The Catacomb of St. Sebastian part 1
Beneath the cypress and pine trees along the Appian Way and other roads leading out of ancient Rome extends a vast city of the dead. Here, in the first centuries AD, early Christians carved out labyrinths of dark tunnels, some on three or four levels, to host underground tombs and secret chapels. Apart from its […]
Life of St. Rita of Cascia
Cascia – This small town that lies east of Spoleto in rural southeast Umbria began as a medieval village, growing up around an ancient castle in the Corno Valley. Little of the original settlement survived, having been destroyed by frequent earthquakes or remodeled into modern facilities. What remains are two quality medieval churches: San Francesco […]
Tips for Traveling in Italy: Church Etiquette
Traveling in Italy can be a pleasure if you are prepared and have the right attitude. It is all about understanding the rules, the norms, and going with the flow. Italians do things differently: breakfast is a croissant and coffee, the table of contents is in the back of the book, and lunch can take […]
Tips for Traveling in Italy: Language, Lodging, and Clothes
Traveling in Italy can be a pleasure if you are prepared and have the right attitude. It is all about understanding the rules, the norms, and going with the flow. Italians do things differently: breakfast is a croissant and coffee, the table of contents is in the back of the book, and lunch can take […]
Life of St. Philip Neri
Latium (Lazio) – The region of Latium is in central Italy on the western side of the peninsula. The area is best known for the capital city of Rome, but it is very diverse both geographically and culturally. The western border is formed by the Tyrrhenian Sea that gives way to the flat coastal plains. […]
A History of Pilgrimage part 2
Pilgrimage in the jewish tradition also began with Abraham, as he was the earliest to journey into the desert to seek communion with God. Centuries later, Moses led the definitive pilgrimage when he guided the children of Israel otu of Egypt and into the Sinai in search of the Promised Land. This pilgrimage was a […]
A History of Pilgrimage part 3
The Middle Ages were arguably the golden years for Christian pilgrimage in Europe. Christianity was at the center of the western world in both political and religious terms. The roads of Western Europe were trod by countless pilgrims traveling to sites such as Rome to visit the relics of Saints Peter and Paul, to Santiago […]
St. Vitale
Ravenna – Ravenna made an impact as a city as far back as the first century. Its perfect location was invaluable to the Romans–it had a seaport and was easily accessible from Rome. The Emperor Tiberius established naval bases here in AD 23, to be able to launch military campaigns and control the Adriatic. Later, […]
A History of Pilgrimage part 1
In our busy world many people are searching to find balance between their inner spiritual lives and their outer material ones. Pilgrimage is one way to energize our search for deeper meaning and purpose in our lives. Through pilgrimage, the spirit is renewed and our general outlook becomes uplifted, changing the way we look at […]
Blessed Margaret of Castello
Citta di Castello in Umbria – Sixteenth-century walls circumscribe and embrace this city of the Upper Tiber Valley, and give it a charming urban character. Located east of Arezzo and north of Perugia, the city is well known for its quaint commercial areas. Though originally a thriving pre-Roman town, its glory now is found in […]