An Architect's Dream

We have stayed two nights at a wonderful hotel about an hour outside of Rome where the Bible tells us Paul was encouraged at the Forum Appius. Our Hotel Foro Appio would have been the very spot he traveled and was encouraged. The quaintness of the countryside and awesomeness of the history was astounding to comprehend.

We headed back to Rome early in the morning and were privileged to visit the Catacombs of Domitilla. Here we witnessed where our brothers and sisters in Christ were buried in tombs dug all through the catacombs. Theses tombs ran in mazes in four levels for 11 miles all underground. It was a very somber but joyful reminder of those who had come before us.

The Church of St. John the Lateran is a beautiful and ornate church. We visited the steps where people (still today) were climbing on blended knee to buy indulgences for self and loved ones and where Martin Luther realized the futility of such actions. We stopped and prayed for these precious people.

Rome is an architect's dream. The magnificent structures are awesome and everywhere you look is beauty to cherish. The Pantheon is one such structure. While it was a place of worship to many gods, it now houses some wonderful statues and paintings. One unusual statue was of Jesus, as a small boy and his earthly father, Joseph.

The Vatican was our next stop. Or should I say stay? We waited a very long time in line, but took advantage of the situation to share some awesome fellowship and precious time to get to know one another better. We were all amazed at the first impression of the Vatican. It seemed smaller than what we had envisioned with traffic and cars going about their daily routines all around it. After getting into the actual court of the Vatican, it took on the familiar appearance of what we knew. While the ornateness and massiveness of St. Peter's is more than we are used to, it was exciting to actually see for ourselves what we have all seen on television.

Today we were all challenged to determine what traditions have become traditionalisms in our lives.