Each year, our class takes a week long retreat somewhere in the greater Roma Area. The prior two years we have visited Rocca di Papa. It is up in the hills south of Rome, the Colli Albani. This year we are heading a bit west, closer to the ocean. There is a castle and village called Santa Severa. It is a tradition for the third year class to travel to this retreat center. I have seen a few pictures from years past and it looks beautiful.
I know that you have been in prayer - and I ask for those prayers to continue this week during our retreat.
This past weekend, on the day I returned to Rome, there was a great festival in the city called ‘La Notte Bianca.’ During this ‘White Night’ the whole city is awake all night - all the lights are on - the shops are open - the museums are open - and the streets are packed with people looking to experience the city in a different way.
I was extremely exhausted because of some flight delays in Philly, but I wanted to stay up a bit later to adapt better to the time change. In this, I explored a bit of the city with Greg from Scranton and Hector from San Jose. We tried to view Palazzo Farnese after saying hello to our friends at Bar Gulia. The Palazzo is now the home of the French Embassy. There are some beautiful paintings on the ceiling in the main room. However, it was closed so we hopped a bus to our next stop.
We caught the 270 bus up the Tiber River toward the Ara Pacis - the Altar of Peace from the time of Augustus. The altar was meant to be a vision of the Roman civil religion. It now is situated inside of a new building designed by the American architect Richard Meier. The type of architecture is modern - and caused a bit of contrversy among the purists of the city. I find it to respond well to the city and to the needs the people viewing the Altar.
On the way home, we walked past Castel Sant Angelo. We were hoping to go in for free but the line was too long.
I made it back just in time to fall into bed and get a good night rest. My personal clock has adjusted well thus far. Thanks for the prayers for my trip back to Rome.
