Pax Christi Vobiscum!
Ciao, fratelli e surelli. I write to you from Rome, the Eternal City, almost at the end of the week here before departing for Verbania, Italy, up near the Alps. There I will begin my 4 week immersion in Italiano so that I can parla la lengua (which will be good because I think I just mixed Spanish with Italian there). I will have to know the language for my studies at the Gregorian University--where I will not only be learning new and difficult theological terms but will also be learning them in Italian.
So in a few weeks I hope to post an update in Italian...that way I can force you all to learn Italian with me, and we can all suffer together!!! In truth, I am looking forward to learning a new language and being able to relate to a people different than my own. What a blessing!
As a quick note: I will probably only be posting every week or so, unless something really big happens. That way, I will always have a lot to tell without wearing myself out on the computadora.
Now for the update:
I am becoming more and more accustomed to the fact that I wake up in Rome each day. I practically have to convince myself that this is happening...I mean, has happened. See what I mean? I am in Rome...weird. But as I realize it more and more, I thank God for the opportunity, and I try to keep Him at the forefront of my mind, because one can easily get lost in the wonders of Rome without directing thanks to the Lord.
Tuesday morning we began work on our Sojourno papers, which make us legal residents of Italia for a time. The paper work apparently changes every year, not because it has to but because some Italian bureaucrat thinks it would be fun to watch the confusion that ensues. After finishing the papers, we then had to take sesanta euro (60 euro) to the poste office to finish the deal...but that didn't happen until Wednesday.
In the mean time, I managed to get volunteered to sing and play guitar for Mass on Tuesday. So thank you, Mom, for insisting that I take my guitar right away. We had Mass in the American Martyrs Chapel of the Seminary, which is more intimate than the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, or of the Assumption, but not more than our Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, we do have 6 Chapels here on our 7 floors of space (I still haven't found the other 2). I will post pictures of the Seminary at some point.
Later that night, I decided to get out of the Seminary and head down to the Trastevere, the river near the Vatican. You can see all the traffic at the intersection and the river...behind my big ol' head.
So that's what I did that afternoon. And the next day, Mike, Jim, and I all walked around St. Peter's and some of the shops there to see some religious goods. And whoever is the nicest to me may receive a post card...fight for my love! I mean...uh....
Ciao, fratelli e surelli. I write to you from Rome, the Eternal City, almost at the end of the week here before departing for Verbania, Italy, up near the Alps. There I will begin my 4 week immersion in Italiano so that I can parla la lengua (which will be good because I think I just mixed Spanish with Italian there). I will have to know the language for my studies at the Gregorian University--where I will not only be learning new and difficult theological terms but will also be learning them in Italian.
So in a few weeks I hope to post an update in Italian...that way I can force you all to learn Italian with me, and we can all suffer together!!! In truth, I am looking forward to learning a new language and being able to relate to a people different than my own. What a blessing!
As a quick note: I will probably only be posting every week or so, unless something really big happens. That way, I will always have a lot to tell without wearing myself out on the computadora.
Now for the update:
I am becoming more and more accustomed to the fact that I wake up in Rome each day. I practically have to convince myself that this is happening...I mean, has happened. See what I mean? I am in Rome...weird. But as I realize it more and more, I thank God for the opportunity, and I try to keep Him at the forefront of my mind, because one can easily get lost in the wonders of Rome without directing thanks to the Lord.
Tuesday morning we began work on our Sojourno papers, which make us legal residents of Italia for a time. The paper work apparently changes every year, not because it has to but because some Italian bureaucrat thinks it would be fun to watch the confusion that ensues. After finishing the papers, we then had to take sesanta euro (60 euro) to the poste office to finish the deal...but that didn't happen until Wednesday.
In the mean time, I managed to get volunteered to sing and play guitar for Mass on Tuesday. So thank you, Mom, for insisting that I take my guitar right away. We had Mass in the American Martyrs Chapel of the Seminary, which is more intimate than the Chapel of the Immaculate Conception, or of the Assumption, but not more than our Chapel of the Blessed Sacrament. Yes, we do have 6 Chapels here on our 7 floors of space (I still haven't found the other 2). I will post pictures of the Seminary at some point.
Later that night, I decided to get out of the Seminary and head down to the Trastevere, the river near the Vatican. You can see all the traffic at the intersection and the river...behind my big ol' head.
So that's what I did that afternoon. And the next day, Mike, Jim, and I all walked around St. Peter's and some of the shops there to see some religious goods. And whoever is the nicest to me may receive a post card...fight for my love! I mean...uh....
Oh, and today was no big deal. We went to the beach. So that's about it...oh, wait, you want to know more about the beach? Okay, I guess I could tell you about that. Basically, we hopped on a train an hour north to Santa Severe (S-on-taw Say-vair-ray), jumped off, walked over, and plopped down in the sand. It was pretty nice, and the water was crystal clear. Personally I wanted to stay inside all day and kneel, but, under obedience, I went to the beach.
Well, that's it for now. Time to apply some Aloe Vera and then go pray in Adoration. I hope that I get a Son burn there too.
God bless, and you are in my prayers!!!
(And sorry Scott Hahn for stealing your title...)
4 comments:
Wow, Paul, this blogging stuff is great. It's almost like being there with you. Keep the puns coming. You are gifted in so many ways. Lots of love to you.
Thanks, Ann. It's been fun to work on this. And thank you everyone for checking up on me. It's going well. But please keep me in prayer, and know that you all are in mine. God bless!
Paul, it's great to be able to visit Rome with you! Didn't see any Vespas in the pictures. And I hope we don't see you on one!! Bless you and we keep you in our prayers. Love from all of us.
Paolo--You are a blessing! I hope you don't mind--I shared your blog with the girls and some co-workers--they all love it! I am a little concerned about your threat/promise to publish in italian--if you talk about anything other than food, I am toast! Love and prayers from all--Linda
Post a Comment