Day started normally, Mass then Breakfast and then on to the Day. We decided to walk downhill to San Damiano after arranging a taxi to meet us there and transport us back uphill. San Damiano is a peaceful place, encountering a novice from Connecticut. Then we had a simple lunch and headed to the train station. After settling in to our Villa, we headed out into the Roman night and had a marvelous Cena and conversation with the Regina Pilgrims under the care of Beverly Stevens.
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It is a very small world, especially when traveling to the similar pilgrim sites, After Mass and breakfast we crossed paths with another group of clergy coming from Mass. It was the same group we had bumped into the day before in Rome. The newly ordained Fr. Cassidy Stinson joked on Twitter that he should make me his traveling secretary. This was our only full day in Assisi so we set our sights on the Tomb of St. Francis and then the tomb of St. Clare. The we headed to the top of The Hill so we could take in the whole city. On the way down the hill we stopped at the little church of St. Steven. Then of course we had a marvelous lunch, a trip to The Portiuncula, a a nap and a lovely Cena. The Day started in Orvieto where we spent some time exploring this marvelous cathedral. The we headed to what is arguably the best restaurant in the known world, Ristorante Rifugio San Gaspare. The Ladies were marveling over the Truffle Bruscheta, and the Truffle pasta. The drivers took us up the back road, a dirt road, but they got us to the top of the mountain where there is this rather unique Ristorante. The pilgrims had to photograph the open fire on which everything was prepared. Then we headed to Assisi, stopping first at the Abbey of San Felice. Not much to comment about Assisi. We all pretty much collapsed. We were pretty tired. We had done seven basilicas that day. But we were hungry and we had a few guests. Beverly Steven had arrived from London to prepare her pilgrimage and Joan Lewis was back from the USA where she received a prestigious award. So what happens when you put together two powerful women journalists in the Church. Joan Lewis of EWTN and Beverly Stevens of Regina Magazine had never met until they were paired with our group of pilgrims. I think we saw dynamite. For the the next day the pilgrims talked about how exciting it was and how privileged they were to be part of such a marvelous event.  Seven Basilicas today: St. John Lateran Santa Croce in Jerusalem San Lorenzo St. Mary Major San Sebastian St. Paul outside the Walls Tre Fontana So Eatwith.com gives you the opportunity to experience the hospitality of a local family and share in the culture and food of the local community. We had a marvelous experience in the household of Stefano. Today we spent climbing to the heights. We got in lots of exercise before a delightful pranzo On my feet from Dawn until 12:30. We went to the Pantheon. Attached myself with some very devout seminarians from the Rome Experience. We got lucky. We were the last group allowed in. So many people were left outside. In line by 8:00, Gates open at 9:00, Mass at 10;30, lasted until 12:30. Happy Pentecost! Now waiting for the pilgrims from St. Eugene. Santa Prasedde and Santa Pudenziana were the churches I started with today, a stop at San Ignazio, (on the way to San Ignazio ran into a crazed bunch of students dousing each other with whipping cream or shaving cream) and then San Luigi dei Francesi. A bottle of red wine and a plate of Carbonara and I am ready for a Nap. Meeting a friend for dinner tonight. |
Omnia Christus Est NobisChrist is everything for us! 
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AuthorI am a Roman Catholic Priest from California. I spent 13 wonderful years years as a member of the Province of the Pacific in the Missionaries of the Precious Blood. The outline of my life can be traced here. Friend's Blogs |
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