Sixteen pilgrims set out on Monday afternoon on June 9th. It was such a relief not to have to get the 7.30am flight to Rome from Newcastle but to go at the more civilized time of 4.30pm. Some of the group had never been to Rome before. From Tuesday to Saturday lunchtime we visited the main places of pilgrimage led by Anthony Coles our excellent guide. We also visited many places which were more off the beaten track. Although I`ve been to Rome many times I`d never seen the church of Santa Maria della Navicella or the basilica of SS John and Paul. Each day we had Mass in an interesting place. On the first day it was the church of San Gregorio on the Caelian hill, on the second in the church of St Alphonso with the icon of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour, on Thursday in the basilica of St Paul`s outside the Walls,
on Friday in the Irish chapel in the crypt of St Peter`s and on Saturday at the catacombs of St Callixtus. We arrived at Palazzola (seen here from Castel Gandolfo)
for lunch on Saturday and spent the next two nights there visiting Castel Gandolfo on the Sunday afternoon as well as going to Genzano 
for the Corpus Christi festival when a street is covered with floral designs over which the Blessed Sacrament procession moves. While many of the designs were religious I was a little surprised to see that the design at the top of the hill was a tribute to Gustav Klimt! On Monday we left for Subiaco (erstwhile home of St Benedict and Gina Lollabrigida!) and Tivoli before flying back to Newcastle in the evening. While we did not have a Mass in the Extraordinary Form we had on one day the Kyrie and Agnus Dei and the next the Sanctus to Missa de Angelis or Orbis Factor led by a member of the schola. We also had a plainchant antiphon relevant to the feast we or place each day at the offertory. It must be said that in may of the churches in which we had Mass the Benedictine revolution has not caught on. In one we had the two candles at one end of the altar and a bunch of flowers at the other but that was topped by an altar that had the two candles at one end and a collection basket at the other!On Wednesday we got to St Peter`s square at 8.30am for the papal audience at 10.30 to ensure we got to a good position.
Everyone seems to have enjoyed it very much and I hope we will go on pilgrimage again next year. I`d like to go back to Santiago, following the route through Burgos and Leon but I`ve never been to the Holy Land so we may go there.
As one member of the group had his video camera with him we hope to have a social night in the parish soon to watch the film.
6 comments:
Ad orientem!
My jealousy levels just went through the roof...
Awesome street carpet in Genzano for the Eucharistic procession. What happy devotion.
A fascinating account.
It doesn't matter how many pilgrimages you make to Rome, there are always places you've never been, and new (or rather very old) sights to see.
When I was living in Italy as a student of art and architecture, (many years ago,) I found it very difficult to keep to my chosen period, the early Renaissance. There was too much else to see !
And in Rome itself, which is a veritable palimpsest of periods when you look beneath the surface, it is impossible not to be distracted by this church here, and that pallazo there, from ancient times to the late Baroque !
Your photo shows Lake Albano looking perfect in the Italian sunshine. I think I know where Pallazola is. It's just down the hill from the village of Rocca di Papa, isn't it ?
The pilgrims appear to be lunching al fresco in the gardens of the villa. Very civilised !
I love the Alban hills, and the deep, still lakes of Albano and Nemi, with the dark, mysterious woods on the slopes above. Best seen in the soft light of autumn, I think !
Oh dear. Now, I'd like to visit them again !
Thanks for the memory !
As a member of this pilgrimage it was my first visit to Rome our guide Anthony Cole informed us of the history of some of the most beautiful buildings I have ever seen he was an absolute fountain of knowledge. We celebrated some wonderful Masses in outstanding surroundings each person having a part to play be it reading, singing or as a Eucharistic Minister we all joined Father Brown in celebrating daily Mass. Our final few days were spent at the Villa Pallazola with it stupendous views over the lake to Castell Gandolfo where we were able to relax before our journey home. Many new friendships were made during the pilgrimage and I look forward to the next one Father Brown will hopefully arrange. We are so lucky to have you as our parish priest Father Brown thanks for all you do.
Dr Wright what a marvellous thing it must have been to have been sent to study the art and architecture of the early Renassinace in Italy! You are correct about the location of Palazzola. It is a beautiful place and we were there only two days: not even time to take advantage of the swimming pool.
Thank you Fr for organising the pilgrimage to Rome. We had a spiritual, cultural, historical, informative, educational, social, wonderful experience. We are so pleased we were able to be part of it. We have been musing on it ever since we returned, there were so many precious moments. If you are organising for next year, please put us on your list. We agree with the fellow pilgrim, we are lucky to have you as our Parish Priest and appreciate all the work that you do.
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