To our 8th grade class at St. Edward Catholic School:
Why Rome?
It is not good to take our faith for granted. Our Faith is not one thing among many things. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the central reality of our life.
Many other religions focus on a distant god. Jesus came that we could have a direct and intimate relationship with our God who is so close. Our Baptism has placed us inside this communion of life and love that is the Most Holy Trinity.
So in Rome I am able to walk where the saints walked. I am able to relax and focus again on the Faith and to renew my commitment to living the faith.
I think I once told you the story of St. Lawrence. He was a deacon. Pope Sixtus was celebrating Mass with six deacons when they were discovered by the emperor’s army. The Pope and five deacons were beheaded immediately, but Lawrence was sent to go and retrieve the wealth of the Church. He returned with the poor, the blind and the lame and said, “This is the wealth of the Church.”
The emperor was so angry he ordered Lawrence to be roasted alive on a very hot fire. He is reported to have said, “Turn me over; I am done on this side.”
Here in Rome I am able to visit Lawrence’s tomb and see the place where these things happened. I will post pictures.
At each of these stops I will be sure to pray for you, that you grow in your knowledge of the Faith and that you experience the depth and the breadth and the length of God’s love for you.
Why Rome?
It is not good to take our faith for granted. Our Faith is not one thing among many things. Our faith in Jesus Christ is the central reality of our life.
Many other religions focus on a distant god. Jesus came that we could have a direct and intimate relationship with our God who is so close. Our Baptism has placed us inside this communion of life and love that is the Most Holy Trinity.
So in Rome I am able to walk where the saints walked. I am able to relax and focus again on the Faith and to renew my commitment to living the faith.
I think I once told you the story of St. Lawrence. He was a deacon. Pope Sixtus was celebrating Mass with six deacons when they were discovered by the emperor’s army. The Pope and five deacons were beheaded immediately, but Lawrence was sent to go and retrieve the wealth of the Church. He returned with the poor, the blind and the lame and said, “This is the wealth of the Church.”
The emperor was so angry he ordered Lawrence to be roasted alive on a very hot fire. He is reported to have said, “Turn me over; I am done on this side.”
Here in Rome I am able to visit Lawrence’s tomb and see the place where these things happened. I will post pictures.
At each of these stops I will be sure to pray for you, that you grow in your knowledge of the Faith and that you experience the depth and the breadth and the length of God’s love for you.
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