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| Views |
June 11th 11:00
Dinner Thursday night offered
my roommate Brock and I the opportunity to catch up with a friend and
mentor of mine from high school, Father Elijah, who is studying for his
doctorate in Rome. We spent the evening entertaining the topics of our
lives, the pope, things to do in and around the Eternal City, and let
funny stories keep the conversation alive. The highlight of the night
included Elijah scaring the Spanish family next to us by putting up his
monastic hood and sneaking behind them. It is always refreshing to have a
night to relax and inspire each other, especially through the life of a
monk.
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| A group of college kids (Elijah counts right? hehe) |
We went to bed Thursday night with plans to travel to Castel Gandolfo Friday evening.
With excited anticipation we trudged through the school day and left
immediately to our destination. Castel Gandolfo is the summer residence
of the pope located on Lake Albano. The train ride is cheap (€4
round-trip) and took only an hour.
We arrived at our stop and were met
by the best view of our time here in Italy. The landscape around the
lake forms what seems like a crater, sloping steeply from the edge of
the water up to a ridge around the lake. The air was cool and the breeze
from the lake eliminated the humidity. Across the valley of the lake, a
quaint town decorates the horizon. I can see why the pope's are fond of
this place. We walked around the small town not really knowing what we
wanted to do. Of all the things we could wish to happen next, we
definitely did not expect what was in store for us.
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| View from Castel Gandolfo |
While walking through the main square of the town, we wanted to stop and
look inside the Baroque church. We passed the church and saw a wedding
in progress. A red antique fiat dressed with an arrangement of flowers
sat in front of the church waiting for the newlyweds to drive off
together. I stood there in the doorway of the church and watched this
couple commit their love to each other.
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| Artsy Photo by Christine |
As I mentioned before in a previous post, I have been reading Pope
Francis' words on the family and marriage in his new exhortation. To
know that this couple was not afraid of this commitment, this promise,
was proof that Francis' words are not void when they enter the real
world. Belief in love is alive. Belief in commitment, even in this day
and age, is not obsolete. A monk, a marriage, there is commitment in
both and they are lives that are beautifully vibrant and full of love. A
secular society will convince you of the dangers of commitment and of
the realistic optimism found within self-giving love. But, through my
dinner with a monk and witnessing of a marriage, I don't see danger. I
only see people wishing to find themselves, find out who they really
are. I can only hope for the courage to do the same.
We woke up this morning with a goal in mind. Arrive at the train
station, get on a train, and go somewhere, anywhere. We bought our
tickets and decided on Orbetello. After a fast walk to the train, we are
on our way, on our way to a place we don't know anything about. We are
optimistic though and full of joy and jitters. But such is life, full of
questions unanswered and unasked, with optimism throughout, full of
faith, hope, and self-sacrificial love. The train of life, bridging to
the unknown, will take us to where we belong.
*****
June 12th 07:30
Let me tell you about an adventure. Upon our arrival to the city of
Orbetello, we had no clue where we were or where we needed to go. We
took another educated guess and took a bus to the island near the city.
Now, this is where it gets good.
From this island we witnessed some of the most beautiful views. Yes, I
know I have probably said this over and over again in many of my blog
posts. But, each time we have left our comfort zone, we have been
rewarded by this very forgiving country. On this island, we found a port
town named San Estefano. This town was built into the rocky coast of
the island. We trekked to a higher elevation to see the views.
Now, if you thought that was good, hear this. We walked around this city
and stumbled upon a medieval Spanish fortress. Yes, you heard me
correctly. A MEDIEVAL SPANISH FORTRESS. How cool is that. We toured the
fortress and made friends with the workers there that were kind enough
to tell us of another city, Porte Ercole. At this next town, we were met
with more views and a peaceful dinner by the seaside. I cannot tell you
how fortunate we were to have found a little piece of heaven on Earth
by what seemed like chance.
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| I decided it was in the best interest for me to take over the fortress. |
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| The flowers were pretty |
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| Goofin' |
I will be honest when I tell you there were times yesterday where I was
anxious about not knowing what was next on our adventure. But, the
Italian seaside walked with us the whole way, leading us by chance to
it's most beautiful facets and niches. I can only offer this advice from
my journey yesterday: find small ways everyday to leave your comfort
zone, put to the test your thirst for adventure, and you will never
regret it.
I can say from my two weeks here in the Eternal City that the
most formative and memorable experiences have been off-the-cuff,
unplanned events where we allowed ourselves to be uncomfortable, or
rather comfortable with the unknown. So here is to the idea of the
comfort zone, which might be the worst human construct to have developed
in our short history. Let's get rid of it.
*****
June 12th 09:00
Through the insight of Father Elijah, I was shown an interesting
parallel between my life and that of Francis of Assisi. I will copy an
excerpt of the story sent to me by Father Elijah:
When the young Francis was attacked by brigands, he came cold and hungry
to a Benedictine moanstery near Gubbio and found hospitality there.
Many years later in 1223 or 1224, Francis had a meeting there at the
monastery with three hundred of his brothers, and the monks provided
food and drink.
In 1207-08 Francis undertook to restore the dilapidated and vandalized
chapel of St. Mary of the Angels in the area of the Portiuncula. It
belonged to the Benedictines of Monte Subasio. Francis asked the abbot
if he could restore and use it, and the abbot said yes. It was at this
place that Francis heard the gospel about possessing neither gold nor
silver, not staff, bread, nor extra shoes and clothes. When he heard
this, Francis realized the nature of the calling he and his brothers had
received. The Franciscan Order was born.
After being able to obtain no church from the bishop and clergy of
Assisi, Francis asked the abbot of Subasio give him the little church of
the Portiuncula outright so Francis and his brothers would have a place
to celebrate the liturgy. The abbot and monks agreed. Thereafter, in
gratitude, once each year Francis sent the abbot some fish. The monks in
their turn sent him oil for the lamp which burned before the altar.
The point in which the story of Francis' life crosses with my own is
very interesting. Francis was welcomed by the Benedictines of his area,
who gave him the church in which to worship and found his order. I,
named Jacob Francis, was welcomed by Benedictines at Subiaco Abbey to
learn and be formed into a man. It does not end there. My friend and
roommate while here in Italy is named Alexis Fransisco after Francis of
Assisi as well. He gets his middle name from his great-grandfather.
Where do I get mine? My great-grandfather. One can cite coincidence only
so far until they recognize the underlying story at play.
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| Jacob Francis and Alexis Francisco |
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| Not many pictures of Assisi due to heavy restrictions in the churches |
We participated in the noon mass at the Basilica of Saint Francis in
Assisi. It was said in Italian, but it is remarkable to know that the
liturgy of the mass transcends the language and truly communicates its
message through the Eucharist. One friend, Christine, had never been to a
Catholic mass before. What would be a better way to be exposed to
Catholicism than a mass in Italian, in Assisi, Italy, above the tomb of
one of the most prolific saints in the history of Christianity? I'm sure
she was terrified, but she said it was a great experience.
We saw the
tomb of Saint Francis who died in 1226. To know that a man who died over
700 years ago is still influential enough that parents name their
children after him, that is impressive. It takes a truly great man to
achieve this kind of "fame" through a life of humility and poverty. I
bought two books on the life and writings of Francis and plan to read
them to learn more about my namesake.
The past several days have been jam packed with lots of buses, trains,
fatigue, and most importantly, pure adventure. Thanks to my four
companions on the journey. Thanks for helping me learn the lessons of
travel that no classroom can teach.
Until next time,
Jacob Maestri--
Read more from Jacob at http://ablogaboutrome.blogspot.it/
For more on the U of A Rome Center: Summer Campus, check out http://studyabroad.uark.edu/romecampus
