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Our church choir
was invited to go to the Vatican to sing for the Pope.
We were all very excited. We were joined by the
Mastersingers of Archmere Academy, a wonderful group of
young singers who are directed by our choir director,
David Ifkovits. They are a very dynamic group who
have won many awards.
The trip started out with great hotel accommodations just
2 blocks from the Vatican.
On Monday evening we toured the city of Rome visiting all of the Piazza's
within walking distance of the Vatican. It is hard
to imagine how old everything is there. We were in
buildings that were erected in the first century.
On Tuesday, we started our day with Mass under the Vatican
in St. Peter's tomb. What an emotional experience
that was. It was a private Mass, said by our Pastor,
Father Kirk. The setting was very quaint.
We sang the Mass and then left for a bus tour of the city
of Rome in the daylight.
The legend
has it that if you throw a coin over your left shoulder
into the Trevi Fountain, you will return to Rome.
The Coliseum
On Wednesday, we
had an audience with the Holy Father at St. Peter's
Square. This was very emotional for me. You
are just overcome with being in his presence. We
sang "Tu Es Petrus" a piece that was written
especially for the Holy Father, at the audience and the
Pope waved to us when we finished.
The Pope
gives his blessing on anything you bring with you to
the audience. I was prepared with rosaries for my
friends.
Singing at
the Audience for the Holy Father, "Tu Es Petrus"
Pope John Paul II
After the audience
we set off for the Catacombs of St. Sebastian. Down
we went into the catacombs. This was to become a
pattern, I later found out, of going down under buildings,
down steep, stone steps, at least 3 long flights at a
time. My knees are still recovering three weeks
later.
After the tour we went to St. Peter's Square to climb to
the top of the dome. I got some wonderful shots.
St. Peter's
Basilica
The
Colonnade of St. Peter's Square
The Obelisk in St. Peter's Square
The
Colonnade is actually four pillars wide.
I only got two pillars in this shot.
St. Peter's Square at night.
The gates
to Vatican City
The Swiss
Guard. Their uniforms were designed by Michelangelo.
You just can't imagine that kind of elegance and beauty.
There is not one inch of wall space that is not decorated
in some way with beautiful sculptures or paintings.
The dome itself is just magnificent. The inside is
decorated with huge paintings made of tiny mosaics.
Just magnificent.
Taken from
up in the dome of St. Peter's above the Papal altar.
The
main altar where we sang Mass in St. Peter's.
We took
the elevator half way up to the top of the dome.
These beautiful paintings are all done in mosaics.
This immense wall circles the inside of the base of the
dome.
The
paintings on the insde of the dome.
The Papal
Gardens of Vatican City
St.
Peter's Square taken from the top of the dome
The dome
taken from the elevator level
On Thursday, we drove about 2 hours to Assisi. What
a beautiful little town. Unfortunately, it is all up
hill. This is the town San Francisco (also all up
hill) is named for - the town of St. Francis of Assisi.
The
town of Assisi
That evening we drove to the town
of Trevi and had a lovely dinner then went on the the
newly renovated theater and had a rehearsal there.
It was like a mini LaScala.
Choir
Rehearsal in Assisi
Choir
Rehearsal in Assisi
Friday morning we
toured the Vatican Museum and Sistine Chapel.
Vatican
Museum
Details
for a ceiling in the Vatican Museum - Looks like bas
relief, but is actually a flat, painted ceiling.
Treasures
given to the Pope in the Vatican Museum
from around the world.
Inside
the Vatican Museum
On Friday we sang
for Mass at St. Peter's at the main altar. The Mass
was open to the public and was well attended.
Maestro Caponi led the Gregorian Chant portion and David
led our songs.
Singing Mass
at St. Peter's
The main
altar at St. Peter's
On Saturday morning I did some
shopping in the city before our rehearsal in the concert
hall at noon. We discovered that there was a six
second delay between us and the organ. David
directed us so that we came out together if you were in
the audience. That evening after an 8:00 Mass, we
gave a concert for the city of Rome. It was very
well attended. They even put chairs in the aisles.
We also found out just before going on stage, that the
concert was being digitally recorded. I can't wait
to hear us.
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