Sunday, April 27, 2014

The eternal city...

...and unforgettable days....

For us, these glorious days in Rome began on a solemn and impressive note: April 25th is ANZAC Day and early in the morning my Australian husband attended, with the Australian ambassador to the Holy See, the service at the military ceremony just outside the city. Then, in the evening, we gathered at Domus Australia for a Mass in the magnificent chapel there.  Concelebrated by Cardinal George Pell, with priests from different parts of Australia all gathered here in Rome for the Canonisation, it was attended by a large congregation of Australians...glowing candles, beautiful music, and the homily spoke about the  thousands of men who died at Gallipoli, and the Christian faith in resurrection...

The Domus Australia is a real home-base for Australians in Rome - a large comfortable residence with cool courtyards and large airy rooms, and a chapel which honours Australia's saints and heroes and heroines... from Mary McKillop and Caroline Chisholm to Cardinal Xavier Nguyen Van Thuan, shown in his grim prison cell in Vietnam.

After Mass, there was a reception, with sandwiches and wine (and lamingtons)...

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