We woke up at 5am because we were headed to the Vatican for a private mass in the San Giuserppe chapel. Walking into an empty Piazza San Pietro was too good to be true! Serene, unusual, and it felt as though the sun was rising just for us! On the busride in I was sharing with Fr Galea my WYD blog reflection I wrote a couple weeks back about out visit to Austrailia and the connection to the parable of the lost sheep.
Little did I know... But that was the very same Gospel reading that morning.. At St Peters Basilica... In the center of Rome.. On this perfect day! I was in awe.
I had no idea what the day would bring, but I was dancing with the Lord.
We proceeded with a tour of Vatican grounds including the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel. The crowds started to grow at 930am and our group of 48 were on a guided tour. Can you imagine what that was like? Similar to a flock of sheep trying to stick together in a heard ten times its size!
I wish I could say we all had cell phones and only one or two lost their way... But what kind of test would that be from Jesus, the ultimate teacher?
We lost 8 of our pilgrims in the Basilica and they were missing for approx an hour and a half! During that time I felt really helpless. The rest of the group had questions I didn't really have the answers to, given the circumstances... When's lunch? How much free time do we get? When are we going back to the hotel?
We searched and searched the basilica again and again and I have never prayed the rosary so fervently in my life. Mother Mary provides so much comfort!
In that time 2 of our pilgrims showed up and I got word that another 2 found the other bus group! Praise the name of Mary!!!
It was only another half hour later that we got word from the final 4 and they met us at the Obelisk.
If that's not a spirit driven day, I don't know what is!! We were able to enjoy our afternoon in peace and I was overwhelmed to tears with joy and reverence with how challenging today's Gospel message appeared in action. It was miraculous that we all survived and thrived but also important that we trusted in the Lord before any complications arose!
I am truly grateful for this clear and present message and the gift of perseverance.
Nada te turbe, nada te espante, quien a Dios tiene nada le falta! Nada te turbe nada te espante, solo Dios basta!
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