WOMEN SEEKING HOLINESS MEET SAINT RITA, WIFE, MOTHER, NUN
Yet another stupendous day in Umbria with a very beautiful visit to Cascia where we met St. Rita. We saw her incorrupt body in the lovely basilica, completed in 1955, of this stunning Umbrian hilltop town after a visit to the Augustinian monastery where she lived for the last 40 years of her astonishing life. MUCH more to come about her life!
Once again, the story and the photos will have to wait until another day – hopefully tomorrow. Oops, it is already tomorrow – it is 12:20 am here in Rome and today mirrored yesterday in intensity and length of activity, the hours traveling on the bus, visiting the town of Casica, praying and yes, of course, breaking bread.
A lost cell phone and a return to Cascia to search for it (Dear St. Anthony, come around, something’s lost and can’t be found – and he found it!), a long ride to Rome from Cascia and then absolutely horrendous terrific in the Eternal City, made our day very long. Many Romans were at home watching Italy play Ireland in the European Cup (Ireland won 1-0) but tens and tens of thousand of young people flocked to the stadium in Rome for a rock concert and that was a great part of the traffic problems. But, as the Roman say, pazienza – patience.
I so want to tell you about the places we visited, the beautiful Italian saints in whose company we spent some prayerful time and the wonderful, moving stories of the WINE ladies on this pilgrimage but the body can do just so much in a long day. It is now 12:35 and time to post this and then retire. Tomorrow I have no commitments with my new friends and hope to find time to download photos and write some beautiful stories.
Teresa Tomeo and Kelly Wahlquist and I are share the daily columns we wrote and today was the day to share Teresa’s. At this late hour I cannot find it so will resume efforts in the morning when, presumably after a few good hours of sleep, I will be more alert.
I have not forgotten about the day that the Lord made – yesterday in Assisi. That is my priority for tomorrow.
Joan's Rome 