Our time together in Rome has taken a different pace. We began our day with Mass at 7:15am with Father Bechina here at the Domus. After that the Sisters were on their own. Some stayed home and completed various projects and others went and explored the city. Many of us returned to places we had visited with Father Landry and then also visited new sites.
A couple of us visited Santi Apostli, which is where St. Philip and St. James are buried. We then walked to the Trevi Fountain and tried to get into Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio e Trevi (Saints Vincent and Anastasius at Trevi) where the embalmed hearts of 25 popes are preserved (from Sixtus V to Leo XIII). Unfortunately, the Church was not open.
Father Bechina arrive at the Domus around 3:30pm to hear confessions. At 4:30pm we had a conference on the Sacrament of Penance followed by holy hour and dinner. He will return tomorrow morning for Mass and to hear confessions in the evening.
In his conference, Father spoke about confession being a dialogue with God. After confessing our sins there should be a dim light or a morning star. It should bring joy. He said that an exaggerated sense of guilt lacks a personal, loving relationship with God.
He also said that the Sacrament of confession re-establishes communion among all of us. He spoke about some misunderstandings regarding the Sacrament of confession. Oftentimes we may formulate our sins in such a way that we actually disguise our sins, we may give long justifications, or be "psychological" about them. Confession must be done in faith. However, even if we have this kind of attitude, our sins are still forgiven!
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| Trevi Fountain |
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| Santi Vincenzo e Anastasio e Trevi. You can see that it is facing the Trevi Fountain. |
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