Spirituality Course, I - Visit Around Rome, June 9, 2007

This is the first part (or Part I) of the photos during our Spirituality Course. On Saturday, June 9, 2007, Fr. Felix Catala, the course in-charge took us on a walking tour around the parts of Rome that would interest us in terms of the connections between these sites and St. Alphonsus and the first Redemptorists.



First stop was where we gathered, namely, the Redemptorist House at Via Merulana. Fr. Felix begins his orientation to the group.




Ollie Castor CSsR poses in front of the house. Across, one can see the dome and tower of Maria Magiorre.

We wanted to go inside this church where the renowed sculptor, Bernini did a statue of Teresa de Avila, as St. Alphonsus had a devotion to her. Unfortunately, the church was closed (this was the day Pres. Bush visited Rome and churches near the US embassy were closed).

Next stop was the street where Fr. Villani and Bro. Francesco stayed as they worked on the approval of the Rule. They were hosted by people who were from Naples who had taken up residence in Rome.

Fr. Felix points to the building which right now is occupied by residents renting the place. There is also a restaurant that occupies part of the building.

Witold, Mark, Frank, Jareck and Vincent look at the building.

Down the road at the end of the right part of this photo lived monks whose abbot assisted the two Redemptorists in their goal to have the Rules approved by the Pope.

These were the buildings where various religious congregations stayed during the time of Alphonsus. Across the buildings are the offices of the Vatican.

This was the church where Fr. Villani rested while Bro. Francesco did the dirty work of waiting for the papers of the Rule. Here he prayed intensely that the Rule be approved. Once Bro. Francesco got the papers, he then rejoined Fr. Villani.

The place for keeping the horses of the Emperor during the time when the Rule was approved. Today, there is a monument reminding tourists of the significance of this building.

The Emperor's residence then, the Prime Minister's today.

The participants wait for the next instruction from Fr. Felix to proceed with the walking tour.

On the road towards the Gregorian University.

The facade of the University.

This is the church where the bishop-friend of Alphonsus was buried.


The facade of the church.

Inside the church, there is a marker of the death of the Bishop who was a good friend of St. Alphonsus.
The participants view the marker.

The church's interior.








The crypt indicating that there are relics of the apostles.

A side trip to the fountatin of Trevi so we can also

play the tourist role.

Jimmy and I at the fountain.

Me and Anton Fonseca of Sri Lanka at the fountain.








Anton throwing coins so he can return to Rome some day.
John and An are thinking of doing the same as Eddie thinks about it.

At the Pantheon of Rome.

The light that comes in through the center of the dome.

Rafael's remains inside the Pantheon.

A statue of the Madonna and child above the remains of Rafael.

The crowd at Rafael's tomb.

Some of the participants inside the Pantheon.

This is the church where St. Alphonsus was ordained a bishop. His ordination was the only time he ever came to Rome. He didn't like the Redemptorists to stay in Rome, otherwise, they will become "courtesans."

Inside this church is Michaelangelo's statue of the Risen Christ. Unfortunately, the statue had to be "covered", thus destroying the statue's beauty.

It is not clear where was the exact spot where St. Alphonsus' ordination took place, at the main altar or a side altar.

One of the side altars of the church.

The main altar.

The participants continued with their walking tour.

The room of a building where St. Alphonsus stayed for a few days on the occasion of his ordination as a bishop. Today, it is a very unpretentious building near the Redemptorist house in Via Merulana.

The building's markers.

Fr. Felix Catala ends the walking tour with the group at this spot.