Roma Super (Crazy but Cool) Trip: Full Update

1 May 2011

Roma Super Trip

Last night we left Gaming for the Roma “Super Trip” for the Beatification of Pope John Paul II. The journey went well until one of the buses blew a gas fuel line. We arrived in Rome this morning at 6 am. Julie, me, Katie, and Ian stuck together. We made our way to one section and decided to dive in, but that didn’t work out, so we went somewhere else.

At that point, we were glad to have been able to see the screen, but there was so much pushing and shoving and squeezing that we ended up in the square right up against St. Peter’s Square. Mass was long and in Italian/Latin, but JPII was beatified!! It was such a great glimpse of Heaven: every tribe and nation gathered before the Lord.

Then we tried to get up to venerate the relics, but the timing was unsure of if we would make it back in time, so we went  for a relaxing time to get gelatti, lunch, dinner, and souvenirs. As we waited for the bus we did a Rosary and Divine Mercy Chaplet.

After this experience, I love JPII so much more! It was such a crazy experience-- we were leaving for Rome and coming back to Gaming within 36 hours-- in the midst of finals! But, it was so worth it. Pope Benedict selected an excellent day for the beatification: May 1^st is the first day of the month of Our Lady, the feast of St. Joseph the Worker, and the Communist Labor Day.

Blessed John Paul II, pray for us!

See the large crowd? At least you're only seeing it!

Pope Benedict XVI on the screen next to a Marian mosaic.

If you look very carefully, you can see the newly unveiled portrait of JPII.

Me and Julie relaxing-- away from large 
groups of people, after the beatification.