Last day in Rome

This is the chapel that we had the private mass for friends and family. You could walk past it without knowing that it was there.
Father John gave a wonderful hommily during mass. He spoke of how a mother of a priest can always find her son at a church. It was most inspiring. Here you see Father John at the alter with Father Jacinto at his side and Father Louis sitting.
After Mass, we had a special tour of the church with Father Louis's mother and sister. We got to go to a place in the church unseen by tourist. That was quite an treat.
Father Louis and Father Jacinto on the balcony overlooking Rome.

Another picture with Father Louis's family. We had lunch with them at a Chinese Resturant close by and we all had a wonderful time.

Walk through Rome

With Father Jacinto near the Spanish steps. It was a beautiful sunny day. We wished we had more time with him. He had a busy schedule and our visit was short. We charish the moments we had with him.

We had a small private mass at a tiny room where St. Francis stayed when he was in Rome. Converted to a chapel with a beautiful alter in wood and gold. It was so small that you have to leave the room to change your mind.
This was Father Jacinto's first mass. Here Father Jacinto center with Father Louis to his left assisting, conducting the mass. There were only 8 of us in the pews kneeling on the hard stone floor...ouch!!
From the left is Chuck, Mommy, Alicia and Jon. Brothers and friend to Father Jacinto. We had such a great time with them. It was sad that our time with them was so short. On a good note, we all live close by in the States and we will see them again.

This is the top of the chapel that Father John, Father Jacinto, and Father Louis gave the mass to just friends and family at the San Maria Maggiori church in Rome. By the picture you would never guess that there is a chapel beneath.

6 quirky/habits

Being tagged by your son( http://zetarace.blogspot.com/) is not quite the same as being tagged by a beautiful girl, your daughter-in-law, or the meg-million dollar lotto. But, its still someone that you have strong and compelling feelings for and as a result willing to comply with this new form of chain-letter game. OK, here goes.

Rules:
1). Link to the person that tagged you.
2). Post the rules on your blog.
3). Share 6 non-important/quirks/things about yourself. Since Mom and I share a blog, we'll have 3 and 3. You'll have to guess which is which.
4). Tag atleast 3 other persons at the end of your post and link to their blog.
5). Let each of the 3 know they've been tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.
6). Let the fun begin.

1. I love to ride motorcycles and enjoy the freedom that it imposes. Many fear it for a variety of reasons but for some reason (unknown to me) I get such tranquility from the thunder beneath me and the wind passing around me.
2. I tend to be obsessive in avenues of the heart. I over-reach, over-extend, and go beyond where I should have stopped. I must learn to temper those feelings because it obligates other to recipricate where none is expected.
3). I like a quiet place to be within myself. To gather thoughts and reminisce of things that I have done and things that I have yet to do.
4). I have a double standard in regards to my spouse. I say it's OK when I really know it's not. It creates mis-understanding and can be very confusing.
5). I over compensate when time is a critical element. When a train is scheduled to leave at 10am, I'll be at the station a 6.
6). When I prepare a package for mailing, I'm way too careful and use way too much tape to secure it. The last package I mailed took over 1/2 an hour just to unrap.

OK, I don't know anyone else that has a blog............. I'll get help....

Ordination

Day of the Ordination. Mom sitting next to Jon and Chuck(brothers to Fra Jacinto) and Alicia Joy (friend to Fra Jacinto). We got front row being friends and family of the Friars being ordained to priesthood.
Here they were filing in to face the Cardinale Rode from the Vatican.
They were each individually blessed by the Cardinale.
Here is Fra Jacinto returning. This was one of a very few shot of him where we got his face. All the rest of many shots we got of the back of his head. I guess I needed to be standing behind the Cardinale in order for some really good shots.

Here you see all six postrated before the alter to profess their obediance and commitment to the priesthood. There were some pretty anxious and tense moments during the Ordination that was truely hard to describe. You have to be there to experience it.

Assisi 2

A real neat shop front in Assisi that Mom wanted to take a picture in front of. Shop was full of pretty stuff.
One of the many quaint street of Assisi with shops lining the walks and resturants every so often. Again, the picture does not convey the steepness of the streets.
There doesn't appear to have a straight column anywhere in Assisi. If you align your picture to trees, some building will appear crooked. If you align the picture to wall, then the trees would appear crooked. You can't win no matter what you do.
This is the Basilica Di Santa Chiara where we attended mass on Sunday.

This is one of the main gates into Assisi. We didn't go to all of them because of the steep climb just to get to them.

Assisi

Back to Italy, this time visited Assisi. It sat on a hill top and all roads are either straight up or straight down. Really proud of Mom. She did all the walking without (almost) difficulty.
This was the Hotel San Rufino that we stayed at. If you walked real fast past it, you would miss it.
Also the streets are a lot steeper than the picture shows it.
Shot from the top of the tower at RoccaMaggiore (castle ruins) at the very top of Assisi. Made Mom earn her dinner by climbing to the top...... hard, but she enjoyed it.
Church of San Francesco at the far West end of Assisi. Same church that Chris and Cate took a picture at when they visited with Jason before he became a priest. Awsome climb back to the hotel from there.