Pasqua a Roma: Easter in Rome

This is it. Really, the moment has arrived and it snuck up on me like a deer hiding among the trees when I drive along the highway. Except, unlike a deer who could stop dead in its tracks, Easter in Rome would come and go whether I chose to participate or not.

Thankfully, I jumped in with both feet. Holy Week started with Palm Sunday Mass in Lourdes, France. Shout-out to Our Lady of Lourdes – this gem of France is worthy of its own post! We made it safely back to Rome and were into the swing of things by the time Monday rolled around. We were done with classes on Wednesday, and at that point it still hadn't really hit me that the climax of my semester abroad was quickly approaching. It still hadn't really hit me that this is precisely the reason why I, along with so many of my peers, chose the Spring Semester Rome Program. And it still hadn't really hit me that we were going to have the privilege of celebrating Mass with the Pope. Mass with the Pope!

Honestly, I was nervous at first. My first and only Papal event that included tickets was a Wednesday General Audience, in which Papa Francesco greets the general public and gives a little Catholic “pep-talk” so to speak. Anyway, the crowds can get pretty forceful – I mean people shove so hard that you barely have to move a muscle. Needless to say, Papal events have the least crowd control I've ever experienced. But like I said, Holy Week would come and go whether I decided to take the opportunity or leave it.

Come Thursday morning’s Chrism Mass, the plan was to leave campus at 7:00 so that we could be in line at St. Peter’s Square by 8:00. We spent our time in line building community by devising a plan to prevent others from budging us in line. This was serious business because we witnessed three people casually budge in front of our group! So we stuck close together and I called it “closing the gaps.” We made our way inside St. Peter’s Basilica and found a seat, constantly sitting down and standing up as the crowd thought that the Holy Father was processing in. Turns out that 1) it was still an hour before Mass, and 2) every time the choir sang it was to accompany the 3,000 priests as they processed in. Eventually Papa Francesco did process in, and it was beautiful. Him and his altar servers were the presence of peace in the midst of the crowd of photo-snapping civilians. 

Of course, the Mass was awe-inspiring. It was yet another opportunity to make me stop and question, “Why me?” Witnessing the year’s blessing of the Chrism Oils and witnessing the priests renew their priestly vows was pretty great. Receiving Jesus Christ in the Eucharist inside of St. Peter’s was a moment I’ll never forget.

There are so many spiritual traditions within the Catholic Church. My new favorite has to be visiting the Altars of Repose after Holy Thursday Mass. One of our Rome Campus Ministry chaplains, Fr. Samson, invited us to Holy Thursday Mass at his residence, Casa Santa Maria, in the smallest, most elegant chapel. Following Mass, we had enjoyed dinner together at a restaurant along the way to our first chapel. We then visited seven churches to make the pilgrimage for the intentions of the Holy Father. We visited Jesus present in the beautiful altars of repose. Father told us that we didn’t have to necessarily say anything to Our Lord, He just asks us – as He did the Apostles that holy night of Agony – to “stay here and keep watch with Me.” And as a side-note: Plenary Indulgence bonus for the win! J

 It feels strange for me to say that this pilgrimage was the highlight of my Holy Week, my “Easter in Rome.” After all, if Easter Mass with the Pope was the primary reason for my being here and now, how could this unexpected and unplanned event make the top of my list?

But then again, this whole semester has been full of ways that God flipped around my expectations to open my eyes and my heart to my true desires. I have a Confession to make, though: I didn't stay for Mass at St. Peter’s on Sunday morning. I dodged out of the down-pouring rain to make it over to the English-speaking Mass at Santo Spiritu. With every tap of the key in that sentence, I can hear the gasps of my family and friends: “Why did you leave the Easter Mass with the Pope?!”

(My favorite altar at the chapel of the Bridgettine Sisters)

My heart was telling me that I wanted to fully participate in the Easter celebration. Christ has risen from the dead and if he hadn't, I wouldn't be here at all! I give props to the others in my group who were real troopers and were able to witness the beautiful Easter Mass at St. Peter’s.

If I can redeem myself, I did make sure to hear the Urbi et Orbi** and receive Papa’s special Easter blessing. Counts for something, right? 

On a final note, I am truly grateful that the Lord taught me how to celebrate with my Rome family – in our little home away from home, as a community of laughter and love.

Lord, open my eyes and my heart to see the abundant blessings of Your infinite love.

**Check out the rare blessing that the Holy Father gives only twice a year (Easter & Christmas) - he spoke passionately about the need to pray for the persecuted Christians.