Sant'Andrea delle Fratte and Visit to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples

We began our day at Sant'Andrea delle Fratte, the church that Alphonse Ratisbonne was visiting when he had his miraculous conversion when the Blessed virgin Mary appeared to him at this exact site. It is also the same church that St. Maximillian Kolbe celebrated his first Mass and a church St. Therese of Lisieux visited as well. 

Then, we went to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. We met Rev. Joshua Ehli, and he gave us a presentation on the wonderful work the Congregation does. The Congregation's primary focus is helping mission territories to spread the Gospel message. 

The dream of every librarian :)

Can you imagine having a book like this for class?

Bl. John Henry Cardinal Newman's relic and picture is in a small chapel of the Congregation. He celebrated his first Mass in this Chapel.

This is St. Therese of Lisieux's second habit. It is kept in the main chapel of the Congregation. Her first habit is in Lisieux. St. Therese is co-patron of the missions along with St. Francis Xavier. Fun fact: The donning of a religious habit signifies taking on a new life in Christ and the recipient is exhorted to “put on the new man who is created according to God’s image” (Col 3:10).

We'll be back! A Roman tradition is to throw coins into the Trevi Fountain to ensure that you will return to Rome in the future.

Sr. Brigit from the Spiritual Family of the Work came in the afternoon to teach us about the excavations under St. Peter's Basilica, which is where St. Peter is buried. We will be touring the excavations on Wednesday!

Today Sister Mary Hanah celebrated her birthday...and a birthday is never complete without a piece of birthday cake!