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Rome Day 2

 Sunday in Rome.  Such a magical day.  We got up early and headed to St. Peter’s Basilica.  We got in line around 8am and it took us only about 30 minutes to get through security and up to the Basilica.  On the right side we found a little chapel and stayed there to pray for a while.  They were preparing for mass at 9am but when we could hear the music out in the main basilica, we headed out there to find them celebrating mass.  We found a seat and although it was in Italian, we greatly enjoyed the beauty of mass in St Peter’s. 


After mass, we were able to see the sacristy and get holy water, and even found the crypts below where many of the more recent Popes are buried.  Seeing the tomb of Pope Benedict XVI was so moving. There were fresh flowers surrounding it and a place to kneel and pray. No pictures were allowed in the crypt.  Below is the sacristy where we were able to see all of the priests getting ready for the 10:30am mass surrounded by the sweet smell of incense.  


We were hoping to see Pope Francis for the Noon Angelus but after the Angelus bells rang and he didn’t appear I googled him and found that he was in Hungary for the weekend.  While disappointed we still enjoyed a beautiful morning at St Peter’s.  



After lunch and a much needed nap, Trent convinced me to wander out in the rain to Tres Fontane (three fountains).  There are 3 churches and an active monastery on the property nestled outside of Rome.  It was quiet due to the rain but all 3 of the churches were open, including the Church of St Paul at the Martyrdom.  This church is said to be where he was beheaded and where his head bounced three times, resulting in a fountain of a water springing up in each of the three spots it bounced (each of the shells under the arches mark the spots).  The column where he was beheaded was also in the corner of the church. 




To add to the beauty of this place, just a short walk across the street was the location of a Marian apparition in 1947. Just in front of the grotto where she appeared was an altar where they were finishing the 5pm mass when we arrived.  It was a beautiful and holy place and the perfect way to end our Sunday in Rome.



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