A taste of paradise and beyond

If coming to Rome, do not, oh please, run around in a crowd, skipping from the Colosseum to the Vatican Museums in pure unconsciousness, taking pictures and selfies of yourself before the Vittoriano. Do not be prey of fret, that kills thruth and shuts your eyes to beauty and to the uncountable symbols that tell the real story, hidden and sacred, which can be told and understood in simplicity and wonder, with few words in the life of the eternal river. When in Rome, plan to see, of course, the Colosseum and the Vatican museum but find the secret thread that will lead you to understand what lies beyond, what can be seen as a revelation of the past as true and as alive as your everyday life back home. In the living symbols of our forefathers, that are here and there in churches and monuments, you will find, if guided, the answers to your quest...
So, for instance, why not linger in the Aventine hill, the hill of Remo, the twin that was killed by his Brother Romulus, the first king of the Eternal city.? Do you know, why, the Aventine is called Aventine? Birds is the answer (avis meaning bird in latin) From the Aventine hill, the roman augures used to watch the flight of birds, which gave answers to their prayers. On this hill, the twins decided where to build Rome. And Rome itself, bearing such a sacred name, is a mistery unfolded which I will keep to myself and give as a gift to those who might want to come with me on the Aventine Hill to discover the secluded garden of Sant'Alessio. A taste of paradise and beyond...

On sundays in Rome

bennibag flowers and owls

Churches are about everywhere in Rome;  and even more, as many as the stars up above, in the center where I happen to live, being the privilege of my life. So, on sundays, as you might understand, I have more than one choice to pick a mass in time and place. I can either go to Santa Maria ai Monti, that is my parish church and listen to Don Francesco or, why not, choose the franciscan church of the Saints Quirico and Giulitta, child and mother, killed as martyrs, during the persecutions of Diocletian. In which case Padre Antonio will be behind the altar, celebrating the eternal sacrifice of our Lord. But, but, but, I have many other chances, believe me, I have at least once been in all and every church  in the surroundings. I know all they have inside, mosaiques and pictures and the way the Fathers tell the story. At eleven o'clock, on sundays, for instance, I might decide to listen to a mass in latin in Santa Maria Maggiore. Oh the glory of the gregorian chanting! My soul is lifted to heaven as the priests sing as angels migh sing...

In any case, one way or the other, I am sure to meet, at the bottom of the stairs, a "signor Marini", one who is more than Roman, meaning an ancient Roman citizen. He seems to sprang out of history, somwhere from the troops of Caesar, one of the tenth legion maybe. And when he speals the Roman of real Romans it is a pure caress to my soul. His low voice comes straight from mystery itself. And every and each time he performs for me one of the sonnets of Gioacchino Belli, one out of the hundreds, one that is perfect for the day and for us two. And then I laugh and then he laughsback and we jolly well laugh together and then, in peace and quiet, we are both off to mass...