ONE summer day, 43 years earlier, Eli and I arrived in Rome on our way to Pamplona, Spain for studies to the priesthood. On the very first day of our arrival at the Eternal City our superiors generously gave us special passes for a papal mass at the Basilica of St. Peter.
At 10 a.m., Pope Paul VI arrived carried in a sedilia or special chair carried on the shoulders of four men. Drowsiness and bothersome jet-lag gave way to our excitement. Like the rest of the faithful, Eli and I paid close attention to the solemn papal mass celebrated in lovely and solemn church Latin.
Forty-three years later, I had the singular opportunity to be at mass once again in the Basilica of St. Peter´s. The sun on that fine Italian summer afternoon glowed on the pilgrims making their way to the basilica and slowly filing to the pews lined in front of the main altar, just across from the famed Bernini baldequin. While waiting for the main celebrant to enter, the faithful kept the most reverent silence.
Finally, accompanied by a deacon and acolyte, the main presider—from all appearances a bishop, if not a cardinal -- came in, approached and kissed the altar, then proceeded to the presider´s chair facing the congregation. He spoke this time in Italian, and the faithful duly answered in their respective tongues, thus giving living evidence to the catholicity or universality of the Church.
The choir singing impeccably to the accompaniment of a pipe organ led the faithful in songs which nearly all knew by heart, even though again in their respective languages.
Communion culminated the sharing of unity, faith and love. Truly, it was a Eucharist as each one thanked the Lord for the wonderful gift of life, love, and faith. In my case, I gave thanks to the Lord most profoundly for the gift of the priesthood and religious vocation which by the grace of God kept on being given all throughout the ups and downs, twists and turns, joys and disappointments of so many years.
After the mass, I looked up and saw written on the side of the basilica´s dome the words Christ spoke originally to Peter, which at that moment had a special significance for me:
“Listen, Satan has received permission to test all of you, to separate the good from the bad, as the farmer separates the wheat from the chaff. But I have prayed for you…that your faith will not fail. And when you turn back to me, you must strengthen your brothers.” Luke 22: 31-32