Joan Lewis gives us practical Vatican visit information

Joan Lewis's recent blog post at "Joan's Rome" is filled with practical information should you have the opportunity to visit the Eternal City. Even if a trip to Rome will not be in your near future it's still very interesting to read all about it. Take a look at what Joan has to say:

"PRACTICAL INFORMATION FOR VISITING THE VATICAN

I will be leaving on vacation for a few weeks on July 17 and I thought it might be helpful to dedicate my column today to information on visiting the Vatican – St. Peter’s Basilica, the Museums, the world famous “scavi” and the gardens and Vatican City itself. Many of you are planning trips and will leave in coming days or weeks or months. The following practical information – which you should print and bring with you - is from the Vatican’s web site: www.vaticanstate.va I have added some practical notes in a few places - “A Note from Joan.”

Tomorrow I will take you on a tour of Vatican City and the gardens, adding that column to this one so that you have a summer’s worth of reading and planning while I am away!

PAPAL AUDIENCES: A ticket - always free of charge - is required for attending the General Audience on Wednesday mornings or other papal ceremonies. They are issued by the Prefecture of the Papal Household reached by way of the Bronze Door. The office is open Mondays from 9:00 to 13:00 and Tuesdays from 9:00 to 18:00. To request a ticket: Telephone +39.06.69883114 – +39.06.69884631; or fax +39.06.69885863.

A note from Joan: Remember, you can also ask for tickets through the North American College by going to the web site of the Visitors Office of the Pontifical North American College: http://www.pnac.org/general/visiting_vatican.htm or by visiting www.santasusanna.org. the church in Rome for Americans that, like NAC, on Tuesday afternoons distributes tickets to those who have quested them in advance. I recommend both of these avenues because of the extraordinarily personal treatment you will receive as you meet fellow Americans, “ex-pat” Americans who live in Rome.

ST. PETER’S BASILICA: The Basilica is open every day from 7.00 to 19.00, April to September and from 7.00 to 18.00, October to March. To preserve the sacred character of the church, groups consisting of more than five members and accompanied by a guide are kindly requested to use "audio-guides" which can be rented at the entrance to the Basilica. Proper dress is required for admission to the Basilica To rent "audio-guides": telephone +39.06.69883229 or +39.06.69881898.

A note from Joan: “Proper dress” means that knees and shoulders must be covered - for men and women.

HISTORICAL AND ARTISTIC MUSEUM (Treasury): The Treasury is open from 9.00 to 18:15, April to September and from 9.00 to 17.15, October to March. The entrance is from inside St. Peter’s Basilica (on the left side).

VISIT TO THE DOME: Visits to the dome of St. Peter’s are possible every day from 8.00 to 18.00, April to September and from 8.00 to 17.00, October to March. The entrance is at the portico of the Basilica (on the right hand side of the basilica, just off the atrium).

A note from Joan: There are 320 steps to the top of the dome and it is an incredibly wonderful.." (Continued here).

Lent began in an interesting way this year...

Lent approached me in a different manner this year. About a week before Lent began which was also a week before my scheduled trip to the International Congress hosted by the Pontifical Council for the Laity for the occasion of the twentieth year celebration of Mulieris Dignitatem, my daughter and I became victims of a car accident. We were just minding our own business - driving home from some errands, allowing a pedestrian to cross the street, when a truck came up from the rear and failed to stop behind us and instead plowed through the back of our SUV.

There's much to say about the accident and all that it entailed and I did start to blog about it over at my "Embracing Motherhood" blog. However, I couldn't continue because of the injuries. But, I think it's pretty interesting that two EMT's just happened to be steps away from us at the time of the collision. God was clearly looking out for us. I am also certain that something very profound happened in the Emergency Room during a conversation between myself and the young man who hit us. But that will have to be told at a later time.

For now, I'll just say that Lent approached in this way - bringing some very good penitential suffering for me and my daughter through our injuries. Even so, on Ash Wednesday morning, by the grace of God, my daughter and I were sitting in the very front row of Pope Benedict's Wednesday audience at the Vatican, just counting our blessings and thanking God. God is so good!

Later that day we would be looking for ashes. There we were in Rome where Catholic Churches are a plenty. However, not knowing Italian or the various schedules, we hoped we would be able to be in the right place at the right time. After we found out about a Mass at St. Peter's, we tried to get in but were shooed away by the guards because the Mass had already started and we were considered to be tourists and not real Church goers. No amount of pleading worked with this guard. We came to find out that there would be a 5:00 PM Mass with ashes at St. Peter's.

Knowing that we had a Mass we could go to, we were off to do a bit of touring around Rome and returned for the 5:00 PM Mass. When the ashes were distributed during the Mass we could see the people returning to their seats with clean foreheads. Where were the ashes? When we reached the front of the Church we were given our ashes - sprinkled on top of our heads! So, that was my first experience receiving ashes in Rome - and what a blessing to receive them at St. Peter's! I felt very relieved in my heart that evening because I didn't want to begin Lent without our ashes. Our Lord had it all taken care of. :)

I'll fill you in tomorrow about another blessing in Rome.

Vatican and Rome photos

My interview with Joan Lewis on the Vatican Insider

UPDATED with new link: You'll be able to hear my interview with Joan Lewis the EWTN News Bureau Chief by clicking here then scroll down to the photo of Joan Lewis, "Vatican Insider" on the bottom left and then click on "MP3" to hear the recent interview with me at the Vatican Congress. Joan begins the segment with some Vatican news, a question and answer segment and later converses with me. Joan is a very gracious, lovely and faith-filled woman that I was completely drawn to and I plan to stay in touch with her.

Go on over to "Embracing Motherhood"

Check out "Embracing Motherhood" (the button is in the right column) to see more news on the Vatican Congress.

Home sweet home!

Hello Everyone!

I'm back from Rome. We arrived late last night. After a nine hour flight, the two hour trip from the NY airport to get home turned into a five hour trip since we were right in the middle of a snow and ice storm! Needless to say, I am both exhausted and overwhelmed with God's grace. I am very thankful that God is so good and kept us safe!

I will be back to you soon with some news and photos. I have to give an out of town talk tomorrow and must focus on that.

Thank you for all of your generous prayers! I am very thankful. I prayed for all of you and all of your intentions while I was there in the Eternal City! I have so much to share with all of you!

God be with all of you!

Thank you...leaving for Rome!

Thank you everyone for your prayers! We'll be leaving tomorrow (Monday) evening on a flight to Rome to attend the International Congress for Women! I so very much appreciate all of your prayers for a speedy recovery for my daughter and for me and for safety for our trip.

God bless you all!
I hope to bring back a lot of photos and a lot of grace and blessings to be shared!

Perhaps new Cardinals

Rome, Aug 14, 2007 / 06:50 am (CNA).- According to the Italian daily Il Messaggero, Pope Benedict XVI may convene a consistory in November to create 17 new cardinals.

"The story in the Italian newspaper states the Pope could announce the second consistory of his pontificate after the Wednesday Audience on October 24. It says the Pontiff intends to create 17 new cardinals under the age of 80—which would bring the total number of cardinal-electors back up to 120. After the death of the retired Archbishop of Paris, Cardinal Jean Marie Lustiger, the College of Cardinals is left with 182 members, of which 105 are under the age of 80. In October, the former Vatican Secretary of State and current Dean of the College of Cardinals, Cardinal Angelo Sodano, and American Cardinal Edmund Casimir Szoka, will both turn 80..." (Continued here)

The Vatican City State ventures into digital world

Vatican City, Jul 19, 2007 / 09:00 am (CNA).- The Vatican City State has ventured forth into the digital world today by launching a sharply designed Internet portal. The new site (www.vaticanstate.va) comes as a response to the ever increasing number of requests by pilgrims and tourists for information about the world’s smallest city state.

The new website, will run alongside the official Holy See website (www.vatican.va), and has been implemented in five languages (Italian, English, French, Spanish and German) with Portuguese soon to be added.

The offices of the various entities within the 109 acre sovereignty are represented by the categories: State and Government, Services, Other Institutions, Monuments and Shop. A communiqué about the site says that the portal "presents the State's bodies, the key monuments with descriptions and images, and useful time schedules for the public.”

The site also offers a photo tour of the Vatican Gardens, as well as real time access via five webcams to some of the most famous sights: the dome of St. Peter's, St. Peter's Square, a panoramic view of Rome, the tomb of John Paul II and the palace of the Governorate.

The new portal will also soon add some features that stamp collectors and museum buffs will be quite excited about. According to the site designers, "visitors will soon be able to purchase Vatican coins, stamps and other articles available from the Vatican Museum's publications and reproductions sales office." View article here.