In the home church

When you have only a few days to see the sights, there is never enough time, and surely no time to waste.  As it turns out, the next step on the journey (without even so much as time enough to wait for sunset) was the nearby church of the Gesu, the base camp in Rome for all those who follow in the footsteps of Saint Ignatius himself.

Inside the church there is a side altar, somewhat hidden from view, but striking in its beauty nonetheles.  A light shining as if from the heavens illumines the cross which speaks without any words, the truth of the sacrifice endured out of love so many years ago.  In the heart of this magnificent edifice, this simple but eloquent sanctuary beckons with the promise of conversation between earth and heaven.

Founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola, the Society of Jesus, commonly referred to as the Jesuits still exist today, a group of priests who dedicate their lives to the persuit of scholarship and faithful service to the Church, loyalty to the Pope and dedication to spreading the good news of the Gospel.  They are present throughout the world, in places humble and distant as well as prestigious and well known.  Some of the greatest, most well known priests in the realm of scholarship trace their roots to the long history of this Order, even as they find themselves exercising ministry in some of the most remote inhabited areas of the world.

The imposing nature of the Gesu creates a place within of peace and serenity, calling the soul to silence and stillness before the exposed Blessed Sacrament.  Even in the heat of the day, there are always people present in this sanctuary.  Some seek answers to their questions, while others come to find peace.  Some speak silently their petitions while others come for the gift of forgiveness.  Whatever the reason, the church stands ready as one of a plethora of sanctuaries, each offering the mercy and tenderness of God, and the promise of peace that can only be known as a gift from the One who has created us.