By Pat Murphy 

 

It seems only natural in the Jubilee year to recall a few memories of fond visits to Rome. Those of you who know me will know I try and have an annual visit to Rome – it feeds the mind, the heart and the soul. We are already two thirds of the way through the Jubilee year, so my annual visit in November is drawing closer and will be very welcome.

 

From a very young age, my main interest in life has been art, sculpture and architecture. So, if you have been to Rome, you can understand I am in seventh heaven when I visit. My first visit to Rome was as a teenager, when my parents, last minute, sprung the trip on me - possibly because I would have been over excited for too long. It also involved having to take a couple of days off school to tag onto the half term – but studying art history was not a problem.

 

Rome then was a busy city, but nothing like the crowds of pilgrims and tourists that visit today. The introduction of budget airlines has made so many beautiful European cities so much easier to visit.

 

Staying just five minutes’ walk away, our visit centred around the Vatican and St Peter’s Basilica. There were no security checks or queueing in those days. You just walked up the central steps into the fabulous façade of the Basilica. The huge doors, the Giotto (that most visitors miss) over the entrance, the vastness, and then into the Basilica itself. The first stop – you look to the right and you have one of the most beautiful pieces of sculpture in the world - Michelangelo’s Pieta, then seated on the altar rather than behind a Perspex bullet proof screen. I think I spent hours staring at this most exquisite work. How a young man of 21 could produce a piece of sculpture so beautiful from a block of Carrara marble is still a question I ask myself – I have always believed it was the hand of God working through Michelangelo.

 

I have been to Rome numerous times since that first visit, so I have many memories to recall from over the years. I spent a summer holiday as a student working for a travel company, ferrying tired pilgrims to and from the airport, and on occasions around the city. Around that time, I also helped organise the 1975 Holy year visit to Rome from my parish. Sadly, I did not manage to visit the city for the next Holy year in 2000 due to my work commitments – so I am delighted to be involved in organising and going on the parish pilgrimage in November – we are counting the days!

 

More of my jottings next month.