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The big conference sponsored by the International Catholic Foundation in Service to the Deaf lasted two days and many of the participants have finished their travels and headed home. Others are continuing to travel, including the Hong Kong Catholic deaf group. Today they visited sites in Rome, beginning with the basilica of St. Mary Major. |
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Our group was given special permission to have a mass together in the chapel below the main altar where a relic is kept which is supposedly from the manger in which Jesus lay after his birth. It is a very small chapel and the fourteen of us just about filled it. |
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This crystal enclosure contains pieces of wood that tradition says came from the manger mentioned in the gospels at the time of Jesus' birth. Whether this wood is actually from such a manger is possible but may be unlikely given that Jesus was not recognized as a special person in the early years of his life so such memorabilia would probably not have been preserved. |
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The second stop for the day was the Holy Steps. Tradition says that these 28 stone steps were in the pretorium in Jerusalem and that Jesus walked up and down them during the events of his passion. St. Helena had them brought to Rome in 348. Today pilgrims ascend them on their knees as a sign of penance for sins. |
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The youngest member of our group was eleven-year old Wut Ka. She traveled very well and joined in the prayer in the chapel at the Holy Steps. |
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Next to the Holy Steps is the Basilica of St. John Lateran, which is the official church of the pope in his role as the Bishop of Rome. It is a beautiful and impressive building, notable for large statues of the apostles. |
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Lunch was at a Chinese restaurant within walking distance of the St. John Basilica. Hong Kong people, like most Asian travelers, find it difficult to be away from their home food for very long so most days include at least one stop for a Chinese meal. |
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Then it was back to St. Peter's Basilica because we had seen very little of the church when we had mass there yesterday. Ten years ago, on a previous pilgrimage, I baptized a Hong Kong deaf man in this fountain after he had completed his studies to become a Catholic. |
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Before we entered the basilica, most of the group bought postcards to send home as another type of souvenir and reminder of the trip. |
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The afternoon sun streaming through windows in the magnificent dome of St. Peter's often creates striking shafts of sunlight within the church. |
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We were lucky to have a very clear day with a wonderful view of Rome from the observation deck at the top of the dome of St. Peter's. |
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The statues usually seen from the square below look much different from the outside open areas at the top of the dome. The statues are quite weathered and each is fitted with a lightning rod that is invisible from below. |
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Another traditional part of the Vatican is the Swiss Guards who provide protection for the pope. Despite their medieval ceremonial uniforms, designed by Michaelangelo, they are a highly-trained and efficient police force, all recruited from Switzerland. |
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From the Vatican our group took the subway to the Trevi Fountain, one of Rome's most famous landmarks, immortalized in the movie song "Three Coins in the Fountain." Large numbers of evening tourists filled the plaza to rest at the end of a day of touring. |
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On the edge of the Trevi Fountain Plaza is this combination of a pedestrian sign and watchful angel statue on a building. Could this be one of the Guardian Angels? |
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After another Chinese meal, we headed back to the subway for the return to the hotel and the group's last night in Rome. |