hello from italy

So hello! it's been a while. and i've been making lists in my head of things i want to blog about. so today (in about 15 minutes) we'll just see what we get to!

I've been in Italy since Jan 5 and will leave Jan 13. It's been beautiful. The first full day I was here (here with my Aunt) I went to a mass, said by the Pope, for Epiphany. So i've been doing a lot of thinking, particularly with the other basilicas, churches, and cathedrals, about the church. All of the church buildings here have been overwhelming: arches and high ceilings and mosaics and marble and amazing patterns in the floor. Sculptures and paintings, several alters. In many ways they literally have raised my eyes to the heavens. At the same time as my breath has been taken away by their beauty, I have thought of Oscar Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador in the late 70's. Any rate, he was responsible for finishing the cathedral in San Salvador, he said (and when i find the exact quote I will post it)that as long as their were so many people in need, the cathedral would (and should) remain unfinished. So in church sunday (yesterday), while the priest was giving his own homily in italian, this is what I thought about: the church is not the buildings, finished or unfinished. The church is the people. Not a new or earth shattering idea to be sure, but one that just hit me hard yesterday. And there was a line in the second reading, in the letter to Titus (we had sheets with the readings translated into English on them, greatly appreciated!), that said "God's grace has been revealed, and it has made salvation possible for the whole human race and taught us that what we have to do is to give up everything that does not leave to God, including all our worldy ambition. And I thought too about David, who wanted so badly to build a temple for the Lord, and God said no you silly beloved man, you cannot build me a temple; i cannot be contained. but because you asked and because i love you, your solomon will build my temple.

it's so easy to say that God lives in Church. and then to lock him in. No! He is the God of a people and the whole earth is holy in His presence. I'm reading Mary Oliver (poetry is wonderful to travel with, thought provoking but the book itself is light!) so just want share one I read last night with you before I sign off. Called Musical Notation: 2 inher book Thirst

Everything is His.
The door, the door jamb.
The wood stacked near the door.
The leaves blown upon the path
that leads to the door.
The trees that are dropping their leaves
and the wind that is tripping them this way and that way
the clouds that are high above them,
the stars that are sleeping now byond the cluds

and, simply said, all the rest.

When I open the door I am so sure so sure
all this will be there, and it is.
I look around.
I fill my arms with the firewood.
I turn and enter His house, and close His door.




How do I live if I live not only in God's presence but in His house?
And I love Church and the mass and it is a wonderful way to Him, a grounding and a coming home and a comfort and joy and giver of strength and endurance to carry on the rest of the week. But I live my whole life in God's house, not just the hour or so on Sundays, and particularly when I am attending such grand churches, I need the reminder.