Student Blogs from Rome

From Donavan B:

 

Monday, June 5th

 

Today we awoke to find out that massive influx of visitors to Rome for Pentecost made train space out of the city very limited.  Never ones to let such things bring us down, we extended our stay in Rome and took the opportunity to visit the catacombs.  They were very cold which was a nice break from the heat of the city above.  We learned that some of the earliest popes were buried in the catacombs and that at one point, over half a million people were buried there. Because of the barbarian invasions, there are no more relics in the catacombs and most of the bodies have been stolen or moved.  All in all, we got to see some of the origins and growth of Christianity in the caverns under Rome.  It was a successful day!

 

 

From Isabell B:

 

Tuesday, June 6th

 

Italy, what a place! On this, our last day in this country, my expectations were high.  So far, the history I felt was strong and relatable.  Even though I  am not a Catholic, I loved every part of our visit to Rome.  Today, as we saw the Duomo cathedral in Milan, my glass ceiling was instantly shattered.  If you have never been to the Duomo, let me give you some advice: go see it!  Each stained glass window offered a different look into the heart of Christianity.  The ceilings are so high that angels are depicted on them.  As I walked through the cathedral, I had a moment of revelation. If God is not real, all of this is for nothing.  So, there is no choice but to believe that God is real.  Like many Christians, questioning my faith is part of spiritual growth, but no answer has satisfied me as much as seeing the Duomo.  Years and years were spent building this huge place of worship, so God has to be real.  Thank you, Duomo, for an amazing revelation and a fantastic last day in Italy!