Vatican News, Gesu Tour and Santa Maria in Trastevere

As we gathered for another day of exploration, we learned that the bus drivers in Rome were out on  strike. Fortunately, the strike does not occur during morning and evening rush hours, just during the day. It's an interesting way to strike, but we were grateful as we needed to catch the bus for a visit to Vatican Radio! 

Outside Vatican Radio, now part of Vatican News

Upon arrival at Vatican Radio we took our traditional group picture and then entered and headed for the chapel for Mass. It was an amazing and grace filled experience for us as Mass was being broadcast over Vatican Radio. We had no idea how many people were listening or from what parts of the world. It is yet another reminder of the universality of the Catholic Church.

Inside the Chapel of the Annunciation which is also set up to record the Mass.
The archangel Gabriel is one of the patrons of Vatican News since he announced the Good News to Mary.

After celebrating Mass in Latin, we prayed Lauds together in English, along with Sr. Bernadette, who is a Daughter of St. Paul. This religious congregation, founded in Italy, uses modern means of communication to spread the Gospel. Sr. Bernadette, who is American, was working with her community in Rome when she was asked to help at Vatican Radio. 

Picture with our guide, Sr. Bernadette. To the right you can see one of the recording studios.

Sister Bernadette explained the purpose of Vatican Radio, now included in the title Vatican News since its re-organization. The main purpose of Vatican News is to communicate to the world the official position of the Catholic Church on important issues as well as to broadcast the Holy Father's words.

Sr. Bernadette shared that she has learned how to provide commentary for papal events as well as broadcast news. She will soon be learning more about taking videos as well! Vatican News has over 40 languages in which they broadcast. The Congregation for Communication is a very busy place and difficult to keep up with all the many events happening at the Vatican and throughout the world. Sister shared with us how her spiritual life helps her keep a balance and how so often, because of the information she learns, she prays for many special intentions.

A link to Vatican News can be found here: https://www.vaticannews.va/en.html

After leaving Vatican News we walked to the Church of the Gesu' (remember, no bus service!). We have had Mass several times at the Gesu' so have become familiar with it. However, we were here today for a tour of the rooms where St. Ignatius of Loyola lived, worked and died. 

A portrait of St. Ignatius of Loyola, founder of the Society of Jesus.

 Fr. Maher, SJ, our tour guide, was very knowledgeable and gave us a great deal of information about St. Ignatius and his founding of the Jesuits. One of the interesting things he showed us was a copy of the death mask of St. Ignatius. While living, St. Ignatius had refused to have any portraits painted of him so, at his death, a mask was made. Based on his cassock, they have an idea of how tall he was. In the picture below you can see our group surrounding a stand. That is the height of St. Ignatius along with the copy of his death mask.

The shoes worn by St. Ignatius

With Fr. Maher, SJ, in the rooms where St. Ignatius lived.

This plaque is located in the room where St. Ignatius died.
The room is now a chapel.

In the afternoon, we walked to Trastevere, a section of town where the Etruscans lived before the Latins (Romans) arrived. This area, close to the port of Rome, was home to a large Jewish community. Many Christians lived here in the early centuries so it is very likely that Sts. Peter and Paul walked these streets. We met Cardinal Stafford, who gave us a tour of St. Mary in Trastevere. The church is hundreds of years old and has beautiful mosaics on the facade of the church as well as on the inside. The church also houses the oldest icon in the West, an icon of Mary, Mother of Clemency. The icon has deteriorated over the years, but you are still able to make out the image of Mary holding her son, Jesus. Cardinal Stafford gave us a beautiful meditation on true freedom and that true freedom comes through the virtues and choosing good.

With Cardinal Stafford in front of the icon of Mary.

Just one of the beautiful mosaics in the church.
This one portrays the Dormitian and Assumption of Our Lady.