Returning to the college, I practiced for a while. The third movement of the Mozart Trio for clarinet, viola and piano is giving me a bit trouble. There are some very tricky passages that will require a lot of slow practice for me to learn well. I will get there.
At 5:30, Saturday, there was a presentation given by Fr. Robert Barron. Look up on line for the website for "Word on Fire". It is a wonderful website about the scriptures with commentary, explanations, and beautiful reflections. Fr. Barron is a terrific theologian, and evangelist who is from the Archdiocese of Chicago where he televises his gospel teachings on television and on podcast. He was showing the 6th segment of his 10 part video series called "The Catholicism Project". It will air on the PBS stations in the Chicago area in the Fall. The 10 video segments will be available for purchase in September. After seeing his program number 6, The Church, I intend to purchase this series for showing at St. John Neumann.
Sunday, I concelebreted Mass at the college chapel. Fr. Wall joined us and Deacon Riley and I went for lunch again with Fr. Wall. After lunch, I returned to the college and prepared to attend a lecture given by Fr. Barron. The talk had a very provacative title; "St. Thomas Aquinas and why the modern atheists are right." Fr. Barron began by sharing about conversations he has had with atheists who refuse to believe in an angry, vengeful, malicious, manipulative God. Fr. Barron says he responds, "you are absolutely right. I don't in belive in that God either." His presentation went on to discuss how we as Christians have to talk about God if we are going give true witness to our faith.
After the lecture presentation, I went out for supper with Fr. Michael Clarke of Owensboro KY, and Fr. Stan Klasinski of Cleveland OH. It was a beautiful evening and we were able to sit outside and dine "al fresco". It was a great dinner especially since we spent most of our time discussing Fr. Barron's talk.
Monday morning included a trip to St. Paul's Outside the Walls. This is the 4th major basilica which is part of the Vatican City. This one was built outside the ancient city walls of Rome at the Place where St. Paul, the apostle to the Gentiles, was martyred and buried. This is both the most ancient and modern at the same time. Modern because the present basilica is a reproduction of the ancient basilica which was destroyed by a fire in 1855, It is the most ancient because the original church built by Constantine was replicated after the fire. Of all the basilicas, this one give us the best idea of what a Constantinian church would have looked like. It shows us how the early christians conceived of the space of a church. A popular religion of the 1st century was the cult of Mithras. They worshiped in small spaces which held about 20 to 30 people. There was also the idea of imitating the pagan temples but these places were not open to the public. There was never any place for a community to gather. All the worship took place outside the temples. The temples were built only to hold the statue or image of the god. At the same time, the Romans were building huge basilicas as gathering spaces, markets, and political arenas. This was the model used for the early christian churches when it was legal to build public spaces as christianity was decriminalized. The long walk up the nave leads one to the altar which is always more beautifully decorated. It is supposed to provide the worshipper with a vision of heaven and the heavenly banquet.
St. Paul's includes an enormous narthex. The narthex is a place designed to provide a transition from the outside world into the holy space of the church. It is envisioned as the place where the community leaves the concerns of the world outside. The world is left outside and one enters into a place that begins one's focus on the sacred action about to take place. I was so glad that Liz Lev used the word narthex. She articulated it so well. I am glad to be able to share that with you who also pass through a narthex on your way to worship.
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| The facade of St. Paul's Outside the Walls from the narthex. The magnificent mosaics across the front of the basilica duplicate the originals before the fire. This narthex is an open space encircled by the columns. The large statue of St. Paul stands in the center. |
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| A view of the narthex from the colonade across the front of the basilica. |
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| The front porch with the bronze doors at the entrance of the church. Liz Lev is explaining the history of the 13th century doors which survived the fire of 1855 |
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| A view of the nave from the rear of the church. There are four more aisles, two on each side of the columns you see. |
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| The 18 foot tall, 4 ton pascal candle stand. It holds a candle weighing 300 pounds of wax. The scenes around the candle depict, the story of creation, the story of the prophets, the story of Jesus' life, and scenes of the resurrection. Notice the round medalions running above the arches of the nace. Each one of these is a mosaic of one of the popes. For a number of years, during the papacy of Pope John Paul II, there were only three medalions remaining. A popular story developed by tour guides with less than adequate knowledge that when the remaining three medalions were filled, it would signal the end of the world. Since I last saw St. Paul's Outside the Walls about 3 years ago, 10 more medalions were added to squelch the overactive imaginations of these guides. |
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| The 12th century mosaic in the apse, above the altar. This is the only portion of the roof and walls that survided the catastrophic fire. The mosaic needed restoration but was essentially intact. |
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| A wonderful holy water font showing a child accepting the blessing of the water and the devil being rejected. |
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| The Benedictine Order has staffed the basilica for 1200 years. One of the most beautiful cloisters in the city of Rome. The columns holding up the roof around the cloister are all different. This is to emphasize the diversity of the community which makes up the church. It is a 12th century construction which still speaks a powerful message in the 21st century. We are to celebrate our diversity and not attempt to make all christians be the same. |
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| Detail of the mosaics applied to some of the columns of the cloister. |
We returned to the seminary. After lunch, Fr. Barron gave another lecture. He spoke about the Books of Samuel and the pigure of King David as a model for priesthood. It was a lively lecture with a thought-provoking subject. David was man of great contrasts. At the same time a sinner and a holy man. Fr. Barron reflected on David as a listener. In spit of his great sins, David continued to ask the question of God, "What do you want of me". This is why in the book of Chronicles, Yahweh can say, "David is a man after my own heart." David was not perfect, but he was in tune with God in his life. This is what can be held up as a model for priesthood.
I am going to get to bed now. It has to be another early morning. I am going to St. Peter's to concelebrate Mass at 8:00am with Fr. Joe Porpiglia of Buffalo NY. He is celebrating his 25th anniversary of ordination tomorrow. I'm sure there will be pictures.
Good night.
