At the Altar Tomb of Pope St Gregory the Great 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.
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.
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