Sunday, June 03, 2007

ROMA!



Sitting in St. Peter's Square on a beautiful sunny day listening to the Holy Father give a catechesis on Tertullian and then his papal blessing - is there a better way to spend a birthday? I think not.
This was my first (and hopefully not the only) visit to Rome and the Vatican and it was fantastic. Instead of describing it in detail I wanted to share a few pictures and some thoughts from the trip as well as a quote from Benedict himself, another one which was very important in my journey to Roman Catholicism. I was there with a few close friends for only a few days but being around buildings that are from the first century (and before) made even England's heritage seem young. The Colosseum and Pantheon were exceptional, as were all the old Roman ruins where Western civilization was being cemented and fully developed.



Another great moment w
as going through the Vatican Museum with some of the most impressive art work in the world. The Sistine Chapel was incredible; seeing it is the only way of experiencing the genius of Michaelangelo. But along the way to the Sistine Chapel there were numerous works which were brilliant in their own right. Two of them stood in juxtaposition for me in describing Catholicism's approach to reason.

First is Raphael's
School of Athens:



This painting shows the two philosophical masters, Plato and Aristotle, in the center. Note Plato pointing to the heavens (world of Ideas) whereas Aristotle points to the earth (world of Forms). These two philosophers (as well as others in the painting) would provide the bedrock for St. Augustine and St. Thomas Aquinas and the Church Fathers to develop the Christian Tradition in tune with the divine reason as well as divine revelation.


The second painting that struck me alongside this was one I don't know the name of (any help?) which signaled the supremacy of the Cross and Christ against idols of this world:



This reminded me of how Catholicism seeks to develop the best in natural and supernatural reason given to man but also fights and overcomes mere traditions and idols of this world. The dual focus and tension (as opposed to reason only of liberal Christianity and revelation only of evangelical Christianity) reminds me of the truth and power of Catholicism: affirming what is good in man and rejecting what is false for the sake of Christ.


One of the most moving moments was the experience of being meters from St. Peter's
remains under the altar in St. Peter's.



I can't describe the feelings that were running through me as I looked on the remains of that great disciple, leader of the Twelve. We read and think so much about him in Scriptures and theological writings, but to be near his body was incredible; a reminder of the rootedness of Catholicism in the physical as well as spiritual realities of this world.


Finally, it goes without saying that the high point of the trip was the general audience with Pope Benedict XVI. We were able to get great seats and so ended up ten feet from him while he drove around greeting the people in St. Peter's Square. The experience of being so close to him was amazing and I will always remember it, especially since I got an incredible picture!



To end, I thought I would include the final words of Benedict's homily for his Inauguration of his Pontificate on April 24th, 2005. Whenever I am afraid or worried that Christ's calling is a negation of life this message reminds me of great Yes (or should I say Ja!) which overcomes any No (Nein!) of this world. I hope it brings you the same peace and courage as it does me.


'At this point, my mind goes back to 22 October 1978, when Pope John Paul II began his ministry here in Saint Peter’s Square. His words on that occasion constantly echo in my ears: “Do not be afraid! Open wide the doors for Christ!” The Pope was addressing the mighty, the powerful of this world, who feared that Christ might take away something of their power if they were to let him in, if they were to allow the faith to be free. Yes, he would certainly have taken something away from them: the dominion of corruption, the manipulation of law and the freedom to do as they pleased. But he would not have taken away anything that pertains to human freedom or dignity, or to the building of a just society. The Pope was also speaking to everyone, especially the young. Are we not perhaps all afraid in some way? If we let Christ enter fully into our lives, if we open ourselves totally to him, are we not afraid that He might take something away from us? Are we not perhaps afraid to give up something significant, something unique, something that makes life so beautiful? Do we not then risk ending up diminished and deprived of our freedom? And once again the Pope said: No! If we let Christ into our lives, we lose nothing, nothing, absolutely nothing of what makes life free, beautiful and great. No! Only in this friendship are the doors of life opened wide. Only in this friendship is the great potential of human existence truly revealed. Only in this friendship do we experience beauty and liberation. And so, today, with great strength and great conviction, on the basis of long personal experience of life, I say to you, dear young people: Do not be afraid of Christ! He takes nothing away, and he gives you everything. When we give ourselves to him, we receive a hundredfold in return. Yes, open, open wide the doors to Christ – and you will find true life. Amen.'

24 Comments:

At 3:35 am, Blogger Hans-Georg Gadamer said...

St. Peter's burial box is hard to see in the picture, but if you look above the gold leaves in the middle you can make out the shape of a box in the left center - there he is!

 
At 9:23 am, Blogger Abu Daoud said...

Love the post.

Linked to it from my blog at islamdom.blogspot.com

Here is my question for you:

What is the significane of the etymology of the word "apostle" to the Petrine office and the doctrine of apostolic succession as you understand it?

(Where am I going with this? That you don't get the Petrine office because you are not concerned with third of the world population that does not have access to the Gospel or those who are engaged in frontier missions to those unreached groups.)

A serious charge. I look forward to your answer if you are able to produce one.

Blessings brother.

 
At 9:59 am, Blogger Hans-Georg Gadamer said...

Abu - thanks for the link!

Good question, although I think you can answer it better than I can! I think mission is obviously an important part of the Church's programme and from what you were saying it sounds like we could do some better work with that.

I also think that evangelization needs to be done in the Western cultures as well, which was John Paul II's great project, so it is an interesting time to be in the Church. There are still many unreached people and there are also 'reached' people who are now unreached and destroying Christian cultures from the inside! The Church today is having to fight a two front war really in a way which probably didn't exist before. Answers to this are not forthcoming in my mind; obviously every little effort in each field helps!

In that respect, keep up the good work!

 
At 2:17 pm, Blogger E. Twist said...

Adam,

It was so good, wasn't it? The ice on the Tiber is thinning too quickly. Pray for me.

e.

 
At 10:35 pm, Blogger Abu Daoud said...

Hi Adam,

Good point. I think the new evangelization is a very important project, and actually is related to the missio ad gentes.

What I mean is this: When a congregation does the work of discerning a lay couple (or individual) to be sent out as a missionary to the unreached world, and learns about the unreached world, and hears about their life and ministry there, the avergae lay person who hears about this is energized to evangelize others around him.

Check out missio redemptoris and let me know what you think.

 
At 9:38 am, Blogger RJ said...

Nice! Glad to hear that it was such a meaningful and eventful trip. Did you give his holiness a big thumbs up?

 
At 7:28 am, Blogger JMC said...

Was this you? I heard the man was wearing a pink shirt, so that was sort of the give away.

 
At 12:50 am, Blogger Hans-Georg Gadamer said...

J. Morgs - I am not at liberty to discuss such an event.

 
At 12:06 pm, Blogger Charlie J. Ray said...

This title would be better: My Journey to APOSTASY. Anglo-Catholicism and Roman Catholicism both teach a false gospel and false religion. May God have mercy!

 
At 7:51 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Dude, you really are going to have to change the name of your blog!!!

 
At 2:17 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hans-george -- I am proud of you. I know your swim was the result of much prayer. I will follow your life with interest. Keep me in your prayers and check into the Lobster Pot often.

Fr. Rick Lobs

 
At 3:41 pm, Blogger Dizma said...

Be careful, you are going to become Anglican and Romanist. ;)

 
At 8:31 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Have you swum the Tiber, out of curiousity?

 
At 1:31 pm, Blogger Hans-Georg Gadamer said...

Just in case anyone is wondering, I have not yet crossed over the Tiber in physical fact yet. I am a catechumen right now and will be received into the Church on Nov. 4th if all goes as planned. Then it will be time to change the blog name. Suggestions?

 
At 2:20 pm, Blogger Dizma said...

By the Rivers of Babylon. ;)

 
At 12:38 pm, Blogger Unknown said...

"The Empire Strikes Back" ?

 
At 1:30 pm, Blogger Dizma said...

Roma locuta, causa finita?

 
At 7:55 am, Blogger JMC said...

Dude, you should really close this badboy down.

 
At 9:41 am, Blogger Unknown said...

Enjoyed the piece. I especially appreciated the commentary on the art.

I linked it to a site. www.everydaytheologian.com

 
At 10:45 am, Anonymous Anonymous said...

Hans-Georg Gadamer

RIP

February 11, 1900 – March 13, 2002

was a German philosopher of the continental tradition, best known for his 1960 magnum opus, Truth and Method (Wahrheit und Methode).

 
At 4:28 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

dudetubeonline.com

Your friends at the Collegian thought you'd need (and want) it...

 
At 10:30 am, Blogger Lancaster Gardener said...

Adam,

have you stopped bloggin? Hope you are keeping well.

Saj

 
At 8:22 pm, Anonymous Anonymous said...

I am sorry, Saju. Adam has stopped blogging because he turned to Catholicism as an attempt to sublimate his homosexuality. I wouldn't expect him to respond any time soon. It's sad that he just won't accept himself.

-- The GCC Collegian

 
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