Linking Past to Future

(Fr. Craig speaking Fr. Guiliano after the morning conference.)

Fr Craig Larkin, SM (Vicar General) spent some time with us this morning trying to help us link the past to the future. This renewal is supposed to be more than a simple exercise in historical study of our Marist foundations. It should have some affect in my life. Our morning of recollection gave us a chance to think about how to link the past to when we each get back to our communities. In other words, am I being useful to the Society of Mary, was the question for reflection.

The question was a bit unnerving to think about and answer. It goes deeper than: Have I been doing good ministry for the Church? It reaches the core of my identity as a Marist. In other words, I was asked if I have advanced the work of Mary in our world?

One fleeting thought I had was -- this is not a question for me to answer. It's a question my brothers in the Society of Mary have to answer for me. I'll continue to ponder the question. But I'm grateful that it was put to me so directly. I'm sure it will stay with me.

(Our period of recollection ended with
Mass in the General House Chapel.)

Late this afternoon, a couple of us will do the tourist thing and spend some time wandering around the piazzas of Rome. Hopefully, the heat won't melt us. And since Fr. Ron will be with us we'll eventually end up looking for a supper of light Roman pizza (and probably a glass or two of vino rossa).



(Dinner at the General House -- after the morning of recollection.)

Basilicas

(Fr. Tim Costello orienting us for a visit to St. Mary Major.)


The weather here is nothing like SLO! It is really hot these days. This means getting around is not as pleasant as I hoped. But we are surviving and trying to do things earlier in the day.

This morning we visited two of the major Basilicas in Rome -- St. John Lateran and St Mary Major. The other two are St. Paul outside the walls of Rome and St Peter's in the Vatican. Both Basilicas we visited today are large. Being their earlier in the day meant the crowds were smaller and so spending a few moments in quiet prayer in each of these places was very possible.


(St. John Lateran Church -- Cathedral of Rome -- Pope's Church as Bishop of Rome.)

While neither of these places hold special interest in our Marist heritage, we do know that Fr. Colin, just like any other Catholic in Rome, would have visited these special places. He and his companions would have been impressed with these buildings. They are more ornate than the simple Churches of the Bugey mountains. I wonder whether Fr. Colin preferred the smaller, simpler churches he preached in? My guess is that while being impressed, he would have preferred the smaller and simpler.

(Ceiling of St. John's. Yes, it's painted with real gold. Very ornate and perhpas a bit over the top.)

Our small chapel at the Newman Center is nothing like these places physically. But when filled with you guys speaks volumes about FAITH.

The Missions of Oceania

What gave these first Marists the courage to go to Oceania? They went without knowing exactly where they were going, and they didn't really know much about the area. They certainly didn't know the language! There was no way to Google information to prepare for what might be waiting for them. And yet, they went! They were inspired by people like St. Francis Xavier and other missionaries who brought the Gospel to distant lands. They were drawn by the Holy Spirit and fired by Mary's YES to bring the Word into the world. Amazing when you think about it!

(Picture of Bishop Pompallier in the sacristy of IC Church.)

That first group of Marists included Bishop Pompallier, who was connected to the Marists from early on. He was consecrated Bishop in a Church right near the offices of the Propagation of the Faith, which was the congregation in Rome in charge of the foreign missions. The name of the Church is Immaculate Conception.

Fr. Kevin Stewart Presided at our Mass there this morning remembering all those who went with Pompallier on that journey. We remembered that our brothers from that moment, frequently in great danger, spread the faith to Oceania by their presence. In word and in deed they lived the Gospel. We try to live up to their courage in our own time in our own mission fields. Not an easy thing to do!



(Kevin Stewart, SM celebrating Mass at Immaculate Conception Church.)



The day ended with a 'book launch' here at the General House (my first). Fr. Charles Girard, SM edited a 9 Volume Book of letters that the Marist missionaries from Oceania sent back to France. nfortunately, it's in French so I'm not able to read it. But Fr. Greiler edited a companion book in English to go along with Charlie's work. The books were being promoted here in Rome today. Fr. Girard and Fr. Greiler ought to be proud of their accomplishments -- we're all proud of them and their dedication to researching our Marist heritage and making it come alive for us.


(We also did a quick visit to the Spanish steps in Rome on the way back.)

Tour of Archives For The Society of Mary

Today we were given a tour by Fr. Alois Grieler, SM of the Archives of the Society of Mary which are here in the General House. Sounds pretty boring doesn't it? Well........

• Today I held in my hand Bishop Epalle's ring -- he was martyred in Oceania.

• Today I saw and touched St. Peter Chanel's diary -- stained with his own blood. St. Peter Chanel is the Proto-Martyr of Oceania.

• Today I saw Fr. Mayet's notebooks filled with the words of our Founder. During his lifetime Fr. Mayet took thousands of pages of notes on the words of Fr. Colin to his brothers in the Society of Mary and beyond.

(One of Fr. Mayet's Notebooks.)

• Today I saw the signatures of the first Marists who took vows in 1836. The signers included Colin, Champagnat, Chanel, Favre, Declas, Seon, Teraillon, Bret, Maitrepierre, and more,

(Signatures of the Marists on the first retreat
after Papal Approval 1836)

• Today, I saw a drawing by a Marist Missionary who experienced being attacked by local peoples in Oceania. It was the same attack that Bishop Epalle received a mortal wound.
  

(The above picture, while not clear, is the attack on Epalle and his group.)

To say the least the tour was exciting. The experience was one of seeing family heirlooms. Fr. Grieler reminded us that these are our treasures and he's right. It was a moving afternoon. I would venture a guess that all of us were moved at some level of our hearts. Our story as Marists is one to be proud of. We stand on the shoulders of men -- young and old -- who were courageous believers. They wanted to share Christ and the Gospel with the world and that did so at great cost. The living Gospel!

Fr. Bernd Leaves Us

Tomorrow Fr. Bernd, who has been accompanying us on this journey heads back to La Neyliere. He leaves us in the capable hands of another Marist, Fr. Tim Costello. Tim handles the Rome part of the renewal. It will be sad to see Bernd go. He's made the pilgrimage a wonderful experience.

(Au revoir, Bernd!)

Today could be called Jesuit Day on the renewal. We spent the day focusing on the influence that the Jesuits had on Fr. Colin. It was interesting for me because this is not something that I was very familiar with in our history. I didn't know that Fr. Colin had shown a revised text of the Marist rule to Fr. Rosaven, an assistant General for the Jesuits, for advice. I didn't know that he found the Jesuit Consititutions (in the Casanatense Library) while in Rome on his first journey and that he used its structure to help form ours. I didn't know that Fr. Colin celebrated Mass at the altar of St. Aloysius (a Jesuit saint) in the Church of St. Ignatius. Even the Jesuit Superior General, Fr. Roothan, went out of his way to welcome Jean Claude to Rome on his second journey in 1842.

To say the least I learned a great deal today.

The highlight of the day was sitting in the room where St. Ignatuis died -- now a chapel. We prayed together in that place both in thanksgiving for this Jesuit influence, and for the charism that we possess as Marists.

(Room where St. Ignatius Loyola died.)

I also thanked St. Ignatius for the education I received at Loyola New Orleans.



(Painting of the death of St. Ignatius surrounded by his brothers. I don't know who painted it, but I'm sure it was someone famous!)

Colin's First Journey to Rome

Imagine a simple country priest like Jean Claude Colin going to Rome to try to meet with the Pope! Now that takes some courage (guts). But he was convinced that he needed to put before the Pope Gregory XVI the full scope of the Society of Mary. He did this in 1833 along with Frs. Chanel (who would later be martyred in Oceania. This particular journey was not exactly success, but it does show the determined desire to do what he believed the Blessed Mother wanted him to do -- start the Society of Mary.


(Church of the Holy Apostles -- the building to left of the statues on roof is the Conventual Friary where Colin stayed for 3 months while in Rome in 1833)

So, today we walked this first Rome journey of Fr. Colin. We visited the Church of the Holy Apostles (which contain relics of Sts. James and Phillip) which is run by the Conventual Friars who offered Colin hospitality for 3 months after Frs. Chanel Bourdin returned to France. It's a huge Church by our standards for sure. Our hoped for Chapel at Newman won't be anything near as big!

We stood outside the Palace of the Odescalchi family where Jean Claude Colin met with Cardinal Odescalchi who was Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Bishops and Regulars. This Cardinal eventually handed over the matter of the Society of Mary to Cardinal Castracane. The Odescalchi family still lives in this behemoth of a place.

(Shrine of Madonna dell'Archetto at which Colin frequently prayed.)

We also visited a little street shrine to Our Lady. A Shrine Fr. Colin passed frequently and stopped to prayer before regularly. These little shrines are all over Rome and all over France as well. They are called 'Madonnellas' - little Madonnas.

The final stop on the pilgrimage was for Mass in the Jesuit Novitiate Chapel -- the Chapel is really a small Church. This place holds significance for Marists because here at one of the side altars Fr. Colin said Mass several times in the month of November 1833. It was one of his favorite places. It's also the place where Jesuit Sts. Robert Bellarmine and Aloysius Gonzaga were Jesuit Novices. The Chapel is officially called -- Church of St. Andrea Al Quirinale -- because it is dedicated to St. Andrew and is located near the Quirinal Palace which was home to the Pope for some time. It was this palace, and not St. Peter's, where Colin met Pope Gregory XVI on September28, 1833.

(The side altar at which Fr. Colin said Mass a number of times while in Rome -- St. Adrea al Quirinale. We closed our Mass at the side altar.)


It was a pretty full day and one I enjoyed greatly. Of course, we also ate our meals at the General House with all brothers.

Roma

Yes, I know, I didn't post anything yesterday (Saturday). By the time we got to the General House, met the community, had something to eat, and then enjoyed an evening beverage it was way too late for me. Sorry about that!

But we did arrive safely -- Easy Jet was a no frills airline, but the view over the Alps was wonderful. I can only imagine what it would have been like on a train. But flying was a bit cheaper.


(The man in the dark blue shirt is Fr. Jan Hulshoff, SM. He is our Superior General -- just finishing his eight year term.)


Today, after Mass, we took care of 'house business' -- getting the low down on the run of things here. Incidental things were explained, like how to post things, who to go to with questions and problems, computer things, were the laundry machines were, how meals work, etc. We also spent some quality time in the early evening sharing with the community here in Rome about ourselves and our ministries. Again, I was impressed by the sheer diversity of what we do and who we are.


(Thanks to Fr Craig Larkin, SM we found a nice quiet place to share a meal.)


In addition to those highlights today was also a 'Matt Gonzalez' day. We were fortunate enough to be able to meet for a meal with his friend Fatima, who is on her way back to the states after her time studying in Florence. Both she and Matt were involved with a group of Catholic students who met in Florence to support each other in their spiritual growth -- sounds like Newman to me! Of course, it took some effort for Matt to find his way to Monteverde where our General House is, but he did it. AND it was great seeing him. He's looking forward to his return to Poly for one more year.

(Matt and I on the roof of the General House -- great views.)