CMSWR Summer in Rome 2013

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