'Madonna and Child' Iconography Resonates with Me

I was essentially raised by my mother, my aunt, and my older sisters. My family is matriarchal and I like it that way.

I was reared by strong women who tried to raise me to be a thoughtful man in a contemporary world. I'm not sure how successful I've been at living thoughtfulness, but within me are all the positive values those women tried to instill.

Within the Il Pensiero del Bento Pio IX Church (my favourite church in Rome, so far) is a beautiful icon of the Madonna and Child. Mary is dressed in blue and orange with an ochre robed Jesus on her lap, all set against a blue star filled sky; complimentary colours help unite a good composition.

I've always been drawn to 'Madonna and Child' icons. In a naive way, it speaks to a secular way of living I recognise: strong women, living independent lives, raising male babies to be thoughtful.

As a secular Jew I miss the important Christian narratives contained within these icons of course, but does that mater so much? As a site of interfaith dialogue, it seems like an interesting space for good conversation.

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Parting ways

Our last dinner with the University of Toronto group was truly memorable. Overall, the Rome trip wa a great experience and I learned a lot about ecumenism, something I had no experience with before. The concept of ecumenism as a dialogue, where one can be "strong in their identity yet open to dialogue", really resonated with It's inspiring to see how such an approach can foster understanding and unity, even with our own "small group" from Toronto, there was so much diversity (again, it included an Anglican priest, a secular Jew, and 3 Catholics). Yet, despite our differences, there will always be a way to talk and talk to each other, if they share space with each other. I will truly miss this group , and the larger group at the Centro Pro Unione. I am looking forward to more enlightening conversations and shared ecumenical experiences in the future! Very grateful again to Dr. Attridge, Dr. Skira and the RSM management for this wonderful opportunity! Until next

Welcome! Rome Ecumenism Course - 2024

Welcome to our journey of studying ecumenism and interfaith relations in Rome in the summer of 2024. Please visit often as we share insights, new learnings, adventures, pictures, etc., from our three weeks in the eternal city. We’re glad to have you along!

The Old and The New

Chiostro del Bramante (Matteo Carboni) Rome is a city in which the modern world plays with the past. To me, the Chiostro del Bramante, stands as an example of the ways this occurs in the Eternal City. The Chiostro was a monastery designed by Donato Bramante (1444-1515) and commissioned by Cardinal Oliviero Carafe around 1500 CE. Bramante incorporated elements of Greek and Roman architecture so characteristic of the Renaissance. Today, the Chiostro is a social and cultural hub in Rome. Part of the building features art exhibits. The current exhibit, Emotion: Contemporary Art Tells the Story of Emotion , highlights the work of several artists from around the world. What struck me, as I walked through the installations, is how the modern art incorporated elements of Bramante's Renaissance architecture and decorations. Rather than hiding the ceilings and floors, many of the installations incorporated elements of building into the contemporary art. By doing this, the exhibit created an

Rome Ecumenism Course 2024

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