The Pope's Chair, Some Holy Stairs, Relics of the Passion, and Missionaries of Charity

Today we returned from a weekend break from official J-Term activities. We had the weekend to explore on our own. Some stayed in the Eternal City while others traveled outside the gates to other areas of Italy.

Today we were treated to celebrate Mass at St. John Lateran's Basilica -- the Pope's cathedral, e.g., where his bishop's chair resides -- and have a small look around the building. St. John Lateran is not a person, St. John is (as in St. John the Baptist and St. John the Evangelist, to whom the basilica is dedicated), but the "Lateran" part refers not to a person but to a place. The basilica is built in an area called Lateran, thus the addition of that part to the name of the basilica.

Afterwards, we crossed the street to Santa Sanctorum -- the Pope's private chapel -- where the Scala Santa (the "holy steps") are located. Tradition states that S. Helena brought the steps -- from the praetorium where Jesus had his trial with Pontius Pilate -- from Jerusalem to Rome. Those who enter the building and desire to ascend the steps must do so on their knees, which several of us did. To protect the very old stone steps, they are now covered with wood. Afterwards, we make a short trek to San Croce in Gerusalemme (the Holy Cross in Jerusalem), where some relics of the Passion are located: wood from the Cross, a nail, a pair of thorns, the inscription, among others. When we entered the building, the nave was being worked on, so it seems they were either repairing or refurbishing something in the main part of the building.

In the afternoon, we were treated to a visit to the Missionaries of Charity (MC) house in Rome. We were greeted by Sister Victoria, who graciously spoke with us for around an hour, recalling some stories of her time with Bl. Mother Teresa, with whom she lived and worked for a time. She is celebrating 50 years an MC this year. She related a previous message Mother Teresa gave to seminarians who visited her: "be holy" -- that was it. Sister was very hospitable and well-spoken.

Post by Dn. Grant Gerlach. Note: I did not have access to pictures for this post. If and when I do, I'll post them later.