Miguel
de Portugal's Rome Trip
at the end of 2000 - the actual
turn of the Century
General observations in Rome during an
"on command" trip to The Vatican by miguel de Portugal (*)
December 28, 2000 - January 1, 2001
The following are general observations which are intended to aid the
reader in: (a) Placing the much touted 2000 Jubilee and other Catholic
media hyped Vatican events in the proper perspective; and (b)
Understanding the deep roots of some of the problems the Roman Catholic
Church now faces.
1. It was estimated by Vatican authorities that over 25 million
people have visited Rome in the year 2000 as part of the Jubilee
events. On an average year, without a Papal visit, Fatima and
Lourdes receive 5 million pilgrims each. Mostly between May and October.
2. Regarding the alleged throngs of people crowding to enter St.
Peter's through the much mediatized Holy Door: On Friday, December
29th, this writer arrived at St. Peter's between 10:30 and 11:00 AM.
Stood in line exactly the time it took to offer twelve (of fifteen)
decades of a Rosary (that is less than 45 minutes) before entering
through the Holy Doors.
No one else seemed to be praying in line. There was much general, and
very worldly, conversation. Just as one expects at a line in an
amusement park.
3. In spite of the large crowds, which, although not as great as
reported, were ample – this writer had the opportunity to adore Our
Lord in the Blessed Sacrament in the appropriate chapel in St. Peter's.
There was always plenty of room in that chapel (and little interest
amongst “the faithful” to honor God in its Eucharistic presence). Those
who came, stayed just briefly. [Was there anything else more important
in St. Peter's than to page homage to Our Lord present in His
Eucharist?]
4. Lines for confession at St. Peter's were small and
manageable. Comparable with an off day in the Sanctuary of Fátima.
Again – little interest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation by the so
called “faithful”. But... what is new?
5. In the Arch Basilica of S. John of Lateran —the Mother of all
Churches— the scene was not much different. Ample room to adore our
Eucharistic Lord and little wait to partake in the Sacrament of
Reconciliation, even though there were not that many confessors
available.
6. In the Basilica of St. Mary Major, the oldest church ever
dedicated to Mary and built as a request from Our Lady [in those days
the Church Leaders did pay attention to the Mother of God], it
was more of the same. Not much interest in Eucharistic Adoration and
not an impressive interest in the Sacrament of Reconciliation – however,
there were more penitents in St. Mary Major than at St. John's and St.
Peter's.
7. At the Basilica of the Holy Cross the true relics of the Holy
Cross are displayed for veneration. [They were brought back to Rome by
St. Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, the first Christian
Roman Emperor.]
After much searching in the Basilica of the Holy Cross and, finally,
asking, the Tabernacle of Our Lord was found... In the basement... In a
little chapel... A chapel not even worthy of an oratory in a private
home. A little light burned by it. The sporadic visitor was more
interested in the tombs of yet another Cardinal or Bishop —they do seem
“run together” in Rome— than in acknowledging the Divine Presence.
It was only after this writer started to offer a Rosary of reparation
and consolation to our abandoned Lord that the people started to act
more respectful toward their Creator and pay less attention to the
“Occupant/Resident” Cardinal/Bishop buried in its vicinity.
[We regret the lack of proper identification of the prelate(s) buried
in our surroundings but, frankly, we see their tombs and monuments as
affronts to God. The ONLY monument and remembrance that the faithful
should have of the past physical existence of those entrusted to
Evangelize the world should be a faithful and God centered flock –
which, of course in general, is non existent.]
Naturally, the areas containing the remnants of the cross and a portion
of the sign nailed on the cross above the Head of Our Lord, through
which Pilate proclaimed Him King of the Jews, were above ground in a
well marbled and otherwise impressively appointed area.
Another example of how people continue to be taught, by example, to
"adore" the cross and ignore the Crucified, Who after resurrecting and
ascending to the Father, keeps waiting for us in the Tabernacle. [A
“wait” which is short only
when compared by the lengthy wait of the “victim of the robbers” laying
by the roadside in the hopes that a Samaritan assist him/her – since
today's priests and levites are no different than the ones Our Lord
spoke about in the alluded parable. [Luke 10:30-37]]
8. Visited the Castello of St. Angelo. It is actually the Castle
of St. Michael which has an enormous statue of St. Michael at its
summit and another very large one in an inside courtyard.
It was interesting to note that such Castle, which was owned and used
by Popes in past turbulent times, is now owned by the State and not by
the Church. It changed hands during one of those turbulent periods.
It is even more interesting that most, if not all, of the Coat of Arms
of several Popes that were carved in stone and which are in several
areas of the Castle, were chiseled out or otherwise obliterated by the
populace who took control of the Castle in years past, yet... St.
Michael's statues continued to stand guard over the People of God
undisturbed.
An ominous sign of the reality which we are living through and of what
is to take place soon.
This writer “continued to make a spectacle of himself” by today's
standards... Undaunted by the Country Fair grounds atmosphere, he
offered the Chaplet of St. Michael before his imposing statue in the
courtyard.
9. Finally – for those who might enjoy viewing male nudity,
partial or complete, including anatomically correct AND complete youths
and children, and want to do so with a completely clear conscience
under the guise of prayer and piety (????) [Lord have Mercy!]: The
Roman churches and Basilicas provide a treasure trove of such “holy”
statuary. Holy women on seductive poses did abound too.
Why we even had to endure viewing John the Baptist as a child and nude
with a hint of fur on the shoulder so that he could be differentiated
from the other standing nude boy – Jesus Christ.
This seems to be the trend today. The shops in the Sanctuary of Fatima
area are loaded down with stark naked young boys posing as John the
Baptist and Our Lord.
But of course, the Church pedophilia scandals are claimed to be
“...just a figment of the media's imagination and only a modern
phenomena associated with Vatican II...”
Does anyone wonder why the homosexual community of the world reacts
violently to the statements coming from The Vatican regarding their
same sex preference? What they are doing is simply reacting to is
Vatican hypocrisy, and that is normal.
You will not hear this writer criticizing the presence of classical
Greek and Roman male and female nude statuary of Mythological figures,
Olympic Deities, anonymous models, etc., in museums, public and private
buildings, parks, etc. However, to bring this art into the Holy House
of Our Father and pass it as Holy Art is a scandal, even if the artist
was Michelangelo!
NOTES
(*) This was Miguel's
third trip to Rome, but the first one
after his miraculous conversion in 1985.
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