Sofia in Spain

By Sofia in Sofia in Spain!

We left Pamplona for Rome on the 3rd of April and as the bus pulled out of the parking lot we prepared ourselves for a 24-hour trip on the bus. I was part of the Larrabide group, we were ten: me, Larri, ShanShan, Marina, Emilia, Patri, Isabel, Elisa, Teresa and Clara. But we were part of a much larger group, which was composed of practically all the women in the University of Navarra (and from Pamplona) that were going to Rome.

We started the trip off with a prayer, of course, and then passed around some gummies. Bad idea; I ate too much and spent the next two hours with a stomach-ache. Fortunately, we stopped soon after that at a gas station in the border of France.

The trip went smoothly from there. We watched a film, I read a little, and stopped a few hours later for dinner. We watched another film afterwards but I fell asleep in the middle. When I woke up we were in Italy already! The hours passed by and the journey didn’t feel too tiring. We stopped one last time at another gas station for lunch. We arrived at our lodging a little after five. It was really one day of travelling!

The place that we were staying in was on the east of Rome, way opposite the Vatican. The buses that took us here stayed with us the whole time though. They brought us to the Vatican in the morning and back home in the evening. We had bought a one-week metro ticket so we could use the metro, bus, and tram throughout the day, throughout the week.

The UNIV

We were in Rome as UNIV participants. “UNIV is an international gathering of university students, which since 1968 the Institute for University Cooperation (ICU) sponsors in Rome. Each year, several thousand students spend Holy Week in Rome, profiting from the cultural and historical riches that the Eternal City has to offer. “

The congress itself is only two days and deals with matters relevant to the university. This year’s theme was “Universitas: Knowledge Without Limits.” We attended the congress on Wednesday, and it was interesting enough. Various students gave presentations on the University’s role in a pluralistic society. Marina and her friend, Marta, were chosen (beforehand) to do a presentation on an analysis of the ‘Rosa Blanca.’ Theirs was really good, and not being biased, the best. Aside from the congress, UNIV also provides us with an opportunity to see Rome and explore the pathways of Church history. So for the rest of the week, we were able to visit Churches, tour Rome, attend the masses in the Vatican, etc.

”The first UNIV encounters began thanks to the initiative and impulse of St. Josemaría (founder of Opus Dei). For the past four decades, scores of students and professors have expanded their cultural horizons through their contact with the international environment present in the heart of Christianity and thanks to the special audiences granted by Paul VI, John Paul II, and Benedict XVI to the Univ participants.”

Opus Dei Gatherings

On Monday and Friday we were able to attend two ‘get-togethers’ with the Padre or Father of Opus Dei. He is the Bishop who is the head of the Opus Dei. It was a very casual talk and he imparted on me many enlightening things. Before the end of each talk, five pre-decided women were able to personally ask a question to the Father. (Due to Opus Dei practices, the get-togethers are separate for men and women.) They shared a short something on their lives and then asked their question. The Father then answered their question, but the audience was also able to take something from it. Though I am not a member of the Opus Dei, I was able to take something from these meetings, including a better understanding of this group.
In celebration of Holy Week

On Palm Sunday morning (which was also World Youth Day) we headed to St. Peter’s Square to attend mass. We weren’t able to get seats, but we were okay. The mass lasted until about twelve.

On Thursday we had mass, not at the Vatican, but at another church organized by the UNIV. After the mass we had pizza for dinner which we ate by the steps of a fountain in Piazza del Popolo. Afterwards we started our Visita Iglesia, the Christian tradition of visiting seven churches to worship Christ. It was a very beautiful night, and I actually enjoyed walking through the streets more at this time of the day.

On Good Friday, we first went to the Scala Santa (Holy Staircase). These steps are traditionally the steps Christ walked up on his way to trial before Pontius Pilate, and could only be ascended on the knees! These marble steps, which are now covered with wood to protect them, were brought to Rome by Saint Helena (mother of the Emperor Constantine) who dedicated her life to collecting relics from the Passion of Christ. It was a tough climb and I prayed the rosary with Patri and ShanShan while climbing up. For the evening we were able to get tickets for the mass inside the Basilica. This mass was kind of new to me, because I couldn’t remember this mass at all.

We didn’t do anything on Saturday afternoon so as not too tire ourselves out before the Easter Vigil. For the Easter Vigil we were again able to get tickets for the mass inside the Basilica. When the mass started, the lights of the church were turned off, save a few backlights from behind the statues. And during the Gloria part, when all the lights came on, it was beautiful. The celebration was really nice though I’ll admit I got sleepy during the Pope’s thirty-minute homily!

We were busy packing on Sunday afternoon so we attended mass at our lodging instead. Before we left for Pamplona, we passed by St. Peter’s Square to receive the final blessing from the Pope. As he ended, the Pope greeted Happy Easter to the people in many different languages including Tagalog; “Maligayang pagkabuhay ni Kristo!”
Audiences with the Pope

We had two audiences with the Pope. The first one we had was on Monday and was exclusively for the Spanish people, mainly because of the group from Madrid that was picking up the Cross for the World Youth Day which will next be held in Madrid in 2011. We arrived outside the gates at nine where we squeezed our way near the front and waited for nearly an hour. The security came at ten, and we were let in. There was a lot of running at this point, with the guards telling us to ‘Please, slow down!’ We would slow down our pace at their words but then start running again the moment we passed them. We made it inside the building and were able to get decent seats a few rows from the font. Once everyone had saved their seats with their bags, there was a rush to stand near the barriers of the aisle, in hopes of touching Pope Benedict’s hand as He passed. It was more long waiting, and as more Spanish people came, the atmosphere got more festive. There were musical chants, cheers and songs. After, well a very long time, one of the Bishops on the stage took the mike and announced that the Spanish people were rude and to return to our seats because the Pope would not pass by the aisle, except in nicer and longer words. In defeat, everyone settled down and went back to their seats. A minute later, in true Spanish fashion, the cheering resumed. But really, can you blame them? The Pope finally came in at 11 and there was much cheering. He started off his speech, but it must have taken him five minutes to say the first few sentences because the audience would clap and cheer after every pause.

The second audience we had with the Pope was a general audience in St. Peter’s Square on Wednesday. His message was mostly about preparing ourselves for the Holy Triduum. After the message which was in Italian, he went on to greet the German pilgrims in German, Spanish pilgrims in Spanish, French in French, English in English, then Italian in Italian.
Sightseeing and Churches

Our first sightseeing stop was the Coliseum which we visited on Sunday. After the Coliseum we stopped awhile at the Arco then headed in to the Foro Romano. The Foro Romano was really impressive! It’s hard to imagine that these ruins were once the centre of all busy-doings in Rome.

On Monday we visited the church Sta. Maria Maggiore. Befote going to the Opus Dei Get-together, we also passed by the Piazza del Popolo, and relaxed on the steps of Piazza Spagna.

We spent Tuesday morning in the Vatican City. First we visited the tombs of Pope John Paul II and St. Peter. Afterwards, we visited the Basilica itself, which took up a good deal of the morning. The Basilica was huge, much bigger than I imagined, and each niche and corner had its own interesting story.

We visited the Panteon before lunch then had lunch in Piazza Navona. We passed by two small, yet interesting, churches and then headed to the Trevi Fountain. We had our pictures taken then threw our coins in and made a wish.

On Wednesday we visited Santa Croce en Gerusalenne (Holy Cross in Jerusalem). This church was really interesting. It was built by the Emperor Constantine to house the relics from the passion that his mother Saint Helene had brought back from the Holy Land. Among the relics in the church are the tablet with the inscription “INRI,” a piece of the True Cross, one of the nails, two pieces of thorn from the ‘crown of thorns.’ Also there are a large slab of wood from the cross of the Good Thief and the finger of the Apostle Thomas, who upon his disbelief in the risen Christ, put his finger through the holes in Christ’s palm.

We also visited San Juan de Letran, which was a beautiful church and considered to be ‘the mother of all churches.’ It is the oldest and first of the four major basilicas of Rome.

We spent Thursday morning visiting the various Vatican Museums. After lunch, we walked around and stumbled upon a beautiful park and lake. Some took a boat ride on the lake, while I and the others rested. A little later it started to rain so we walked to the church where we would be hearing mass.

On Saturday morning we visited San Juan de Letran Extramuros. As its name states, the church was outside the walls of Rome. It was a huge and beautiful church. It is one of the four churches considered to be the great ancient basilicas of Rome. It was founded by Constantine I and is built over the burial place of Saint Paul.

All the churches had so much history and great stories behind them, that I can’t share it all here! Rome is really a wonderful city and well worth the trip.

Though I had visited Rome before in the summer, I had a much better trip this time around. I was more relaxed not having to plan out my itineraries or be the one to worry over the map. I learned so much more about Christian history, and all the churches I visited seemed more beautiful. Of course, it was Holy Week and it was much more spiritually rewarding, especially getting to see the Pope. Mostly, I had a great time because I was with my friends, just talking or laughing at the silliest things were enough to make me content. Along with eating pasta, pizza and gelatto, taking pictures, my UNIV experience in Rome was unforgettable.