Our parishioner, Svea Fraser, is in Rome with the Discerning Deacons/CEAMA Pilgrims and will be sending us updates from their journey!
Early in the morning we went to the Basilica of St. Mary Major.
The Basilica ties its origins to a miracle that occurred in the fourth century: a snowfall on August 5 in Rome—a sign revealed to Pope Liberius in a dream. To commemorate that event every year on that date a snowfall of white rose petals cascades down over the altar. It felt dreamlike to be here! We had a special opportunity to celebrate Mass in one of the side chapels. Our two priests presided with their backs to us, tucked into that side altar in a church with snowfalls, Bernini statues, marbled mosaics and a relic from the nativity crib!
In the afternoon, Discerning Deacons and CEAMA (Amazonian Ecclesial Conference) hosted a panel in Pope Pius XI Hall. Four women from our group spoke passionately on the urgency of action in every part of the globe where the earth and its people are suffering. Each spoke about their personal experiences where the people and the earth are bleeding the most, and whose wounds will soon be everyone’s if ignored. Synod member Cardinal Barretto was on the panel and was visibly moved.
At the end we all stood and held hands as Sr. Laura Vicuna led us in song. Although I didn’t understand the words the electricity of love and commitment flowed through our connected hands. This is not the place to give the details that this panel so worthily deserves, but the energy of the moment lifted our hopes and commitment to the journey.
Unlike yesterday, this evening brought some gladness to all of us. Here is what was reported from one of our pilgrims who had asked the Cardinal to give one of our T-shirts to the Pope: “For every Francis, a Clare.”
“We just ran into Cardinal Barretto, who confirmed that he gave Pope Francis the T-shirt, and Pope Francis made this face 🙂 and it was captured by the official Vatican photographers and will be available tomorrow on their page. The Holy Spirit is at work.”
Little steps. Little joys.
Svea
To view all the posts in this series please visit our Synod page.