Reflections from Rome: Ecumenism 2024

... a blog by Maureen

Built around 139 AD as Emperor Hadrian's mausoleum, Castel Sant'Angelo in Rome has played numerous historical roles over centuries, serving as a fortress in 401, a papal residence in the 14th century, and a prison before becoming a museum in 1901.

The reflection in the Tiber help us imagine how significant it is that a fortress, prison, and mausoleum is represented shimmering in liquid form. It's form and rigidity is changed, and the metaphor is not lost on us! It is no longer a physical stronghold, but an image that we can literally put our hand through.

The first sunset welcomes introspection and prepares us for our morning of opening to encountering new ideas, new considerations and new friends.

St. Peter's Basilica inspire us in our evening theological discussions. We have the added oasis of a 'secret garden' rooftop - that beckons us as we end our days in reflection, quiet thought or in friendly interactions with those who gather. Thank you to those that provided us with such an exceptional location to meet, eat and gather!

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Walking on Holy Land

Basilica di Santa Clemente (Matteo Carboni) The other day I visited Basilica Di Santa Clemente al Laterano. Santa Clemente is an 11th century church built on top of a 4th century church named after St. Clement of Rome who was the Pope between 88 and 99 CE. It is likely that the site had been used as a house church since the 2nd century CE, then transformed into a large church complex in the 4th century. Beside the 4th century church there was a temple of Mithras that had been used since the 2nd century CE. Underneath the church and the temple, excavators found Roman households destroyed by the fire of Nero in 64 CE. I think Santa Clemente is one of the coolest sites I have visited in Rome. It has been a neighborhood church for nearly 2000 years and has only needed one upgrade! The physical relationship between the two churches has given me much to ponder. The foundations of the 4th century church was used as a blueprint for the 11th century church. One the one hand, this is ...

Interpretations: The Jewish Ghetto or Quarter

Jewish Quarter: History The Roman Ghetto or Ghetto of Rome ( Italian : Ghetto di Roma ) was a Jewish ghetto established in 1555 in the Rione Sant'Angelo , in Rome , Italy , in the area surrounded by present-day Via del Portico d'Ottavia , Lungotevere dei Cenci , Via del Progresso and Via di Santa Maria del Pianto, close to the River Tiber and the Theatre of Marcellus . With the exception of brief periods under Napoleon from 1808 to 1815 and under the Roman Republics of 1798–99 and 1849 , the ghetto of Rome was controlled by the papacy until the capture of Rome in 1870. The ghetto was a walled quarter with its gates locked at night. The wall was built under the direction of the architect Giovanni Sallustio Peruzzi . The cost of the wall's construction, 300 Roman scudi , had to be paid by the Jewish community. The area of Rome chosen for the...

The Messengers: Prophets, Martyrs, Saints and Us - and Palm Trees

Reflecting on Messengers as the Sun Sets Yesterday's lecture about Islam provoked me to think deeply on the idea of messenger. We often hear the phrase, "don't shoot the messenger" and may even use it ourselves. Sometimes we don't want to hear the message. It may be inconvenient, controversial or contrary to our own understanding. It can challenge and provoke us and be unsettling. We do have a choice, and can act or not act according to the message. I found myself reacting to the teaching from Islam that describes the Prophet as the last messenger, but after considering the course in its entirety - many faiths believe different things about their messengers. In Christianity we do not agree on many of the qualities that define prophets, martyrs and saints. As those participating in faith, we are all messengers. How we are remembered as those messengers is more about those that follow after our time. Persons of Faith 'Remembered' in Bronze Our Tour of th...

Rome Ecumenism Course 2024

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