Rome is a city of many churches, most built in the 16th century as Rome responded to the Protestant Reformation. Baroque, baroque, baroque. Here are some I passed on my walk around the city. Sorry I can't give you the names.
A beautiful day yesterday for the half-marathon run throughout Rome. So many runners, so many groups, running for autism and cancer, supporting causes and individuals. I am called to the Christian story, but clearly the Christ was in every person I passed, in every runner and spectator, in every person selling bottles of water. God shows no partiality. Rome is a city of many churches, most built in the 16th century as Rome responded to the Protestant Reformation. Baroque, baroque, baroque. Here are some I passed on my walk around the city. Sorry I can't give you the names.
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We’ve decided to move from this old house where we’ve been living for the past forty years. Packing has begun and we’re looking for a condo in town. We want to do this while were healthy (enough), wealthy (enough) and wise (enough). Jim and I are a good team, he with financial and legal expertise, I with logistical savvy. I say this with as much humility as I can muster. This may sound arrogant, but I don’t feel that way. I am grateful for the blessings I have been given. If it weren’t for my faith, I’d probably take more of the credit for how my life has gone—giving a tad to Lady Luck. But Jesus lived a different way, and preached a different message. Blessed are the poor in spirit for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. As a Christian I know and believe that the good in my life is all grace and that I am called to do what I can to give back. Personal downside to moving: I won’t be able to walk across the street to the library or up the street to church. And yet, it's all about church. Santa Trinita is an empowering place to pray. I have discovered the perfect to pew, where at a single sweep of my eyes, I can take in artwork representative of many theological concepts that give power and definition to Christianity. Yesterday I attended 5 o’clock Mass at the Duomo. An Irish (?) priest officiated in English, and two women read the scripture and passed the offer plate. The Gospel reading was the story of Lazarus; the message was the expectation and acceptance of change. I took communion, not because no qualifying invitation was offered, but because I wanted to take in the spirit of love. I attend a church where anyone who wants to follow Jesus’ example of love is invited to the table. That is how I always approach communion, and so it was yesterday. I need all the reminders I can muster to keep a loving heart. Communion is one way for me. The Roman Catholic church preaches love and following Jesus. But their invitation to communion is limited to those confirmed in the church, and who thus believe in transubstantiation, that the bread and wine actually becomes the body and blood of Christ. This dogma goes back to the councils of the fourth century when, for its very survival, the growing church was dealing with heresies. What was important then, may not be important now. When should we hold on to tradition? When is it time to let a tradition go? Christianity and Christians have always been challenged by what to take literally in the Bible, and what to interpret metaphorically. What did Jesus mean when, according the Luke 22:20 he said: “This is my body, which is given for you. Do this in remembrance of me.” ... What did Paul mean in Corinthians 11:24: and when He had given thanks, He broke it and said, “Take, eat; this is My body which is broken for you: this do in remembrance of Me.” The Church may have its answers, but individual Christian have theirs. We come to their own understanding of what communion means so we can be loving. I want to share yesterday’s cottagebythesea blog post about my morning walk to some of the churches in Florence. Every morning I start the day with a prayer walk before prayer in a church. This walk took a little longer than the usual hour, but as usual I stopped for a cappucchino along the way. Here are only five churches due to technical difficulty adding pictures to the slideshow. Even though I am living in this city for only two weeks, right now it is my home. So I decided to take an early morning walk to survey the exteriors of the major churches that have been a large part of the city’s history and that draw me here. These churches as we know them today were built, often on preexisting foundations, toward the end of the thirteen century to accommodate a rising city population. Although subsidized by city government, many represented a particular religious order. I started at Santa Maria dei Fiori, stopping along the way to take pictures of each façade, and to enjoy a couple of cappucchini. Santa Croce was my last stop. Santa Marie dei Fiori: Cathedral church of Florence Santissima Annunziata: Servites San Marco: Domenican Santa Maria Novella: Domenican Ognisanti: Umilita Santa Maria del Carmine: Carmelite Santo Spirito: Augustinian Santa Trinita: Vallumbrosan Santi Apostoli Badia Fiorentina: Fraternity of Jerusalem Santa Croce: Franciscan As this phase of the election comes to an end, I'm grateful to have a church community to anchor me. In the November Messenger of Memorial Congregational Church, Pastor Tom reminded us of the Covenant of Respect that we created a few years ago. Here it is. A few years ago we sought to establish a covenant to guide our relationships at MCC. Our "Covenant of Respect" is meant for all interactions but it's especially useful during times of conflict and stress. It helps to focus our attention on God, to recognize the divine in others, and to open our hearts with genuine curiosity. It's always available at MCCsudbury.org but also summarized below in the hopes that it will assist you in the coming days and weeks. We will approach all things in prayer. (1 Thessalonians 5:17) We will speak from our own personal experience. (1 Corinthians 3:16) We will speak face-to-face, honestly and without rancor when there is disagreement. (Ephesians 4:15) We will listen with an open and non-judgmental mind and try as hard to understand as to be understood. (Proverbs 4:7) If we are unable to effectively communicate with each other, we will ask a third party to be present to assist us. (Matthew 18:16) We will support the final outcome of the decision-making process. (1 Corinthians 1:10) As forgiven people, we will choose to forgive one another. (Luke 11:4) I start each day with a cappucchino. I say a little prayer when I first get up, but truthfully, my first though is coffee. A monk once told me that his first thought of the day was not about God but about coffee. I figure I’m in good company. After wandering about the city for a while I stopped at La Badia for prayer time. This is a most prayerful church in that it is absolutely the quietest public place I know of in Florence. Except for services, which are primarily sung, it is SILENT. Visitors, step through the door, and everything changes for them. A few leave immediately, but many stay to pray. On the welcoming table are two little boxes; one to leave a prayer request (paper and pens provided); the other with scripture written on little pieces of paper to be taken. In front of a lovely statue of Madonna and child there is a stand and candles to light. Today in their shop I purchased a wooden rosary and an icon of Christ from the crucifix hanging from the altar. I’ll be posting about my visits to churches on both of my blogs, but for you prayer diary readers I will add something more at the end. I visited Santa Maria Novella yesterday afternoon. Although I’ve never thought of it as my favorite, I always seem to spend time there soon after I arrive in Florence. This time I took a notebook tour, computer notebook that is. A very leisurely, solitary way to do it. In fact, I’m considering doing so at other churches I tour. This Dominican church has a rich history in Florence, beginning in the mid-thirteen century when monastic orders were building churches all over Europe as a base to carry out their mission (with public assistance). Florence was no exception. The Dominican mission is to preach, teach, and confess. Interesting to note that the Dominican Fra Girolama Savonarola (1452-96), who became over zealous in the order’s mission until he was burned at the stake in Piazza della Signoria, was not mentioned in the tour. Maybe he’ll appear when I tour the Convent of San Marco where he lived, but I’m thinking the text on these tours is committed to giving a positive spin. http://www.museumsinflorence.com This is a marvelous church for prayer, even in the midst of tourists. It is never crowded and it’s spaciousness provides quiet and solitude. The Trinita by Masaccio, offers visual lectio divina, as do the Ghirlandaio’s frescoes on the life of Mary, Brunelleschi’s carved crucifix, and Giotto’s crucifix hanging in the nave. Also, through a separate entrance, there is a chapel just for prayer. There is an entrance fee for this church, but not for this chapel. Inside the church The Cloisters I had the a most reward and fun day today walking with my church, Memorial Congregational Church of Sudbury, in the Worcester Pride Parade. Being with church friends, and meeting people from other churches and organizations was awesome. The denominations represented included UCC, Unitarian, American Baptist and Episcopal. Tomorrow after church I fly to Rome, via Frankfort, Germany. I’ll take a train to Florence where I’ll live for two weeks in an apartment I’ve rented near the Ponte Vecchio. I’ll be working on three articles: Seven Days Writing in Florence; Seven Days Praying in Florence; and Seven Days Living in Florence. Stay tuned. I’ll be posting drafts. |
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