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Writer's pictureAudrey Tokarz

First Impressions of St. Peter's Basilica

When we were walking through St. Peter's Square and standing in line, the wind was blowing the spray of the fountains in a manner which reminded me of use of an aspergillum in Easter-season Masses and brought to mind some of Reverend John Ames’ reflections on the symbolism of water and baptism in Gilead. First, he recalls the following quote by Ludwig, “Water is the purest, clearest of liquids; in virtue of this its natural character it is the image of the spotless nature of the Divine Spirit. In short, water has a significance in itself, as water; it is on account of its natural quality that it is consecrated and selected as the vehicle of the Holy Spirit. So far there lies at the foundation of Baptism a beautiful, profound natural significance,” and later he recalls an episode where, seeing a young couple playing in a landscape still wet with rain, he reflects that “it is easy to believe in such moments that water was made primarily for blessing, and only secondarily for growing vegetables or doing the wash” (Robinson, 20, 23). This reminder of the blessings of God, while waiting in the que to enter the basilica, was a spectacular start to the day.

St. Peter’s Basilica was even more massive and impressive than the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. Amidst all the grandeur however, I found that what moved me most was the comparatively small statue of the Pietà. Honestly, I had seen pictures and reproductions of it before and wasn’t expecting it to be that unique of an experience, but - apart from certain details I was not privy to beforehand, such as its sheen and its moving placement directly beneath an empty cross - the power of Michelangelo’s craftsmanship was enough to literally move me to tears.

I intentionally left the Adoration chapel for last, as I knew would not be able to appreciate the rest of the interior in the same was if I did not, and as I wandered up to the front of the church past the many side-chapels, I wondered what it would be like to experience the ceremony of the Mass in this impressive building. I made it to the main altar during the Consecration of a Mass which was being performed in the transept, so I knelt until the distribution of Eucharist had been completed, and afterwards forfeited exploring those last corners of the church in favor of being in the presence of the LORD. The Adoration chapel was also beautiful, both in it’s initial intimate and celestial design and in beautiful way that the entire room would melt into a golden mist when I gazed for an extended period of time upon Jesus and when my eyes filled with tears.

It’s funny how the same God is present both here in Rome and in the United States, but the experience which surrounds the encounter seems to impregnate it with a deeper meaning. The experience of studying abroad, and being able to visit these significant sites, seems again and again to incorporate the inability of the mind to inherently grasp truth simply because it is presented; we need to prepare ourselves to comprehend the substantial message they have to convey, and that preparation, though it can take many forms, can make use of the incorporation of elements of humanly recognizable significance, such as the beauty or duration of a building, which requires a particular local that can be found here in Rome.

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