The Vatican!

St. Peter's Square a sign of unity, forgiveness and love for all who step foot inside Her embrace was designed by Bernini during the mid 1600's. The embrace of the Church (the Bride of Christ) is said to welcome Catholics into her motherly arms to confirm them in their beliefs, heretics to reunite them with the Church, and infidels to illuminate them in the true faith.

There is too much to write after visiting the Vatican, memories and experiences that will stick with me for a lifetime, but the most amazing thing that the Vatican has to offer is the history and backbone of Christianity, our story as Catholics. Many ask why do you have to make the distinction between being Catholic and Christian? What I like to offer is to be Catholic is to be Christian in the fullest sense, more than 2000 years ago is when Christ gave the Keys of the Kingdom of God to Peter, the first Bishop of Rome - the Pope - the Head of our Church. Does the Church carry within Her history the stain of sin and darkness along with the light of grace and goodness? Yes, but she still stands and Her truth will prevail until the very end of time, Christ our King has promised us this! There is always an open invitation to come home; in fact, I pray all who read this open their hearts to God's leading back into the fullness of Divine Revelation and Truth.

Under the alter of St. Peter in the Basilica today is where you'll find 2000 years of history stacked on top of itself. In the year 64 AD, Nero's Circus lay in the space where this picture was taken. Nero persecuted and martyred many of the early Christians in this circus, St. Peter was no exception. He was crucified upside down on a cross as to not die in the same way as his Lord. He was then taken and buried in the mausoleums to the right of Nero's Circus. It was there that Christians would come and make their way to honor and venerate Peter. When Constantine became Emperor of Rome in 324 he broke the roofs of the mausoleums and filled them with dirt and constructed a basilica over the tomb of St. Peter. That basilica stood for over a thousand years and was then knocked down and rebuilt over a 150 year span during the 1500-1600's, Barberini, Bernini and Michelangelo were among the artists and architects of the new St. Peter's Basilica. In the early 1930's is when the Vatican began the search for St. Peter's tomb and sure enough the excavation uncovered St. Peter's tomb and bones directly under the Baldachin and Main Alter in the Basilica. "You are Peter and upon this Rock I will build my Church." Quite literally!

Catching Up!

Since arriving in Germany a little over a month and a half ago, I have been literally spoiled by the blessings of Almighty God to travel so much so that I haven't had the time to keep up this blog. I hope to catch up and write about experiences in Rome, Assisi, France, and other trips taken in Germany. After all that is the point of blogging: to write as you experience things, so I will make my best attempt to catch up and keep up.

My father and I just recently took a trip to Dachau concentration camp, the first concentration camp and the model for all others throughout the reign of Hitler and the National Socialist German Workers Party from 1933-1945. It was an eye opening experience to see how the rising to power of one man and his comrades during a seemingly ripe time in a countries history could persuade the masses to join him. To join him by means of smooth rhetoric and the most evil ideals.

All those who didn't meet the expectations of Hitler's master race were sent to these concentration camps, code named re-education camps. They worked under the most grueling of conditions, with just enough nourishment to keep them alive. Yet, if those sent to these camps grew too weary to work, then they would be shot, gassed, and/or tortured. It was painful to see such complete and utter disrespect and disregard for human life. Anyone who was a threat to Hitler's master plan "Mein Kampf" was silenced: priests, communists, politicians, Jews, farmers, gypsies the homeless, mentally and physically disabled, homosexuals, etc. One cannot even begin to imagine what it was to live during these years in Germany; yet, in God's infinite mercy, great is the reward of those who suffered so greatly in these camps and choose to turn to the only Light left in the midst of such grave darkness.