The Pilgrims' Progress Day 2

Our pilgrim way today was a day of privilege. We began by walking over the Esquiline Hill to the Basilica of Santa Prassade which had some mosaics created by Pope Paschal I in the 800's based on the Book of Revelations.

Having marvelled at them, we continued to an even more beautiful church, San Alfonso. There was a tranquility and quiet splendour there - a beautiful setting for our Mass at 10am. This is the titular church of Archbishop Vincent Nichols and we felt a special affinity with our home country at the time of sadness over the death of the Holy Father. Fr Peter and Deacon John were in great voice in this magnificent acoustic leading us to sing at various parts of the Mass. The church also houses the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour - it's worth looking up the history of that icon - and we finished with the beautiful plain chant "Regina Coeli" to fill the space.

From there we visited the Basilica of St Mary Major, where Pope Francis used to come and pray. Of course it was announced that he will be buried there this coming weekend, so we had the added privilege of being there in person today. We made our pilgrim way through the Holy Door there, after airport-style security, and drank in the splendour of the church. The staff and volunteers both here and at St Peter's will be well and truly tested in the coming days as will the shops and cafés, hotels, restaurants, transport etc.

After some free time for lunch, for us another journey, another coach. The coach company is under real pressure this week, organising the logistics for suddenly needing to transport people all over. We arrived alongside the River Tiber and made our way to the beginning of that splendid vista up to St Peter's, the Via Conciliazione. We gathered behind a special pilgrim cross that James carried and processed in prayer right up into St Peter's. What a beautiful way to enter the Basilica.

We have done so much - and we're only at Day 2.
(Many pilgrims are finding they're getting more than their usual steps in - by lunchtime!!)

Anne-Marie




St Mary Major


San Alphonso













Evening at the Colosseum the night before 21.4.25


Evening at the Colosseum the night before 21.4.25



Comments

  1. Clair23 April 2025 at 00:54

    Wow 🤩, day two was action packed ! Loving the blue sky and sunshine as you walk together ! 🙏🏻

    ReplyDelete

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