Sister Sarah and Sister Dorcee received pictures from the time they saw the Holy Father at St. Mary Major. These pictures show how close they were to him. Enjoy!

Sister Sarah
Servants of God's Love

It is difficult to find words to express my gratitude for being able to participate in this outstanding program in Rome! I honestly did not think it would be feasible because of the length of time away from our responsibilities at the Mother House and the expense of the trip. However, at the same time, I sensed that this was a gift from God!  I will try to be concise and tell you about my experience.

I will frame my experience in a passage that I have been pondering all week. It is from Hebrews 12:1—“Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses…” I have been touched by the cloud of witnesses back in the USA who made this trip possible through their financial help. I am grateful to the cloud of witnesses in the Servants of God’s Love who encouraged Sr. Dorcee and me to go to Rome and who assured us that they would hold the fort down while we were away. I am also very grateful to the very hospitable cloud of witnesses at the Domus who cared for our every need! I continue to be inspired by the clergy cloud of witnesses who so generously gave of their time and encouraged us and exhorted us to continue being a sign of the Kingdom!  I am also very happy to have lived with eleven clouds of witnesses, my sisters from the other communities!  I am truly going to miss these wonderful women of God! They are holy and just plain fun to be with too!  

It has been a tremendous blessing for me to visit many holy places and to  pray at the tombs of this cloud of witnesses here in Rome.  I loved praying at the tombs of Saints Peter and Paul, Blessed John Paul II, St.  Bartholomew, Cardinal Van Thuan,  and many more!

I could go on and on about how wonderful this experience has been for me, but instead, I will end with a few more highlights:

1.       Seeing the Holy Father at his spontaneous visit to Mary           Major and being within 4 feet of him!

2.       Meditating on  St. Paul’s  prison letters written from the           very place where he was under house arrest!

3.       Praying at the site of St. Paul’s martyrdom!

4.       Gaining new friends, my dear sisters from the other                 communities!

As I return home, I will hold the entire cloud of witnesses in my heart and by God’s grace, I will pick up the baton and run with perseverance the race that is set before me until I too can join that great cloud of witnesses in Heaven!  

Sister Cecilia, Congregation of Mary, Queen-American Region

 

 

Four years ago, some of our Sisters flew to Rome to attend the first CMSWR Summer Program.  They came back with so many great stories.  Since then, I have dreamed of coming to Rome to be at the Heart of the Church!  Thanks to God, to my community, and the CMSWR Sisters, my dream became a reality!!!   

I was able to walk on the streets that many Saints had walked upon, visit many Churches where Saints and Christians throughout the centuries lived, worshipped, instructed others about their faith, and shed their blood for their belief.  With help from our wonderful tour guide Priests, I was able to appreciate the significant details in each Church, learn more about the lives of the Saints, and the history of our Church. 

From the conferences that our eloquent Priest speakers gave us, I was able to re-enkindle the fire of faith, hope, and charity in my heart and in my life, deepen my love for the Church, strengthen my commitment as a religious, and grow more fervent in my zeal for mission.  In addition, through interacting and praying with ‘the group’, I experienced how beautiful and diverse and rich ‘CHURCH’ is and how powerful, how awesome the loving hand of God is at work within and among us.   

Not only did I grow in my love, knowledge and understanding of the Church, I also learned to embrace the beauty and the history of Rome.  Not only is there a church on each corner, there is also beauty and history on each block!  I was surprised to find out that Julius Caesar was assassinated just 2 blocks from the Domus, that the Jewish temple is right across the street, the Tiber river is only 3 blocks away, and the ruin of an ancient temple is right behind the building!  I have been here for 3 weeks, the program is about to end, yet I still feel like I am dreaming!!!  I have seen much and I have learned so much!  I have been nourished and enriched, physically, intellectually and spiritually!!!  Once again, I would like to thank God, my sisters, the CMSWR sisters, and our priest speakers for making this experience a faith-filled, grace-filled, and fun-filled summer for us.

We are currently packing and getting ready to leave tomorrow morning. Even though our time has come to an end, be sure to check back to hear from the rest of the Sisters.

Thanks for joining us and for your prayers. I can assure you that we have been praying for you and all your intentions.

On this final day groups of us did different things. One group went to Tre Fontane. This is the place where St. Paul was martyred. There are three fountains because the story is that after St. Paul's head was cut off it bounced three times. At each place it landed three fountains sprang up. Here is a link that will give you more information: http://www.divinarivelazione.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=370&Itemid=691&lang=en

The Sisters who went said it was very moving to be at the spot where St. Paul was killed.

A smaller group of Sisters went to visit the Brigittine Nuns. While visiting the chapel (which is a beautiful and prayerful place very close to the Domus) a nun invited us into the convent to visit the room where St. Bridget died. The room was beautiful and had a window that looked into the chapel. This is the window that St. Bridget was able to look through and watch Mass before she died. Also in her room is the bed (a wooden board) that she died on and her relics. After she died her body was carried from Rome to Sweden to be buried.  The artwork was extraordinarily beautiful. On the ceiling were images of the Passion that were from her revelations. For more about the Brigittine Nuns see this website:  http://www.brigittine.org/monks/bri0717.html

Sister Mary Patrice with Sister Karola. She is from Poland, but entered in Rome. She is named after Bl. John Paul II. She was gracious and most hospitable to us. 

Sister told us that many of their vocations are coming from Mexico, Indonesia and India. 

Our final group picture. Msgr. Caserta is on the right.

Today was our last full day in Rome. A few of us got up early to visit St. Peter's one last time. We returned for 8:30am Mass with Msgr. Caserta. His homily was his last conference. He focused on the Apostolate as a sign of the Kingdom. He referred to a homily given by Pope Benedict where he said that each disciple is a result of a conversation between the Father and the Son. Jesus called to Himself those whom He desired. As religious we are the desired of the Lord, we have been "taken" by Him.

Our work--the "what"--is not as significant as the "why". As Religious we are good at what we do because of the "why". Our work is not just a job, we do our work out of love for God. Through our work and relationships with those whom we serve they should also experience that they are the desired of the Lord too. Monsignor reminded us that oftentimes those we need to love the most are our own Sisters. Sometimes we are the poorest of the poor.

Monsignor understands religious life so well. He has read the documents on religious life and has a lot of experience working with religious. He sees his priesthood as being of service to religious, especially in the Sacraments. 

As you can see we have been posting what the Sisters have to say about their Rome experience. Today we had time for excursions to some of our favorite spots (everyone usually goes off in small groups) and two conferences with Msgr. Caserta.

After holy hour we had a lovely dinner prepared by Sister Monica Mary, the administrator of the Domus. It was a delicious meal. 

Tomorrow we will catch you up on Monsignors conferences. He comes for Mass in the morning and then leaves for the United States. We are beginning to prepare to leave on Saturday morning and are getting last minutes visits to various Churches. It has been a blessed time and we thank you all for your prayers. We continue to pray for you too.

Sister Mary Gabriel, Carmel D.C.J.
Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus

Spending time in Rome and learning more about the early Christians and lives of the Saints has been such an enriching experience as a consecrated religious Sister. There is so much to learn from the rich history of the Church. During this program at the Domus, the Faith has come alive in new ways for me. Walking into churches and finding St. Monica’s tomb or the place where St. Agnes was martyred was amazing.

It has been such a blessing to participate in this program and to meet other Sisters. I enjoyed every minute of our walks together and our dinner conversations. Also, the talks and homilies from the various priests have been so uplifting. There are so many memories from these three weeks that I look forward to going back and sharing with my community, friends, and family. This has been a trip of a lifetime.

Sister Mercedes, OCD
Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

  Praised be Jesus Christ!  This is the feeling I had when I stepped onto the holy ground of Rome!  This was my first experience in this city where many of the saints, martyrs, and holy people have journeyed in order to be close to the beginnings of our Mother: The Church.  Immediately, I could sense the joy of being in this place; and I felt united with the Christians of the past who paved the way in faith with the witness of their lives.  It was such a beautiful experience visiting the major Basilica’s of St. Peters, St. Mary Major, St. John Lateran and St. Paul Outside the Wall.  It was an experience of awe, wonder, worship and praise to our God, for giving humanity the capability of expressing our love in return to Him through the arts in those churches! The Priests who gave us conferences also embellished this spiritual journey in faith.

 It also was a ‘communio’ moment with the worshippers of the past, present, and future while visiting the churches.  Living with the different communities from the CMSWR made me realize that they are the descendants of the Christians and saints of the past!  Our little union together, was a true bonding experience as we too worshipped and praised our God in the Eternal City. 

            I want to thank my Community for choosing me to come here, and to thank the CMSWR for this wonderful opportunity to be renewed in my faith here in the Domus.  Staying here was as if we were living among the saints….and we were in each other!  I hope that more sisters can come here to the Domus and experience the joy of belonging to the Holy Roman Catholic Church.        

Sister Mary Mark, SCMC
Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church

 In a few days our time here at the Domus Sanctae Mariae Guadalupe in Rome will be ended and there will truly be sadness in the hearts of all who took part in this spiritual renewal program.  Although we need to return to the mission God has planned for us, we have had such an enriching experience here that can only be described in superlatives, and the bonding that took place among us over these three short weeks is what will make it so difficult to leave.

The goal of the program was spiritual renewal at the very foundation place of so much of our faith.  Without a doubt that goal was not only met but exceeded our expectations.  With generous and holy men of the cloth sharing their time and talent, and in some cases, their treasure, we were greatly enriched.   

Situated among what our liturgy refers to as  a “cloud of witnesses” we could hardly step out the front door of the Domus without finding streets and churches where great saints trod and worshiped. These holy men and women are now honored in their edifying deaths, entombed in gloriously decorated churches throughout this neighborhood and the entire city. What a wealth of Church and world history is here!

If you want churches, the Domus is in the neighborhood; if you want ancient ruins, they are everywhere and anywhere; even gelato is right up the street and so is the Tiber River. With only a leisure twenty-five minute walk to St. Peter’s Basilica and public transportation right around the corner to all major sites, the Domus could not have a more convenient location.

The accommodations were nothing short of first class.  The rooms with private baths rival a four-star hotel in the States with excellent laundry and ironing facilities.  The food was of excellent quality and well balanced, prepared by the Sisters themselves.  Community prayer in a beautifully decorated chapel with the comfort of air conditioning was of special significance for us who live in religious communities.

If anyone is even slightly inclined to consider this renewal program, do not hesitate.  It is truly a experience of a lifetime.  For those who are fortunate enough to consider studies in Rome, the Domus would be first choice with its ideal location and accommodations.

As I leave the Domus at the end of this program, I know I have experienced the Lord in a way that cannot be put into words. Grateful says it all!

With a grateful heart to God and to all with whom I have shared these days, I bid goodbye to Roma.

In the hearts of Jesus and Mary,

Sister Mary Mark, SCMC

Sister Mary Immaculata, Carmel D.C.J.
Carmelite Sisters of the Divine Heart of Jesus

We are "surrounded by such a cloud of witnesses" here in Rome.  At the Domus, we are in easy walking distance of the altars where so many great saints are at rest (Peter, Philip, James, Bartholomew, Catherine of Siena, Ignatius of Loyola...), relics, holy places, the sites of the martyrdoms of thousands of Christians.  If "the blood of martyrs is the seed of Christians," it is impossible in this setting not to have the soil of one's heart softened and well-prepared for the graces of the Holy Spirit that we are receiving in abundance.  I am very grateful for this experience.

Sister Mary Joseph, OCD
She is a member of the
 Carmelite Sisters of the Most Sacred Heart of Los Angeles

Dear Sisters, 
The glory of God is in this place! When I received the summons from Jesus, through my superior, to meet Him in Rome for three weeks this summer, I had three reactions: first, immediate and almost overwhelming joy; second, concern about completing all the tasks that needed to be done before going, including the knowledge that school will begin two days after I return, and third, an expectancy for graces to come.

This expectancy has born fruit. The renewal program from the CMSWR is truly a source of abundant graces! There is something about being within the heart of the Church that enters the soul and sets it ablaze. Christ is truly present, whether we are receiving nourishment by running around Rome visiting the Basilicas and immersing ourselves in the Tradition, or receiving another type of nourishment through anointed conferences on Religious Life. All has come together in an incredible synthesis of life-giving grace. My spirit is renewed and refreshed. I continue to be bride, by His grace, but this relationship has changed because of the graces received in this program.

I thank my community, very especially! I thank CMSWR for this incredible oasis of grace. I thank all the dear Sisters that I have had the grace to meet and commune with during these weeks. The Church has truly been present at the Domus Sancta Maria Guadalupe! I hope that you will consider spending some time away at the heart of Mother Church. I encourage all to come and receive, as I have had the grace to do. Praised be Jesus Christ!

Sister Mary Joseph, OCD

For tonight we thought we would offer you a few spiritual nuggets from Msgr. Caserta's talks today. His conferences are very rich and practical. 

Today we focused on the virtue of charity and then the vow of chastity. Monsignor, quoting St. Augustine, said "You have loved me O God and So have made me lovable." In his characteristic Brooklyn accent he said, "we have no right to feel unlovable. We have been loved by God. We are a result of a thought of God." Knowing we are loved by God we are enabled to love others. Mission comes from this knowledge. 

We are propelled to love others through the nuptial giving of ourselves to God through prayer.  This prayer transforms us until every fiber becomes spiritual motherhood.  Monsignor reminded us that St. Teresa of Avila, while speaking of the soul caught up in spiritual perfection in the 7th Mansion, teaches us that the action of this love finds its expression in love of neighbor.  When there is nothing but God, the soul is moved to love of neighbor.  Finally, we end this evening with a quote from our beloved Pope Francis, "We do not just open the doors of the Church, we walk through them in service to the poor."  

Sister Mary Hanah, RSM writes about her experience in Rome:

What has continued to leave the greatest impression on me is the sense of the Church through the 2000 year history of our faith.  Visiting the Churches with a priest who is a very knowledgeable spiritual guide helped me to become aware of the richness of the faith in a way that I had not seen before.  In the midst of this, one of the graces of this time for me has been the opportunity to reflect upon my own identity as a religious woman and my place in the Church, and to respond to my vocation in a more authentic way as a creature before my Creator.

We have had gifted and remarkable priests who have guided us through this time together.  Their love and knowledge of the Church, the spiritual life, and religious life has shaped this time.  It was my experience that the faith of the early Christians we witnessed in the tombs of the martyrs and confessors, and those who built the magnificent 430 Churches in Rome, was exemplified in a poignant and living way through the faith in Christ and love for His Church that the priest presenters shared with us.  Their presence gave this time a deeply ecclesial character.

One would be remiss not to mention the delightful time we have had together as a group composed of 11 Sisters from five different CMSWR communities.  If only we could share with you the laughing and playful teasing that has gone on at our dinner table in the evenings!  We have truly enjoyed one another.  I am grateful to have come to know these Sisters who love their vocations deeply and radiate the joy of dedicating one's life to the Lord.

Blessed Feast of St. Ignatius! We forgot to tell you that the Pope will be celebrating Mass at the Gesu this evening. The Gesu is about a 5 minute walk from where we are staying. Unfortunately we were not invited, but who knows, we may see him drive by!

In Honor of the Feast of St. Ignatius, here is his Suscipe:

Take, Lord, receive all my liberty,
my memory, my understanding,
and my will,
All that I have and possess.
 

You, Lord, have given all that to me,
I now give it back to you.

O Lord, all of it is yours, dispose of it according to your will. Give me love of yourself along with your grace,

for that is enough for me.

(This translation is found in the
Chapel of the Passion in the Gesu)
 

Crucifix in the Chapel of the Passion, Church of Gesu, Rome
 

Today, Tuesday, July 30th, we continued to be blessed with holy Mass and conferences from Monsignor Thomas Caserta.  Today, Monsignor focused on the theological virtues of hope and faith as eschatological signs that we, as religious, are meant to be for the world.  

Hope is the theological virtue that orders our activity towards the kingdom of heaven.  The witness of religious life makes visible the face of Christ. In this way we should offer hope to all whom we meet. You can imagine the examination that goes on in each of us when we hear this. Monsignor stressed the need to know who we are in relation to God, quoting St. Augustine who prayed often, "Novarum te, novarum me," "Let me know you, and let me know myself."  

Monsignor then gave specific examples. He said our vocation is not about our specific work. Our vocation is to belong to the Lord. This is our call. He then said that the vows don't address specific behaviors, they address personhood, from which flows certain behaviors. We have to interiorize the rules, not just follow them. We do what we do for the love of God. Monsignor cautioned us against compliance rather than obedience, sighting that the biggest failure is to do the right thing for the wrong reason.  This life is not about ourselves and we are happiest when we are living for others; self-absorption  leads to depression.

In the afternoon, Monsignor continued with religious life as a sign of faith in the world. He quoted Hebrews 11 to define faith.  He further quoted the Catechism (par. 1314), which states that the virtue of faith is that by which we believe in God and all that He has taught us and all that the Church proposes for our salvation, for He is truth itself. 

Faith is about handing over (or entrusting) our whole lives to the Lord. This was demonstrated by the Lord Himself from the Cross:  "Into Your hands, Father, I commend my spirit."  We are "betting" our life on Him "who can neither deceive nor be deceived."  This gift of self-surrender to God is given through our vowed life.  As religious, we need to point beyond this world clouded with empiricism to the reality of things unseen.  Monsignor reminded us again of the witness of the external signs of our religious life.

Faith is first and foremost a love relationship with God, and we therefore have the responsibility to be joyful and enthusiastic in living out our vowed life of faith, witnessing to that which springs from a life lived in love for God alone.  Because all baptized in Christ must give of themselves to God, we need to point the way by living out our own baptismal promises.  Because a religious entrusts herself to God, others are more inclined to do the same.

In summary, it is our love that witnesses to the world, a love that is totally self-giving.  Catherine Doherty, founder of Madonna House, said it best:  "A nun is a woman in love. A nun is a woman on the other side of the Cross."

For those of you who have had the privilege of hearing Monsignor Caserta speak, you know how he illustrates his points with stories.

We ended our day by getting gelato! The store owner down the street knows us now. It was a pleasant night to be out since it was almost 10 degrees cooler today (low 90's).

You will begin to see each Sister writing something about her Rome experience. These will be published as they are submitted. We hope you enjoy them.

First up is Mother Marie Julie who is the Superior General of the the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady Mother of the Church.

Mother Marie Julie

It was a great gift to me that when I spoke with the General Council of the Sisters of Charity of Our Lady, Mother of the Church about sending one of our Sisters to the CMSWR  Summer Program at the Domus in Italy, the Council responded that I, as General Superior, should accompany Sister!  At first I refused: sending one Sister represented a financial outlay that, while reasonable, was nonetheless significant; sending me seemed like a lavish gift.  But the Mothers of the Council insisted, so, here I am, already beginning the third and last week of an extraordinary program that has more than exceeded our expectations. 

There have been eleven Sisters in addition to Sister Mary Kathleen, RSM (the Director of the Summer Program), and we have become a praying community that reminds me of the early Christian communities, of whom it was said, “See how they love one another!” Most of us had never met the other Sisters, but the spirit of mutual respect and love, care and concern for one another has been a true experience of “Church.”  We have taken turns leading the rosary according to the custom of each individual community, and have prayed the Liturgy of the Hours in the same way. Gregorian chant, celebrations of various patronal feasts, and visits to Roman churches that have special meaning for the Sisters has provided us with the richness of the various forms of community life present in the Church in the United States. Studying one another’s charism has not only enriched our understanding, but has, in some mysterious way, deepened our love for our own charisms.

The Priests who have accompanied us on this very spiritual journey have been informative, prayerful, reverent, awe inspiring, challenging, and, in the words of one participant, mystics. Daily Liturgies, whether at the Domus or in Churches in Rome, holy hours each evening, participation in processions, and the wonderful privilege of seeing and hearing our dear Papa Francesco at the Sunday Angelus, deepened our love for the Church and for our own precious call to religious consecration.

I suspect that another group of Sisters would experience this program in its own way, as the Spirit breathes where He will, but in the end it would truly be a moment of grace as it has been for us. Whatever sacrifice must be made to permit any member Congregation to send one or two Sisters to this CMSWR experience would be more than justified. I believe I am speaking for the other Sisters  in our group when I say that these weeks have enriched our spiritual life in ways that only God can measure, and which will surely bear fruit to the profit of the whole Mystical Body. May God  be praised for this opportunity.

Mother Marie Julie, SCMC                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              

Today Monsignor Thomas Caserta arrived from New York. Although he arrived this morning, he offered Mass and a conference after lunch.

In his homily he reflected on St. Martha. He said that persons can only love us in the capacity that they have and we have to accept that, even if it is not what we want. Likewise, we can only love God and others in the way we are able and we should not try another way (this does not mean we cannot be stretched at times). 

He will be offering us reflections this week on Religious Life as an Eschatological Sign. Our first conference focused on what an Eschatological identity is. The theology of religious life makes clear that we are to be signs of the Kingdom and thus we need to remember who we are. He said we live on the border of eternity and this why people think of heaven when they see us. 

Monsignor offered us 4 Scripture passages that tell us about the kingdom:

1. 1 Corinthians 2:9 "Eye has not seen..."
2. Revelations 4 and 7: Describe the Heavenly Liturgy
3. Revelations 12:10 and following: The great battle between the         angels; and
4. Revelations 21: The New Order--restoration of the right order of     Creation.

Monsignor also tied the vows in with the representation of the Kingdom on this earth: Obedience is not an authority word, but a service word. Chastity is professed because we are taken by love, a love that can only be experienced by sitting in loving Adoration. We are chaste because we have found much. Poverty is a living reminder of what is really worthwhile. It is not what we take, but what we give. He said this contradicts the narcissism and attitude of entitlement that is prevalent in our culture.  

As you may be able to tell, our final week is almost like a retreat. Monsignor will be offering Mass and two conferences a day. Additionally, the Sisters can meet with him individually if they want.

Please be assured of our prayers.

Sunday, July 27 was another free day. We began with Mass at Santo Spiritu in Sassia, a church very close to St. Peter's. This Church offers a 10am Mass for English speaking pilgrims, which is sponsored by the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of the New Evangelization, in collaboration with the Bishops’ Office for United States Visitors to the Vatican, and the Pontifical North American College. We also attended Mass there last Sunday. We met several people from the United States. Some were from Denver and Nebraska. The world truly is small. For more information about the Council and Mass view this link: http://www.annusfidei.va/content/novaevangelizatio/en/news/11-09-2012.html

After Mass the Sisters did various things. Overall everyone took a quiet day for rest and prayer. However, in the evening a group of us attended the Solemn Celebrations and processions in honor of Madonna Fiumarola. This was an amazing experience in seeing the devotion of the Italian people to Our Blessed Mother, the immense crowds, and the Catholic culture.

We watched the Blessed Mother arrive by boat on the Tiber river. From the boat a priest was leading Marian hymns and a litany to the Blessed Mother. He would would then exclaim "Viva Maria!" and we would respond by saying "Viva Maria!" and then everyone would clap! When she was brought to shore fireworks went off. As she was carried up to the street confetti was shot into the air. As we processed to St. Maria in Trastevere there was a stop at a choir who sang to her. When she arrived at the Church fireworks (like our 4th of July Fireworks) were set off.

It was beautiful to process with all the Italians. Some elderly people were being pushed in wheelchairs and walking with canes. One man was 95 yrs. old and his grandson was pushing him in his wheelchair. His grandson said he was proud to bring his grandfather and Maria (i.e. The Blessed Mother) was helping him.

After the procession we stopped for gelato! We had a wonderful time and it was a special way to end our Sunday.

We will post some pictures that we took, but we also found a link that has a brief explanation of the tradition and some professional photos here: 
http://www.demotix.com/node/2302057

Here comes Mary down the Tiber!

This is where Mary will dock. Notice the band in the crowd.

Maria coming up to the Street...notice the blue confetti!

Notice the gold confetti!

Sister Mary Kathleen and Mother Marie Julie in the Procession 

Sister Sarah and Sister Dorcee in the Procession 

It is hard to tell, but to the left is the choir singing to Our Lady and on the right you can see her statue.

Sister Mary Hanah and Sister Cecilia in the procession

This is the 95 year old man being pushed by his grandson. 

Maria before she entered the Church

Mary in Santa Maria in Trastevere

As we told you last night, today has been a free day. We have all been doing various things. A small group of us went up to the top of the dome in St. Peter's Basilica. We left at 6:45 this morning to walk to St. Peter's. It is better to get their early so you can beat the crowds, especially to get through security. We were also able to attend a Mass in the Crypt of the Basilica this morning. We did not have anything scheduled with a priest, but if you wait outside of the sacristy you can ask a priest coming out if you can attend his Mass. We found an Italian priest that allowed us to follow him. He was a character to say the least!

We had an inside and outside view of the Basilica from the top of the dome. We were able to look into the Vatican gardens and had a great view of the city. We even saw the monastery where Pope Emeritus Benedict is living.

Here are some pictures below for you to enjoy.

Looking down into St. Peter's

Going up the stairs to the Dome

This the the view from the Outside of the Dome, the very highest point we can go.

The monastery to the left is where Pope Emeritus Benedict lives. On the right is the Our Lady of Lourdes grotto.

Coming down from the Dome

We are on the roof of the Basilica, at the level of the
statues of the Apostles.