Rome - Tuesday

Our Vatican II study group started tonight.  We made our way to the Lay Center located in the Passionist Monastery which has one of the largest gardens in Rome and overlooks the Coluseum.  On our way there, we passed the Church of the Four Crowned Martyrs - an very old church that looks much like a fortress and is the place where popes would go for protection when they were under siege.  Buried here are fourmartyrs, who are nameless. They were martyred because they refused to pay allegience to Aesclepius, the god of medicine.

The group that is here numbers about 18 and comes from all over the country.  Six of us are professors, some work in parishes or dioceses, others in other walks of life...all very interested in the Council and how its teachings can be promoeted today.  As we introduced ourselves and told why we were here, I was touched by the shared love for VII regardless of age.  Those born after the council spoke of how it has envigorated them and their faith lives. Those who were, themselves, young adults during the council talked about how much it meant to see oneself as an adult in the church, whose gifts mattered and were wanted. There was a mix of hope and concern.  It is going to be a very interesting week.

The Scripture in our evening prayer seemed very appropos.  Romans 12:9-12

" Do not let your love be a pretence, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as brothers and sisters should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you  cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on prayering."