Every Step a Prayer

Yesterday the wonderful Fr. Al, our chaplain, took a huge group of rome center students to the Vatican. I had seen the outside of the Vatican at night, but not in the day and I hadn't been inside yet. It really felt like I was going on a pilgrimage as I got in the line that stretched around most of St. Peter's square. As we wound are way through the line and security checks I grew more and more excited. When I first stepped into St. Peter's Basilica it took my breath away.

It really did! I stood there in total awe of the beauty and sacredness. Then, I turned to my right and saw Michelangelo's Pieta and I was struck again with the beauty, grace, and sacredness of where I was and what I was seeing.

Pieta

 It was an indescribable experience, as though each step I took was a prayer. Every step was part of my pilgrimage and part of my prayer. The ceiling, the statues, the frescos, those who have come there before, and every single person making the sign of the cross or kneeling in prayer made that space holy.

St. Helena

One of the larger statues was of St. Helena, who is my patron saint. Again, it was simply amazing to see her statue and the pray to her in such a blessed place.

After we finished seeing St. Peter's Basilica we went bellow the basilica to see the tombs of the popes. Fr. Al told us that we would be able to see the tomb of Pope John Paul II. Hearing that I would be able to see John Paul II stirred my emotions deeply. It was a prayer of deepest sincerity as I walked past the tombs of the popes and finally stood in front of John Paul II. As I knelt down in front of his tomb tears began to glisten in my eyes and I was completely overcome by the spiritual power of the moment. It is extremely emotional even now as I am thinking back and writing about the experience. I prayed to John Paul II, and then words escaped me. There were no words to my prayers as all I could think or feel was the magnitude of John Paul II's love and how much I loved him too.



The whole experience of going to St. Peter's Basilica and the pope's tombs was a powerful spiritual experience, and another step on my ongoing pilgrimage here in Italy.