be still sleeping. Anyway, I got to St Peter’s Basilica and after getting vested in the sacristy I asked if I could celebrate Mass at the tomb of Blessed John XXIII. As we are still in the Year of Faith that marks fifty years since the Second Vatican Council was convoked I saw it as a highlight to pray at the altar of this saintly pope who decided to have Vaticum II. First the sacristy staff tried to discourage me from offering Mass there as a cardinal was already saying the Mass at the altar, however I was very stubborn and I said that I didn’t mind to wait until his Eminence finished his Mass. I explained to them: “Don’t worry, I am not going to drag the man away from the altar. I will be very patient.” Then I took the chalice and off I went across the Basilica to John XXIII. I had to wait 20 minutes but it was worth it. I celebrated the Mass asking the Good Pope as he was called to pray for our Catholic Church. A few English speaking people also got excited as they could participate in Mass they could understand.

After the Mass I took advantage of still quite Basilica and I made my way to the top of the copula. I can use the words of St Eugene de Mazenod who went there as well: “I didn’t do it out of curiosity but rather to be able to say later that I have been there.” However I did enjoy it. Particularly I loved the view of the Eternal City still covered by morning mist. I could observe roofs of many churches emerging out of the mist. What I realized looking at them was that all these beautiful building actually acknowledge anther beauty most of them was built for, the beauty of our saints. Some people say that Rome is blessed with so many extraordinary churches but for a Christian coming to this city the visit offers a powerful experience what the Divine Architect – God has accomplished by his grace in the lives of so many followers of Christ. Rome is more than the city of countess churches, in fact it is the city of countess saints.

After the top view I made my final way to the bottom of the Basilica, to its grottos. First I spent time praying at the Tomb of St Peter, the Apostle from Galilee whom Christ entrusted with care of the Church, the first Pope of the Church. After praying at his Tomb I went through the grottos where many of the successors of St Peter are buried. I made two stops in this underground pilgrimage: the first prayer stop was at the Tomb of Pope Paul VI. I was born in the final years of is pontificate, when
the Holy Father was suffering a lot. Apart from this personal reason I also wanted to go to Paul VI as he continued the vision of Blessed John XXIII who died during the Second Vatican Council. Pope Paul completed the Council and he also oversaw the implementation of the Council Fathers. The final stop I made at the Tomb of John Paul I, the Pope who was elected after Paul VI but died after 33 days. However even during such a short period of time he managed to share the joy of being a catholic as he was called the smiling Pope.

After a few attempts I have succeeded in getting into the Church of San Silvestro al Quirinale. It is unfortunate that the
church is closed most of the time. From what I can gather it isn’t a parish church but rather a church attached to a convent and it serves the religious community primary. However I couldn’t imagine myself leaving Rome without visiting it. The convent adjacent to the church was the place where St Eugene was lodged during his visits to Rome. He lived here from November 1825 to May 1826 when he was applying for Papal approval of the Oblate Congregation. In the convent he prepared the final text of the Constitutions and Rules that were to be the way of life of his fellow Oblates. In the church he was celebrating most
of his Masses and was spending long hours praying. He returned to the place in
1832 to be ordained a bishop. The ceremony took place in the church which by
then he must have known through and through. It was October 14. At that time the place was owned by the priests of Saint Vincent de Paul who run the novitiate for the candidates to their congregation here. St Eugene being away from his own congregation found it helpful to be around some people who also lived in a religious community. The convent and the church meant also a lot to him because of Father Bartolo Zinelli who spent the final years of his life in the convent. He died here at the age of 38 and is buried in the church. Father Zinelli was a mentor of Eugene during his time of exile in Venice. Eugene was a little boy then and Fr Zinelli shaped him profoundly. St Eugene in this way recorded his first encounter with this holy priest at Venice: “One day I was amusing myself at the window that gave on to the house of the Zinelli family opposite. D. Bartolo appeared on his side, and addressing me said: “Master Eugene, aren’t you afraid of wasting your time in idleness in this way at the window?” - “Alas, sir, I replied, it is indeed a pity, but what can I do? You know I am a foreigner, and I haven’t any books at my disposition.” That was the opening he wanted: “That’s no problem, my dear child, you see me here actually in my library, where there are many books in Latin, Italian, French even, if you want them.” “There is nothing I would like better”, I answered. Immediately Fr. Bartolo undid the bar that held the shutters of the window, and placing on it a book, passed it over to me across the little street that separated us. The book was soon read, for I was always an avid reader, and next day my father advised me to go and take it back and thank D. Bartolo. This was all planned. Fr. Bartolo received me with the greatest kindness; he gave me the run of his library, and from there I had access to the study where he studied around a large table with his brother, Fr. Pietro, who was still only a deacon. “All our books are at your disposition”, Fr. Bartolo told me. Then he added: “This is where my brother and I study: you see over there the place that was occupied by one of my brothers whom God in his goodness has called to himself. If you would like to take his place, you have only to say the word, it will be a real pleasure for us to have you continue with your studies, which clearly you have not yet finished.” You can imagine my surprise and joy. “I shall be overjoyed, sir, and my father will happily give his consent.” - “Very well, come from tomorrow, and we will make a beginning.” My parents thanked God for having obtained for me so great a benefit. Can I ever thank God sufficiently for getting for me, out of his infinite goodness, help such as this precisely at the most difficult time of life, a decisive time for me, in which were planted by a man of God, in my soul prepared by his skilful hand and the grace of the Holy Spirit whose instrument he was, the fundamentals of religion and piety on which the mercy of God has built the edifice of my spiritual life? It was in the school of this holy priest that I learnt to despise worldly vanities and to taste the things of God.
The church of San Silvestro was for Eugene like coming to the origins of his most holy desires that were associated with his childhood mentor. I am so glad that I too have been blessed by praying in this Holy Place that meant so much to my mentor: Saint Eugene de Mazenod whose life has shaped me so much.

To complete our time in Rome we made our way to one of the ancient cemeteries – catacombs of Priscilla. The maze of 13 kilometers of tunnels was used for burials in 2nd and 3rd centuries. The catacombs we visited are known for seven popes who were buried here along with some martyrs from the early days of Christianity. The place was also used for celebrating Mass at that time. It wasn’t caused so much by persecutions but by desire to celebrate Eucharist on the tomb of a saint. After the tour we were given we celebrated the Mass as well. This very austere environment where we had Mass was a great way to connect with those times when believing in Christ came at a great price. How different Rome of that time was to what we can see today. There weren’t any church buildings and basilicas that today are just part of the scenery of the Eternal City. However the Church was expanding here not by taking in possession land but by new converts who despite dangers Christians were facing on daily basis were joining the ranks of the believers. The catacombs of Priscilla are also known for the oldest Christian painting that have been preserved. They are dating back to the second century. What struck me most was that the oldest image of Christ isn’t of the crucifixion but of the Good Shepherd. An interesting thing is that the Good Shepherd is carrying on his shoulders a goat not a sheep. I was deeply moved that those Christians who suffered so much for their faith still believed that Christ was their Good Shepherd taking care of them. One could say they could think that Jesus had abandoned them as the pagan authorities hunted them down. However it wasn’t what they were convinced about. They still believed in him who called himself the Good  Shepherd.

In my pursue of the places that saw Saint Eugene pray during the time when the future of the Oblate
Congregation was being decided I went to the church of St Andrew at Quirinale. It is located very close to the convent where Father de Mazenod was staying. In his diary he wrote that he went there on the morning of February 17, 1826. The
church is known for the resting place of another young religious: Saint Stanislous Kostka. St Stanislous was born in Poland to an aristocratic family.  As a young boy he discovered that Jesus was calling him to the Jesuit order. However problems arose when his father objected his desire. Due to the objection Jesuits in Poland were afraid to accept him. When Stanislous realized that he had no chance to fulfill his dream in his homeland he simply run away from home and set out on a long journey Augsburg in Germany. He walked 450 miles an ordinary pilgrim. When he arrived the Jesuits were so impressed with his determination that he was accepted to the Order without any further issues.
However it was decided to send him to Rome. It was perfect timing as the young man fell ill a few months later . After receiving Holy Communion and the Last  Rites, he chatted cheerfully with his fellow novices until nightfall.  After they left, he prayed often, “My heart  is ready, O God, my heart is ready!”  About  3:00 a.m. his face lit up joyfully.  He said  Our Lady was approaching with her court of angels and saints to take him to  heaven.  Then he died — on August 15,  the feast of Our Lady’s own assumption into heaven. He was 17. I believe that Stanislous’ determination was familiar to Eugene who wrote in his diary how much consolation he got from celebrating Mass in the room where Saint Stanislous died. After the Mass he was given the much awaited news that the previous evening Pope Leo XII approved the Constitutions and Rules of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate.
Personally I wanted to visit the place where he felt lie dancing out of joy at the news from the Vatican. When I entered the church I nearly fell over. However it wasn't because to some mystic experience but because the scaffolding. The church is undergoing extensive renovations at the moment and the only spot that looks churchy is the main altar. As I stood there deeply disappointed I was give a consolation price I didn't expect. I could visit the room mentioned by Saint Eugene, where he did his morning Mass on the day when the papal approval of the Oblates was officially announced. I was blessed to spend some time praying in the room where Saint Stanislous died. How mysterious God's ways are. There are so many human stories converging. To me the room is not only the shrine of Saint Stansilous but I find it as an Oblate shrine as well. The place of joy, relief, excitement, hope for future and gratitude for being assured by the Holy Father that we Oblates have a charism that is important for the Church.

Today we went to the most important of all the Churches of the Catholic World, the Basilica of St John Lateran. The importance of the church comes from the fact that it is the cathedral church of the Holy Father as Bishop of Rome. Every diocesan bishop has got a church that is called cathedral, the name comes from the chair from which the bishop as the shepherd of his diocese teaches the faithful. For the Bishop of Rome such church is the Lateran Basilica. Even if most Popes services happen at the Vatican where he resides still his permanent chair is at St John Lateran. Those who are observant notice that at the Basilica of St Peter at Vatican there is no cathedral – a fixed chair for the pope. Every time he presides there he uses a decorative movable seat. In the early centuries when Christianity was persecuted Bishops of Rome couldn’t have a proper church building. When the Emperor Constantine gave Christians the right to publicly profess and practice their faith a noble Roman family offered the then Pope their home at the Lateran Hill. So it became the first permanent home for the Popes. Soon a basilica was build adjacent to the pope’s residence and it became the cathedral of the Bishop of Rome. The basilica has been rebuilt many times over 16 centuries but it is still located where the first church of Rome was built. Actually Lateran was the residence of Popes until Popes moved to Avignon in France. During the Pope’s absence the cathedral and lot’s of other places in Rome started deteriorating as nobody was taking care of them.
In this Cathedral of The Holy Father we celebrated our morning Mass. As Pope Francis is in Brazil I offered the Mass for him. Very often we expect a lot from our church leaders but we don’t pray for them so how can we have such expectations? That’s why praying in this spiritual center of the Catholic Community I felt as close to the Pope as when I concelebrated the Mass with him a couple of weeks ago. This Basilica of St John reminds us that as Catholics we aren’t called to shaking hands with Pope hoping that somebody will take a quick photo so that we can tell our friends that we have seen the pope but we are called with faith and love to cling to his teaching and leadership. Saint Eugene always wanted to be seen a man of the Pope, even when due to some politics between France and the Holy Sea he found that he was misunderstood by the Pope. However he still held the Holy Father in high esteem. That's what he shared with his Oblates. As his spiritual son I entered the Great Lateran Basilica not simply as an impressive building but as the space the teaching of the Successor of Saint Peter is delivered from. The chair of the Bishop of Rome is undoubtedly the most important item here, as it is the sign of Our Lord guiding his flock through his Vicar on  Earth. That's why the official title of the basilica is: "Mother church of the whole world."
However there are also two other significant relicts. The first is incorporated in the image of the Last Supper in the altar of the Blessed Sacrament. The figures of Jesus and the Twelve are placed against the background of a wooden plank. The ancient tradition holds that it is the top of the table on which Jesus celebrated the Last Supper. The second relict is placed inside the main altar. The marble altar is like a chaste containing a wooden table that was used by the first popes to celebrate Eucharist.

On February 16, 1826, the day following the meeting of the cardinals, we find St. Eugene celebrating Mass at a Jesuit church of Saint Ignatius of Loyola at the Campus Martius. As he was waiting for the final decision of the Pope Leo XII he came to pray at the tomb of a 17-year-old  religious St Aloysius Gonzaga. The young man wasn't given many years to grow up but he made most of the years he was given and at the age of 17 he was a saint already. I believe that was attracted Eugene to the place was the strong desire for holiness that was found in the young saint who kept saying: "I don't want to be good. I WANT TO BE HOLY." How similar it is to St. Eugene's words: "I will not accept to the Oblate Congregation those who want to be average. Only those who desire to be saints can enter our ranks." In the same church thermos also the tomb of St. Robert Bellarmine who was the mentor of St. Aloysius. Sainthood is contagious. One saint implants a similar desire in another person, like St Robert nurtured the faith of his pupil, St Aloysius. In the same church one can find a third tomb of a saint. It is another young Jesuit: Saint John Berchmans who died at the age of 22. It was 30 years after the death of St Aloysious. St John was deeply moved and drawn to the spirituality of St Aloysious. As I was praying in the same church where Fr de Mazenod celebrated Mass in anticipation of the Pope's decision I could easily imagine our Holy Founder imploring this network of holy friends to implant in his Oblates the same desire for holiness. At that time most of the Oblates were young men so St Eugene turned to young Saints praying for his companions.

When St Eugene stayed in Rome in 1825 / 1826 his purpose was to obtain an official approval of the Holy Father for the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. After three months of talks, presentations and most of all praying the day came for the committee of cardinals to hold a session that was to result with recommending to the Pope approving or not approving the Congregation that was founded by Fr Eugene de Mazenod in Aix in 1816. The day for the Cardinals to
  discuss the matter was set for 15 February 1826. Fr de Mazenod asked the  Cardinal who was to chair the Committee to let him know about the outcome of  the session. He explained that he was to wait in the church of Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli which is located just across the street from the house where the cardinals were to meet. He went to the church where he did an early Mass and then he attended 9 other Masses that were celebrated there. When the last Mass was finished he realized that the cardinals simply forgot him. However as he wrote in his diary he wasn't upset at all. On the contrary he was grateful for being given the time to pray for his young Congregation. He wrote how much he felt at home during those hours of Cardinals deliberations. I have always highlighted that we OMIs were approved in the atmosphere of prayer, prolonged prayer of our Holy Founder. When I was coming to Rome I wanted to visit the church where he prayed then. The church is kind of squeezed between buildings in a short and narrow street. When I came in the Mass was finishing the priest gave the final blessing and then he started singing Salve Regina. It is an ancient Latin hymn in honour of Our Lady. For us Oblates it has an extra significance as the hymn was sung when Saint Eugene was dying. In fact he breathed his last at the final words of the hymn, that's why we sing it very often at our Oblate prayer services. As I was singing this hymn with the people gathered at Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli I  felt a special connection to the church straight away. After the Mass I thought the church would be closed as it was already 7pm. However the sacristan gave me a signal that I didn't need to rush. I spent some time praying there. What I can say that I too felt at home in the church. It is a shrine dedicated to Mary. Her tinny image is incorporated into the main altar that looks like rays of grace coming from the Mother who is giving he children her only Son, Jesus Christ, the source of all graces. The church may be hidden from the invasion of tourists but to me it is like a hidden treasure. If you find it you can open up your soul to the Heavenly Mather, you can pour your soul and it is like a miracle at Cana where Jesus changed water into wine. You feel that Jesus changes what is in you into something new, something heavenly.

After a great morning at St Peter’s I decided to top it up by visiting my Oblate Brothers at 290 Via Aurelia. That’s where our Superior General and his co-workers reside. The Superior General continues the role of Our Founder St Eugene de Mazenod. Unfortunately I didn’t meet him as he has gone to Brazil for the World Youth Day. However it was a refreshing afternoon spent among the Oblates. For nearly four months I have been away from the Oblates and I must say I really miss my community. At the General House I met fr Clement who is responsible for our Region of Asia and Oceania. He took me for a chat and we spent a long time reflecting on my future ministry in the seminary. He told me that it is a good sign that the Australian Oblates are preparing somebody to train future Oblates. He explained that even if we don’t have vocations at the moment we need to be prepared to take care of them when God sends them to us in due time. He told me that the Oblates in Pakistan started with one student and two Oblates looking after him. Now the seminary is full.
The General House is also important to us as in the chapel there is the statue of the Oblate Madonna. On August 15, 1822, Father de Mazenod  solemnly blessed the statue in the church of the Mission in Aix. He wrote: “Her head, crowned with twelve stars, is lifted toward heaven in an attitude of prayer. She wears a golden veil, the same  colour as her long robe and her mantle. She is portrayed as the Immaculate Conception with one foot standing on the crescent moon and the other upon a serpent she is crushing.  Her right hand is resting on her heart while her other hand is open, spreading graces on her children who are praying to her.”
In a July 15, 1889 report from the Oblate house in Aix, Father Prosper Monnet described the internal chapel of the Mission church at Aix with the altar of the vows and the “ancient  Virgin which formerly smiled upon our venerated Founder and today still stands on her rich marble pedestal...” In his work, which appeared in 1894, Father Eugene Baffie listed some special favors received by  the Founder and wrote: “The first one which Bishop de Mazenod related himself on August 15, but in veiled, mysterious terms, was the keen, invigorating intuitive  impression of the marvels that God wanted to operate in him and by him. Did the Holy Virgin appear directly to her servant? Did she reveal to him concretely the future of  his congregation? We may perhaps be justified in affirming this. What can be affirmed is that from that day on, Father de Mazenod knew clearly that his work came from God  and was agreeable to God.”
Father Emil Lamblin narrated the blessing of the statue on August 15, then  he adds: “Oral tradition tells us that the statue opened its eyes and nodded her head in the affirmative while her zealous servant was asking for a favour. This extraordinary  happening has never appeared in any report [...] From that moment on, this statue to which all our older priests attribute this miracle was called the miraculous Virgin  or yet again, the Virgin of the Mission or of Bishop de Mazenod.” The statue, the altar of the vows and the heart of the Founder were transported to Rome after the religious expulsions from France in 1903.
Apart from this treasure there is also an altar at which St Eugene and his first companion made their oblate vows. Opposite to the little chapel of the altar of the vows there is another chapel where the heart of St Eugene is kept. After talking to my Oblate Brothers I went to this special place which is soaked with the presence of Our Founder. I prayed through the intercession of Our Immaculate Mother for our Oblates in Australia so that although far away from this place we could live and share the spirit of the man was so open to the Holy Spirit that he become an instrument in the hands of Jesus for the salvation of people.

Around 6am I left the seminary and enjoying quite streets of Rome I got to St Peter’s square as the clock was striking 7am. It was so unusual to see the square nearly empty. Only a few people were hurrying to get to the basilica for early Masses. I was one of them. As I walked in to this enormous space I was overwhelmed by silence. This is what most of those who come here during the day miss. The sacredness of the basilica was even more stressed by whispers of the priests who were already celebrating morning Masses at various altars. As it was my goal as well after a brief prayer to St Peter I made my way to the sacristy. I was preparing myself for some waiting, however to my surprise as soon as I proved to the staff that I was a catholic priest I got vested and a smiling altar server (by the way he looked more like a bishop in is violet robe) was walking me to my designated altar. As we got there I realized that it was the altar of the crucifixion of St Peter. The altar is also the tomb Pope of St Leo IX who died in 1054. The altar is located next to the tomb of Apostles St Simon and St Thaddeus. Most of the people who visit St Peter’s Basilica don’t realize that the first pope isn’t the only Apostle buried here. On the other hand what stops most of the people from coming to this section of the Basilica is that it is  purely for prayers. However those who do want to pray find the chapel of these two Apostles as a haven compared to the overcrowded with tourists the main nave. After the Mass I decided that the crowds weren’t too bad yet and I went to the altar of Blessed Pope John XXIII. In this year of Faith we recall the beginning of the Second Vatican Council that was convoked by Pope John. All the Council sessions were held in this very basilica. In front of his relicts I prayed my morning priestly prayers and then I spent some quite time prying to him. Pope John was call the good pope. When he died not only Catholics mourned the loss of their shepherd. People of other religions also recognized the prophetic voice of the Holy Father who during his short pontificate won heart of many.
As the stream of tourists started pouring into the Basilica I decided to run back to the chapel where I did my morning Mass. There two guards very successfully chased away anybody who didn’t have praying on his mind. Thanks to their professionalism I could continue my priestly prayers. As I was finishing I realized that in the pew in front of me there was a bishop who very inconspicuously were doing exactly the same prayers. As I was looking at him and at the altar with the bodies of the Apostles of Simon and Thaddeus I couldn’t help thinking that it is what we call Apostolic Succession. The gift of the priesthood given to the Twelve has reached our time through generations of men who like that bishop I saw praying have served the Catholic Community.
When I finished my prayers it was the time when the area behind the main altar was opened for people to attend a Sunday high Mass. As I have already celebrated Mass I simply blended in the crowd and found a seat among the faithful. It was a beautiful Latin Mass. They sang everything, even the Gospel. Apart from uplifting spiritual experience I also had heaps of fun watching some teenage girls in front of me. As on Sunday the section around the main altar is accessible only for the worshippers attending Masses I guess the girls took  their chance when the people were going to Mass hoping for some good views and pictures but they ended up in the middle of the crowd at a Latin Service. I
could tell they were dying out of boredom.
When Mass finished I went for a little pilgrimage inside the Basilica. It is very easily to focus on the beautiful architecture, paintings, mosaics, sculptures
etc. but the real beauty of the place is in so many saints who are buried here. As I reflected on the outcome of their lives I simple adored the Savior who made those saints pieces of Holy Art. I could spend much more time especially at the altar of Blessed John Paul II but I wanted to attend Angelus with Pope Francis. As the crowds inside and outside were huge I knew that it would take me some time to maneuver through this tsunami of people to get a good spot in the Square. As soon as I was hiding myself in the shadow area across from the pope window the Holy Father appeared. The welcome of the crowd was unbelievable. This tiny white figure so far away put a smile on every face. It was the Pope’s last appearance before his flight to Brazil for World Youth Day. I didn’t bother that I couldn’t understand him as I knew that later I could get his speech online. I was there like most of the people united by our common faith in Christ whose Vicar on Earth is the Pope. After we prayed Angelus the Holy Father gave us his blessing. It was the main reason I went to Angelus. When St Eugene was in Rome he always made sure he didn’t miss seeing the Pope. I think St Eugene would be pleased with me. During my three weeks in Rome I have seen Pope Francis tree times. I didn’t miss any public appearance of the Holy Father that was announced.

It was most appropriate that on Saturday morning, the day which in the Catholic Church is dedicated Our Lady, we went to celebrate our daily Mass in Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the four main papal basilicas of Rome. So far we have celebrated Eucharist in St Peter's at Vatican and St Paul Outside the Walls. Santa Maria Maggiore still is seen in the structure it was design in fourth century. There is an ancient story about Mary's request to build a church dedicated to her in Rome. She said that the church should be built where snow would fall. It was happening in August which is a scorching summer month in Italy. However it did snow on the Esquiline Hill. When the pope was told about that he arrived agh the hill and personally drew the diameters of the future basilica. The basilica preserves two treasures: under the main altar, in a little chapel there are planks of the crib in which Mary placed the Baby Jesus in Betlehem. The second treasure is the image of Mary called Salus Populi Romani, or Health of the Roman People or Salvation of the Roman People, kept in the side chapel. In the chapel we celebrated the Mass. I always love being in the
presence of Mary and it was a special time for me. As I found out in the evening, a few hours after our Mass, Pope Francis arrived to the Basilica and he spent half an hour praying in the chapel where we had Mass. The purpose of his visit was to ask The Virgin Mary to guide him and the young people gathered for the World Youth Day in Rio de Janerio in Brazil.
The Basilica is also the resting place of Pope Pius V, who reformed the Roman Catholic Liturgy after the Council of Trent. The structure of Mass that was celebrated until the II Vatican Council came from this pope.
When St Eugene de Mazenod was staying in Rome he visited this basilica many times. In fact in his diary one can find this sentence being repeated like a refrain: "Although I prayed at Santa Maria Maggiore this morning I returned to the Basilica again. Something draws me to this church." He had great love for this church, not simply because it is beautiful but it is the most important catholic church dedicated to Mary. It is the main Marian shrine of the Catholic Church, even if we talk more about Lourdes and Fatima. However what drew Saint Eugene to Santa Maria Maria Maggiore weren't his private sentiments but his understanding of the Church: if it is the church of the Holy Father it is also the church for the whole Catholic Community. If the popes have honored Mary here for centuries, it is where the Catholic World joins her Holy Father to express our love for Mary and to pray for her intersession. St Eugene was always very sensitive to all the gestures and words of Supreme Pontiffs.
Another thing that drew St Eugene here were queues of people for Confession. Obviously he saw it as the sign of Mary's prayers. She always draws us closer to her Son Jesus and it is Jesus who welcomes sinners and forgives them at Confessions. This thing haven't changed. At Santa Maria Maggiore there is always a number of priests in the confessionals waiting for people and from what I saw the Virgin Mary works very hard on those who come to her church as the priests have always somebody confessing sins. I also took up the opportunity and after praying the Rosary before the main altar with the Crib of Jesus I joined the queue to clean my poor soul. I was most impressed with the priest. He was offering confessions in a few languages. Isn't a powerful sign, that somebody with such an intelligent mind spends hours in the confessional to hear people's sins? Without knowing he also gave me great consolation that I took as a gift from heaven. He told me that for my penance I was to offer the first Mass after this confession for myself. When I went back to the altar with the crib I simple said: "Thank you, Mother Mary." When I go to all these holy places I feel that it would be stingy of me to pray for myself. I also have so many intentions I have been asked to fray for. So I didn't dare to offer Mass for myself. What made the penance I was given so consoling was that the next Mass I was to say at St Peter's Basilica at Vatican where so many saints are buried. What the priest told me to do reminded me that a penance isn't a punishment or paying off for our sins but it is the balm that The Lord pours on the wounds coursed by our sins to heal us quicker.