Back in Rome-homeward bound

I am ready to be home.  Starting with last Thursday, instead of going to Tiber Island to see St. Bartholomew, I went to see St. Monica instead. She is in the church of St. Augustine, and is very close to the church of St. Louis.  St. Louis is important because it has my favorite Caravaggios, the St. Luke cycle.

 The St. Luke altar

The tomb of St. Monica

Assisi is like Venice in that it is a lot smaller than I thought it would be.  It also seems like everything is uphill.  We stayed with the Bridgetinne sisters, which I loved because they had the first hardwood floors I had seen in Italy (which was very nice and made me homesick) and because they are a Swedish order they do real dessert at pranzo.   The retreat was good, and we had plenty of time to see Assisi.  The Franciscans don't allow interior photography but I snuck a picture of the tomb of St. Francis.  I know I am my parents' child because I also snuck photos of the light fixtures I ideally want for St. Hubert's.

Basilica of St. Claire. Best rose window I have ever seen.

Basilica of St. Francis

The tomb of St. Francis

Tomorrow most of us go home, and I am very ready for American food and lifestyle, though I am not sure I am ready for Midwestern weather. I am also not looking forward to what a month of dust looks like in my room at the seminary.  Thank you so much for reading and all your prayers. The first thing I have to do after cleaning and unpacking is get my save the dates out for priestly ordination, but consider this a first warning. Ordination is May 30th at the Cathedral of St. Paul. Please pray for me, and if you are willing and able, attend.