The first event in Rome was an audience with Benedict XVI in Saint Peter's Square, which was overflowing with young people. It was an amazing sight. Our girls were left hoarse from all their cheering for our beloved Holy Father and they even received the grace of being able to see him up close. How exciting!
Over the course of the pilgrimage, there was time for a little of everything...We visited Saint Peter's Basilica, where we visited the tomb of St. Peter and of John Paul II. We went up to the dome, climbing its 551 steps and seeing the amazing view from the top. We visited the most beautiful basilicas and churches of Rome. We went to the catacombs. We learned about the lives of many saints. We took a boat ride down the Tiber River. We visited ancient Rome, including the Coliseum and the Mamertine Prison, where St. Peter was imprisoned. We walked through Piazza Navona and Piazza Farnese and visited the Spanish Steps. The girls were about to jump into the Trevi Fountain from the Roman heat. Another important part: we are pretty sure that there isn't one flavor of the famous Italian “gelato” that our girls didn't try.
We were able to visit the Missionaries of Charity at their house of “San Gregorio,” where Mother Teresa of Calcutta would stay while in Rome. We were also able to visit the room that she stayed in while she was there. There was time for reflection as a group and times of silent prayer at the feet of Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. All of this came from the hand of Our Heavenly Mother, who was the real “tour guide” of our Roman pilgrimage and of our pilgrimage to Heaven.
They were days of grace and time to be with Jesus and with our Mother Mary, and with the Church. They were days of human and spiritual maturing, days of laughter, singing...tasting the true joy that we can only find when we are with the Lord. The Lord bestowed many blessings on us and the girls took a lot with them, each according to what they were willing to receive. And now, at home, we'll have to make the effort to hold on to all we have received and start preparing for the next Home of the Mother pilgrimage next August, when we will meet the Pope in Madrid, for World Youth Day 2011.
