Roaming to Rome

It was just yesterday. My son was 13 and going to Rome as part of his Regnum Christi boy’s club. My wife decided thought it would be good for us to go, too. So the two of us, accompanied by our six-year-old daughter, decided to go to Rome for Pentecost and a great meeting of the lay movements.

In reality, yesterday was 15 years ago. The son is a grown man, living in Ireland and engaged to marry a beautiful Irish woman with red hair, freckles, blue eyes and a lovely, lilting Irish accent.

The daughter graduated from college yesterday. She majored is metals, a fairly specialized niche in the art department.

And the wife still puts up with me (most of the time). Absent her patience and love I would not be Catholic.

Today (really today), I’m on my way to Rome again. I’m traveling alone, on business for the Legion of Christ and Regnum Christi. But the timing is excellent; I’ll be in St Peter’s Square on Pentecost, listening to the words of the Holy Father. In between business meetings, I’ll visit friends and drink cappuccino and savor gelato. Rome is a wonderful place for Catholics and people with an appetite.

That first Pentecost visit was my first time in Rome. I’ve been blessed to be there several times since then, either on business or pleasure supported by frequent-flyer miles. I’ve visited most of the major attractions, churches, museums and places of pilgrimage. But it doesn’t weary me in the least.

Sometime in the next few days, I’ll walk into St. Peter’s Square and stand looking at the basilica. I’ll feel a little shiver sneak through my heart, even if the day is warm. I’ll get a few goose bumps and feel the hair on the back of my neck. I’ll sense the slightest threat of a tear in my eye, but I’ll man up and resist actual crying.

I know that God dwells in every consecrated host in every tabernacle in every corner of the world. But in Rome, He is easier for me to feel, easier for me to connect with, harder for me to ignore.

God’s breath seems to swirl around the plaza, beseeching me to listen. Jim, God loves you and wants you to be his servant. He wants you to be true to your faith and share it with others. He gives you His Revelation, His Son, His Holy Catholic Church, the Holy Father, faith, tradition and the millions of faithful to accompany you on your journey.

Yes, God is good. And His good is everywhere. But for the weak and doubting like me, a visit to Rome makes the good easy to touch.

NOTE:  I’ll be posting more reflections on Rome over the next few days, assuming I don’t go into gelato shock.