It is now more than a month since
I returned from my visit to Italy, where I had some wonderful moments (even
though my visit was organized for me to go to a pharmacy conference)! I
had been saddened that the conference clashed with the Passionist Pilgrimage,
which I would have loved to join. So, after leaving the conference I began
my journey to Rome.
I had a sense that this was the beginning
of my own private pilgrimage, and it really started the night before when
I had been deeply moved by witnessing the simple faith and celebrations
of the local community of Ischia as they celebrated the feast of their
St Restituta!
From that first day in Rome when I went
to St Peters, and then to the Vatican Museums and the Sistine Chapel, I
sensed that I wanted to be present in these holy places rather than to
get the detailed explanations of who made what etc- knowing that I could
read that at a later time. This trip to the Vatican was rather challenging
for this Aus. cynic! I was gob-smacked! I had such a sense of the
holiness of the place, of the holiness and love of God of all those who
had created such beautiful works of art- it seems to me that to be able
to create them they had/have to be deeply connected to the love of God
from that place deep within themselves.
I had very little free time in Rome, but
was determined to utilise it and follow my dream of going to the Basilica
of St Maria Maggiore, to visit the Icon of St Maria at Nives, in front
of which St Paul of the Cross made his first vow. The vow that we were
invited to make in front of a copy of the Icon, in the chapel at Templestowe
at the end of the 2002 Institute!
Late on a Friday afternoon I set out on
this important part of my journey, - before the church closed for the day.
Gary Perritt had given me clear directions as to where to find the Icon.
The Icon is very large and very beautiful. In my simple mind I had created
a picture of St Paul of the Cross going into a very simple chapel- with
the Icon just sitting on a plain wall above a simple altar--what naivety!!!
In true Italian style, the walls and ceiling of the chapel were covered
with colored marble pillars, multiple statues of previous Popes, frescoes,
paintings, and surrounding the Icon were 4 lifesize golden angels with
two golden cherubs watching over it!!
I stayed a while in the chapel, there were
quite a lot of people there, and soon they started saying the rosary, and
then this was followed by Mass. I felt that somehow I had been gifted in
being present in this very special place, and in my own simple way I had
the opportunity to renew/refresh my own vow in front of this beautiful
Icon!
I was looking forward to my final day
in Rome, as Jeff Foale had so kindly agreed to show me around the Passionist
Monastery and Basilica. I planned to attend the Sunday am Mass there, and
much to my delight, Mass was held in the chapel of St Paul of the Cross
as there was a wedding in the church! After Mass, Jeff took me into
the monastery and into the room and private chapel of St Paul of the Cross:
I find it difficult to express the deep feelings I had in being in this
special and holy place. We also wandered through the beautiful grounds
of the monastery, surely an oasis in the city of Rome.
I have been deeply moved by the wonderful
gift that was given me during what could have been a very secular holiday,
and in some ways it was, but I had a real sense that I journeyed on my
own private pilgrimage to these holy places. After I returned I was
asked by Brian Traynor as to how I felt after this journey, and I said
I had a great sense of coming home, and he commented that that had been
said by many on the Passionist Pilgrimage. In some ways it is almost impossible
to verbalise/express these deep feelings - there was such a deep sense
of peace, of wonder, of joy, of appreciation of the beautiful places and
art created by so many out of their love of God, and of being loved and
gifted by God.
I am so grateful that I had this opportunity.
Jacqui McInerney
Brisbane
July 2003
