Easter Week in Rome, Days 3, 4, and 5

Barbara took this photo....I think we were in the Gesu.  I look prayerful, but am actually about to fall asleep from jet lag.

Monsignor Soseman from the Congregation for the Clergy met us for lunch at Arlu near the Vatican:

Inside St. Peter's basilica:

The famous Pieta:

The statue of St. Peter in the basilica.  His foot is worn away from all of the pilgrims touching it, which has become a custom:

The body of Pope Saint Pius X in St. Peter's Basilica:

Saint Peter's square in the morning:

On Friday, I joined up with my friend Fr. Greg Gresko, OSB who was leading a pilgrimage for students from his monastery's high school.  First we went to Subiaco - a Benedictine monastery built over the cave where Saint Benedict lived for 3 years before founding monasteries:

The view from the monastery:

The town of Subiaco below:

Next we went down the hill to the Monastery of Saint Scholastica (Saint Benedict's sister):

Old manuscripts in the monastery library.  Before the printing press, the monks would copy texts by hand to ensure they were passed on to following generations:

Next we traveled 2 hours to the monastery of Monte Cassino, which was founded by Saint Benedict himself.  The monastery was destroyed during World War II, but was rebuild over the surviving parts.  The view from the top of the mountain:

A statue of St. Benedict offering his spirit to the Father marks the spot where he died:

The high altar in the basilica in the monastery:

The tomb of Saint Benedict and St. Scholastica:

The vineyard:

Whenever St. Scholastica is depicted in a work of art, she is often carved or painted along with a white dove, which traditionally symbolizes her soul going to heaven after her death.  As we were leaving the monastery, a real white dove flew into the courtyard:

With Fr. Greg at Monte Cassino:

On Saturday morning, I went to Mass with Fr. Arthur and the Missionaries of Charity near the Vatican.  Before heading to the airport, I paid a visit to my friend Bishop Laffitte, Secretary of the Pontifical Council for the Family.  I was not able to attend his Episcopal Consecration last December, so I was happy we could visit for a few minutes before I had to leave: