ROME JUBILEE 2014, Federico Bauml. 24-25-26 October 2014: For three unforgettable days, Rome hosted the second part of the Schoenstatt Movement’s Jubilee. “All roads lead to Rome” is the famous Italian saying. Literally, it stems from the efficient system of ancient Rome’s consular roads – Aurelia, Cassia, Flaminia, Salaria, Tiburtina, Casilina and Appia – which linked all the provinces of the Empire.
But all roads lead to Rome also bears a metaphorical meaning, deep, fascinating; there is always a path that leads us to the desired location.
Well, these three days, the two meanings of the proverb are tied, superimposed almost merging. At the same time, Rome had been the goal toward which the pilgrims, with their hearts still full from the extraordinary Jubilee experienced in Schoenstatt, were supposed to arrive, and the place where they wanted to be able to finish the centenary and entrust it to the prayers of the most famous Roman by adoption: the Pope.
An extraordinary mission
Describing all the events from these three days is an impossible task. What perhaps we can do is describe them from one’s own perspective, in this case the youths. Without the presumption of making a record, but rather with the desire to maintain the memory a bit longer; not with sadness of something that is past, but with the enthusiasm of something that is about to begin, a challenge in the challenge; in the words of Father Kentenich, of an extraordinary mission.
Our program opened on Friday with a Mass in the church of Saint Charles and Biagio in Catinari organized by the Portuguese youths. Flags, reading, singing, all lent an atmosphere of international breath that made it all the more unique. Next, the evocative candlelight procession from the church of St. Vincent Pallotti up to St. Peter’s Square. Two points, those of departure and arrival, and certainly not random, but symbolic of an almost biographical route, that combines the history of the Movement to that of its founder, from small to large; from the particular to the universal, from a small church to the symbol of Christianity.
On Saturday morning, the most anticipated event: the audience with Pope Francis
Having arrived more or less at 9am, the estimated time of the opening of the gates, the line was already at the beginning of the colonnade. More than 7,000 people had come from all over the world to witness one of the greatest moments in the recent history of Schoenstatt, and if we did not hurry to get in line we risked the danger of being left outside. No one wanted to miss this, and until the last possible moment we strove to get tickets to give everyone the opportunity to be there.
Pope Francis has given us simple words, and at the same time words of great depth. He taught us that “the church, without Mary, would be an orphanage,” and quoting the words of his predecessors, he recalled that the Church did not “need to proselytize, but to witness.”
And then the shiver down my spine to hear him recite the prayer of consecration, and all those present did the same, each in their own language.
A city’s mission
After the audience, all to the train towards Trastevere, precisely at the parish of Patron Saints, Santi Patroni , (that has always hosted the Schoenstatt Fathers in Rome) for a scaled down World Youth Day. For months we have been preparing for this event; to receive and manage in the best way possible 500 youths from all over the world is not something that happens everyday.
Quick lunch and then off, after we split into groups for a small mission in the city, and who cares if we do not speak the same language, because when you have something in common that is so great, a way to communicate will always be found.
At twenty there is the Mass. The parish is as full as it has seldom been, dressed up for the occasion. Here come the flags, and the singing the ”Misioneros” (Missionaries) rises in unison. It’s so beautiful that it seems unreal, as if expected that at any moment you would wake up from the dream. But no, it’s all true; what we dreamed of, and that to which we have devoted time and energy, is occurring. By the way, excuse the digression, but it is due; thanks to all those who worked to ensure that everything was running smoothly.
After the Mass, there was the time to share dinner together, tired, smiling, happy.
From 24 to 26 October 2014, all roads led to Rome
On Sunday morning, the last effort. After Mass at St. Peter’s, entirely dedicated to our Movement, it was time to receive the greeting from our host, the Holy Father, who at 12 will look down from the window to pray the Angelus with the faithful.
It still seems to be ringing in our ears the roar that arose when Pope Francis, with that look of understanding and complicity, greeted all the pilgrims of the Movement. Above them, a giant image of the Blessed Mother in Heaven was hoisted, claiming a shot from all the cameras and the eyes of those present.
Julius Caesar would not mind if for three days, we appropriated the saying that he had conquered with many battles. Yes, 24 to 26 October 2014, all roads led to Rome, and whoever traveled on them has taken away something, and left us something too, the confidence that we will return soon.
